Evening journal., 1891-03-21

Mrs. Barrett in Boston, and she arrived az
the bedside of her husband while the doc
tors we're in consultation. Mrs Barrett
feared the worst, owing to his weak con
dition.
They found that Mr. Barrett's right
lung was only partly effected, and the
doctors agreed that the greatest peril was
from his weak condition, due 60 the inn
poyerishment Of his blood.
He had had an operation performed two
years ago, and while the deformities on
the neck had been removed the disease left
him in a wrecked condition.
Visited by Booth.
When the doctors held a consultation
yesterday morning Mr.. Barrett was rest
ing easily He was fully conscious, and
spoke to his wife, who was at his bedside,
and when his friend and fellow star, Ed
win Booth, came gently into the room, he
| greeted him with a quiet smile. He re-
manned clear in mind and was conscious
/ OF all his surroundings until l0;l5 O'Clock,
when be failed 20 recognize Mrs. Barrett,
who held his hand. Thirty minutes later
he breathed his last in the presence Of Mrs
Barrett, DR. Chambers and the nurse Just
as Mr., Barrett was passing away his life
long friend, Edwin Booth, was engaged IN
| presenting the tragedy Of Macbeth" a
| few blocks away.
Lawrence Barrett's Career.
Lawrence Barrett was born in Paterson,
| n j., April 4, 1898 He was a sickly child;
| his parents were in humble circumstances,
and the outlook for his future was far
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 in the linen depart
ment Of a drygoods store, where lie caused
his own discharge by mimicking the 7omp
GUS manners OF the storewalker Taxing
his cue from the succeeding remar B. Ill -
individual, which was TO the effect that he
| had mistaken his vocation and should go
on the stage young Barrett secured emf
| ployment as call boy at the Metropolitan
| theatre in Detroit, at a salary Of $50
week. He was timid and bashul, 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 study, and
| poured over books for hours by the light
Of tallow dip. In 1853 he assumed his
| first part, that OF Murad in the Trench
Spym He acquitted himself well, aud ia
the following year went TO Pittsburg as a
member Of the Grand Opera House stock
company Of Joseph Foster His first inn
portant part was Sir Thomas Clifford. in
"The Hunchbackm The leading man Of
the company was suddenly taken i'm and
Barrett took the part and won conpli-
metary speech from Miss Julia Dean, the
leading actress.
Roasted" by Artemus Ward.
His work was numerically criticised in
the leading paper the next morning, how
ever, but he afterward found out that the
criticism was written by ''Artemus Wari,
who thought, as it was his first dramatic
criticism, that it was necessary to give
sombody a roasting At least this was
the explanation he made Of it years after
ward At the close Of Barretts season
with Miss Dean he drifted to New York,
where he secured an engagement TO sup
port Mrs. Mcmahon, who prologued in
NThe Hunchback" F." This was ia 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"
His Acquaintance with Booth.
1t 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 and
became leading actor in the Museum Stock
company, appearing with William Warren
and other noted actors. He remained at
the Museum two years, and then went to
the Howard Antheneum, playing with the
great tragedian of the day He then went
to the Walnut Street theatre, Philadel-
phia, and from there to Washington. He
soon returned to Philadelphia, and played
/ at the Chestnut Street theatre
Afterward he visited all the leading
cities fn this country, and many of those
in Europe For the past quarter of a
{ century he has played mainly tragic char
acters, such as Shakespeare's and other
standard plays, and has been well known
all over the country. He has produced
many plays as manager during the Lass
ten years, playing himself the leading
parts Some Of these were "Yorick's
Love" francesca Da Rimini, "Rienzia
and -Ganelon." =