Connecticut western news., 1891-03-25

Mrs. Barrett in Boston, and she arrived at the bedside of her husband while the doc COTS were in consultation. Mrs. Barrett feared the worst, owing to his weak con lition.
 They found that MT. Barrett's right lung was only partly effected, and the Ioctors agreed that the greatest peril was from his weak condition, due to the i'm poverishment of his blood.
 He had had an operation performed two years ago, and while the deformities on he neck had been removed the disease left Jim in wrecked condition.
 Visited by Booth.
 When the doctors held consultation yesterday morning Mir. Barrett was rest ing easily. He was fully conscious, and spoke to his wife, who was at his bedside md when his friend and fellow star, Ed win Booth, came gently into the room, hs greeted him with quiet smile. He re nained clear in mind and was consciou ,f all his surroundings until 10:15 o'clcci when he failed to recognize Mrs. Barrett who held his hand. Thirty minutes late ne breathed his last in the presence of Mrs Barrett, Dr. Chambers and the nurse. Just IS Mir. Barrett was passing away his life long friend, Edwin Booth, was engaged i:s presenting the tragedy of Macbeth" 6 few blocks away.
 Lawrence Barrett's Career.
 Lawrence Barrett was born in Paterson, N. J., April 4, 1888. He was sichly child: his parents were in humble circumstances and the outlook for his future was fai from promising. At an early age he was taken to Detroit, where the climate pc culiarly suited him, and he there grew strong and healthy. To assist the family financially he was early sent to work, his first position being ill the linen depart ment of a drygoods store, where he caused his own discharge by mimicking the pomp ous manners of the storewalker Taking his cue from the succeeding remark of that individual, which was to the effect that he had mistaken his vocation and should go on the stage" young Barrett secured em ployment as call boy at the Metropolitan theatre in Detroit, at salary of &. 50 q week. He was timid and bashful, but shrewd and observing
 His First Part.
 Discovering that he was not sufficiently educated to take part on the stage him self, he immediately began to stl ', and poured over books for hours by the light of a tallow dip. In 1853 he assumed his first part, that of Murad in the "French Spy" He acquitted himself we'll, and in the following year went to Pittsburg as member of the Grand Opera House stock company of Joseph Foster His first i'm portant part was Sir Thomas Clifford, ir ''The Hunchback." The leading man ol the com pany was suddenly taken ill anG Barrett took the part and won compli metary speech from Miss Julia Dean, the leading actress.
 Roasted" by Artemus Ward. His work was unmercifully criticised ir the leading paper the next morning, how ever, but he afterward found out that tht criticism was written by "Artemus Ward, , who thought, as it was his first dramatic criticism, that it was necessary to "givt sombody roasting." At least this wa, the explanation he made of it years after l ward. At the close of Barrett's season l with Miss Dean he drifted to New York where he secured an engagement to sup port Mrs. McMahon, who prologued ir ''The Hunchback." This was in December 1856, at the old Chambers Street theatre He appeared at Burton's theatre in Febru ary, 1857, in Douglas Jerrold's play, "Time Tries All" -
 F His Acquaintance with Booth.
 It was about this time that he became acquainted with Edwin Booth, to whom he was afterward to be in so close connec tion, and with whom he played his last en gagement. In 1858 he went to Boston anc became leading actor in the Museum Stock company, appearing with William Warrer and other noted actors. He remained al the Museum two years, and then went tt the Howard Antheneum, playing with tht 1 great tragedian of the day. He then went to the Walnut Street theatre, Philadel l phia, and from there to Washington. H' | soon returned to Philadelphia, and played l at the Chestnut Street theatre.
 Afterward he visited all the leading cities in this country, and many If those | in Europe. For the past quarter of { century he has played mainly tragic char acters, such as Shakespeare's and othel standard plays, and has been we'll knowr | all over the country. He has produced many plays as manager during the las ten years, playing himself the leading parts. Some of these were "Yorick'i l I.ovo O tFrancoacs Ia Rinini U sSRion zi'