New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-10
DEATH OF HENRY EDWARDS
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER AND HIS ART AS
AN ACTOR.

AN ACTOR
Henry Edwards. the old and highly esteemed actor
died at his home. No. 1875 East one hundred and
sixteenth-st at 80 O'Clock yesterday morning Ills
health had been falling for long time and he went
to the Catshills some time ago in the hope OF i'm
provement. He returned yesterday afternoon only a
few hours before his death. He suffered from
complication of diseases including Brights disease,
and he had recently had attack of pneumonia
Nevertheless, his death at this time was unexpected
He leaves wife.
The funeral will take place at the home Of the dead
man at p. m. tomorrow. william Winter
will deliver an addredd, and choir of boys viii
sing Angels Ever Bright and Fair and "Rock OF
Ages The paIl-bearers viii be A. NJ Palmer Theo
dore Moss, Joseph Jefferson Louis Adnch, William
Bispham Richard Dorney, Joseph H. Tooker William
J. Florence Charles W. COudock Harrison Grey FisKe
George Becks. f. F. Mackay Maurice Barry more j. H.
Stoddart, James B. Wright. J. II. Magonige and George
Parsons Lathrop II was Mr. Edwards's request that
there should be no elaborate service at his funeral and
that his body should be cremated and these wishes VIII
be carried out
Henry Edwards removes yet another
figure the RAPIDLY essenng group Of the actors OF
the old school. He upon the local scene after
Blake and Mark Smith had PASSED away, and when Gil
bert and Warren were manlfesy growing old He came
as an actor of old men, and Of what are called char
acter parts but it in the line Of old men that he
y
Of Gilbert Warren, Smith. Placide, Daydge, Holland
and Chppendale that the Of Henry Edwards VIII
be remembered. Long before he became known TO the
New-York audience he had gained his reputation IN
Australia and California as a votary OF the poeuc
drama, as a Shakespeare scholar, and as one OF Che
soundest actors OF the modern stage; but he was
already past the middle age when he accosted me
New York public and he had ceased 10 represent the
heroes and lovers and gallant cavaliers. lie came to
In the sunset light and the hues that he wore were
the sober hues Of autumn. The characters with which
his image is associated in immediate recollection are
eloquent Of his artistic position He IS remembered
not as Mercutlo or FalconbHdge, or Mirabel but as
Master Walter Sir Oliver surface, Max Hathaway, and
old Rocket His range indeed, much wider than
s indicated in these suggestive names, for ne coulo
pass from Autolycus to DOgberry, from Polonlus w
Kent from julius Caesar to Earl Dorincourt; ana the
never missed one shade Of meaning, or omtted one
fibre Of nature or lost felicity Of Characterization
In either Of those parts He excelled as ue IIelu
aristocrat: he the exact type OF ceremonious
a-tifciality as Pomplon he expressed perfectly well
the alert shrewd worldly, willy humor and SNUG
complacency OF Sir John Vesey; he was admlraDly
truthful as the hollow Parvenu and at the same time
he could identify himself with the bluff, downright
burly good-n OF Sir Oliver Surface, and with the
homely sweetness and bengnant simplicity Of the
Vicar Of Wakefield The nature 10 which all these
varieties Of personality were possible in art was
nature Of rare opulenoe and depth. That the actor
thus qualified did not make greater impression upon
his time IS due to his modesty, his reticence and
the Incidence Of dreaming and drifting temperament
He never thought of himself first; he never Thought
highly Of himself at all. He was one OF the hndest
and simplest of men, in every relation Of fe and one
Of the finest gentlemen that ever trod the stage.
Henry Edwards was born at Ross. In Wales, Sep
TENDER g. 1924. In youth he studied law and he
gained some experience in business pursuits but his
bent for science and the arts and this nc
wisely followed. At early age he went TO ANS
trala where he his first appearance as an actor
and where he passed many and prosperous years. He
was then associated with that excellent and once fam
Gus actor Gusavus V. Brooke, and also with the brill
liant eccentric comedian George Fawcett Rowe recently
deceased whose devoted friend he remained 10 the last
1867 he vOyaged from Australia to California, where
he became associated with the Metropolitan Theatre
Of san Francisco and later with the California Iheatrc
under the management of Lawrence Barrett and John
MCCULLOUGH For many years after that time he
lived in san Francisco. respected and beloved by all
who knew him. lie a prominent member OF
the Bohemian Club Of that city, and he TOOK an acuVe
part not only in the dramatic enterprise of the place.
but in every important movement OF art and science
within its limits In August, 1876, he delivered an
admirable oratlon at the annual reopening OF the
Mechanics' Fair in san Francisco. upon Iron, ana
It's Relation civilization That Grafton toSetn9f
1883 by Putnam, Of this city, under the ute Gi
a Mingled Yarn lie felt a deep interest IN
eXtonsjve ard minnie lie had formed collection
OF Insects OF the largest and most dlversed Iae
have been made in America, and ne was never weary
Of displaying those trcasuIos.-chehy butterflies OF
every kind.and Of eXpatatng on their Rea9I g
residence at Roxmry near Boston. In order 10 be
near Harvard University and the scientific men IN
Measure In 1870 h. came to New York and re
sumed his active association with the stage. lie Wa
member Of Waliack's company almost contlnuaaIL
from 1870 until It's disruption in 1887. His hrst
appearance at walacrs Theatre vas made At tn
Cencb in II. J. Byron's comedy Of Our Girls and
there. on december 90 that year, he made a marked
Hearts r. Ills career at wallacIs is readily within
the remembrance Of this public He was aSsoa yea
first old men fell to his lot; but he obtained the
second old men ard d s4meune aTG bete
they were of the second order OF tie first he was
always exact cosen lmpTe ,ny heAOie ana ADMIR-
After The Wasek company P %9s o Isl Fno
barlus. and presently in tho season Of 100; he
made an expedition 10 his old home, Australia, where
he presented the a eI IN e L@ 5ocrar Sve
1ie . wa warmly welcomed in Australia but he missed
the faces Of many old friends and the place saddened
him by suggestion Of the rlvages OF time so that ne
came member Of Mr.. Dalys company. and appeared
sir Oliver surface ard later b as , Ho2ere m
He was attacked with pneumonia but he recovered
and he went with the company on its tour. At Boston
10 he was in New York and made his last visit 10 the
Players Club Of which nc was one OF the incorporates
and directors The hand Of death was then vislblv |
upon him vet his spirit remained firm and he spoke |
With hone few DAYS later on MAY 20, he was at ARR
VILE In tho CatsltH Mountains but he returned
and he was at his home In Harlem, when he en- !
mourned and long and sOrely missed. The loss to /
The stage cannot soon be supplied. To the many |
friends who loved him-whO were cheered by his Tel.
iowship. animated by his high ideal Of conduct and
couforted by ms sympathy and his perfect spiritual
fath-the loss is rrcparable
pr-ccrrr uoTCUKIsS UOADLFY