The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1891-04-01


when be was sixteen years old be held 6
position in a dry goods house in Detroi
and that his brightness brought hin
promotion. However it is said that be
early developed taste for the drama
greatly to the distress of his worthy pa
rents, and every penny of his spending
money was devoted to the purchase o
tickets admitting him to that theatrical
paradise dedicated to the possession o!
the ''gods" Frequently, when bust
ness was dull, he would be found
mounted on dry goods box in the rear
of the store earnestly declaiming passa-
ges which he bad heard the night before
at the theatre, and when the labors o.
the day were at an end be would re-
hearse, for the benefit of an admiring
audience of fellow clerks, the com bat
sceLe from Richard ILL.," welding a
sangulnary yardstick in lieu of a better
weapon. In spite of these theat1ical
procivities the embryo actor might have
settled down to mercantile pursuits fer
the remainder of his life, and eventually
developed into staid business man but
for one little circumstance, which, al
though trivial in its character, really
shaped his future destiny. The ''store
walker" of the establishment vas unpop-
ular with the boys in the store, and one
night young BARRETT was initiating bis
mannerism TO their intense delight whe n
all at once the laughter suddenly died
away. Turning, the mimic perceived to
his horror that the object of ridicule had
entered the store unpercieved and was a
silent witness of the scene.
"You have evidently mistaken your
vocation, young man." said the irate
storo walker, ''you should 60 on the
stage"
From that moment he determined to
become an actor. He began on salary
of -. so week. The Herald says:
The night of his first appearance in a
speaking part came at last. The pl ~
was "rhe French Spy and Barrett vas
cast for Murat He was dead letter per-
feet in his few lines, but when he step
ped upon the stage the dazzle of the
foot lights the presence of large audi
ence in front and the novelty of the sit
uation utterly blinded and confused
him. His tongue Glove to the roof of
his mouth. his limbs trembled, memory
was dead blank and he was finally com
PEELED to retire amid the Kisses and
laughter of the gallery gods without
having uttered a word. For the next
three months he could not speak line
of his parts. and was always pushed off
the stage ir disgrace. Time after time
the irate manager ordered him from the
premises, but he wouldn't stay dis
charged, and finally he was tolerated a,
a nuisance that could not be abated Iu
time, however, he managed the stage
fright and joined small travelling com
pany that played throughout this STATE
and finally collapsed at New Castle, Pa !,
leaving the members penniless
He made western tour, and in small
Ohio town the newspaper ridiculed hi
performance unscathingly. This rdi-
cule angered him so that he could nor
rest ain the tears. and then and there he
formed resolution ito win from rebel
lious fame aud from unwilling critic
a complete vindication of his abilities
against the merely censorious" He
went to Philadelphia, Boston and other
places, and during all the years devoted
his entire spare time to the study of the
great characters of Richlieu, Lear, Ham
let, Cassius and Richard Ill. HIS great
success was in the impersonation Of
Cassius and it is with that lean and
hungry Roman his name is insepars bly,
linked
Mr.. BARRETT was not only great actor
but was successful manager as well,
aud in his celebrated engagement with
Edwin Booth be was the manager.
In his private life he was genial,
refined aud attractive. His home
was happy one, and neither his wife
Or children were connected with the pro-
fession which he honored. No man has
lived who has exerted q more elevating
influence upon the stage than LAWRENCE
BARRETT, who had in his brilliant career
delighted and instructed millions and
driven carking care from many a weary
heart Concluding an appreciative
sketch of MR.. BARRETT, the New York
Herald says:
"No actor has deserved better of the
public, for none other has held to higher
purpo. es, and none has done so much to
dignity the stage, or advance ard beau
tify its art. Faithful to the laudable
ambition of his youth, true to the ideal
of bis deep, sympathetic intelligence, be
has been at once a servant and patron
of his art profession, of incalculable
benefit and honor to the stage of this
country. To bis wisdom. moral force
and artistic enterprise, as much as to
any other influence that can be named,
is due the high standard of the American
stage in comparison with that of older
art-serving countries. The knowledge
acquired in foreign travel aud through
close friendly Intercourse with the best
minds of the United States and Eurore
he applied to the enriching Of his pro
fession, so that students of the drama
had no better preceptor Indeed, nc
safer intellectual guide than this emf
nent actor.
Remarkable Rescae.
Mrs. Michael Curtain, Plat iieid, I'll
makes the statement that she cad FL
cold, which settled on her hugs; She
was treated for month by her family
physician, but grew worse. He told her
that she was HopEEDss VICTIM orsGON.
SUMPTION and that no1Enedicine 6uld
cure her. Her 49, sa1essee
Kings New 1Ip1
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