New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-21
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.


April 4, 1888 His father was ali lrishman. His
mother had many excellent qualities Of frugality and
thrift and was anxious to give her children good
Quotations and to enable them TO lead useful lives.
II is said that she often left her household duties TO
carry the boy, who sckly and feeble TO school
In her arms His health improved after his family
removed to Detroit, while he was quite young. But
the family was poor and he had to seek employment
while still boy. He accordingly became callboy
at the leading theatre Of the city, though he
had previously been employed in dIygoods
store. Even here he had shown something OF
the dramatic talents that were afterward to dis
tinguish him. by giving clever limitations for the
amusement of his companions.
II NAV be imagined that a bright boy was no;
slow at the theatre gain love for plays and acting
and that an ambitious boy not slow to resolve to
be an actor and to determine TO be great one. lie
watched all that he around him with studious at
tcntion and treasured all that he could
learn, adding to it in oil his leisure
moments by dligent study. lie had much
to struggle against for the OF fourteen he could
scarcely read and write, yet he worked with the
little resources at his command with patience and
energy that could not but compel success. AS ne
gained in learning, he began learn speeches from
Shakespeare and TO recite them 10 amusc his com
panions, and he watched the method Of such good
actors as he had the fortune to hear. At length he
attracted the attention of the manager and a happy
day the part of Murad in The French spy" was
given to him. 1t is little part but he studied il
with as much care if il had been that Of Hamlet
or Richeeu and he did it 50 well that other small
parts were given 10 him from time TO time in the
next year, which 1858. The following wear the
young actor went TO Pttsburg rs member OF inc
Grand Opera House stock company, then under tine
management Of Joseph Foster. For two years nc
PLAYED in the support Of tie leading actors ana
actresses of the day, among them Edmund Cohnor'
c. ". CouldOck, j. a. Neahc Eliza Logan ana Juha
Nan d.in1
cago ard other Western cities
At the close Of his season with Miss Dean, during
which he PLAYED a number Of important parts ana
made admirable progress in the art OF his profession
Mr. Barrett went 10 New-York, with no definite pros
pects ard was only fortunate in securing an engage
rnent to support debutante, Mrs. Mcmahon, who
played four weeks at Old Chambers Street Theatre
The opening piece CHANGED 10 be The Hunchback'
December, 1886, and lie was the Sir Thomas Chfod.
During this engagement Barrett played variety %
leading parts. and attracted 50 much favorable al
tenon from managers that he placed in the position
Of being able 70 make choice among the theatres OF
NewYork for his next seasons engagement He found
the proposition of Burton best suited 10 him. as
presenting larger advantages and better oppor-
tunitios and an offer from the eminent come
dian was accepted. Mr. Barrett began his WORK
at Burton's Theatre in February, lo0'' appearing
In Douglas JerrOld'S "Tme Tries AL"
IL WAS AT Burtons that Edwin Booth made his APP
pearance and Lawrence Barrett the leading sup
portin youthful characters and thus these TWO young
men brought into professional relations In ue very
beginning Of their careers. and were lea INTO lehu
ship that has since been 50 fruitful to both OF them.
From that time 60 tie present their relations nave Deh
cordially sustained. and the influence OF one upon inc
other Has been OF kind To benefit both to degree &c"
besides themselves appreciate
In the fall Of 1856 Mr. Barrett went 10 Boetoh al"
became a leading actor in the Museum STOCK company
He az once became associated with society OF notable
IN Warren
gan his engagement as Frederick Bramble In the Ola
comedy Of "The Poor Gentleman In whch "r'
Warren was DR.. Ollapod and W. H. smith Sir ROBERT
During his two years stay this theatre Mr. Barrets
played a great variety Of leading characters, ana e.
tablshcd himself firmly In popular favor.
After two years at the Museum Barrett went TO tho
Howard Athenaeum where he PLAYED for one season
supporting many great actors, including Charlotte
Cushman, Barry Sullivan. Ilackett, Davenport ana
CoudOck When theatrical affairs were disturbed ny the
war Mr. Barrett Joined the stock company vi "' "a"
Walnut Street Theatre, in Philadelphia. ana feihaineu
there for three months going thence 10 washington"
where he made many valuable acquaintance a"io"e
them Abraham Lincoln and James a. 6aTheId'
AT the close Of his Washington season lie returned
70 Philadelphia member oil the 'hes'nu' -
Theatre Company, where he again piaSeu III ""ui'e
support with Booth, Davenport anu oVic's Vi ''o
great stars with whom he had now become soino"'aV
familiar At this time, the winter OF looo' Du"i"
Forrest was in retirement, living quietly az MS i"o
In Broad st. He was regular attendant DIT "'o
heatre however, and nearly every e'c'pns No w"
10 be seen in box OF the Chestnut Street THEATRE an
attentive listener He observed young barrett wa"
peculiar and approving interest and on seVer", uo
easons went behind the before tile cioSe Vi '
play. called for the young actor, ana spoAe " a.a"
words OF eommendation or Offered valuable susso',
as 10 the betterment Of some bit OF aco " n, n
Edwin Booth made Barrett an oner 10 '"'' ,', 80
New York, where all important season wac p'', S
the Winter Garden. While he WAS IN NC" ,o.n t
Proposition was made to Mr.. Barrett 10 enter 'o ~
nershp with Lewis Baker in the maIagehc". y. 80
Varieties Theatre, the principal play ,,aa %
Orleans. After some hesitation Mr. Bafrc'. uoT on
enter into the enterprise as one anording him an OPP
portunity TO test himself actor OF ''o o''s-
characters the standard tragic dramas INC y. r
nspt accordingly perfected and Mr., Da''9'' ''s