The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-03-26

~ s: !: &: ~: !: IS: f: =:
MW ager.
It was . quick
LAWRENcE BARRETT transition, that of
the celebrated actor, from the histrionic
boards to the tomb Of death; vet SO far
as the physician was concerned Mr..
Barrett's death was not without
Wednesday evening
DIR. r. II. Chambers was summoned to
Mr.. Barrett's room. The latter COM
planned to the physician of cold, and
wondered whether it would preclude
the possibility of his performing that
night. He insisted upon going to the
theater, but as he was taken with .
chill he was forced to return home.
At II o'clock that night DIR. Chambers
was again summoned and found Mr..
Barrett with high fever and rapid
pulse. A thorough examination re-
vealed no pneumonia, which the ply
sician was fearful would prove
fatal should it set in. It was
Thursday that the first indication Of
pneumonia manifested itself, and DR..
Chambers, fearing the worst, tele-
graphed for Mrs. Barrett, who was in
Boston. Mrs. Barrett arrived ut her
husbands bedside Thursday evening.
Mr.. Barrett's family physician, DIR. Oil
yer, of Boston, was likewise telegraphed
for and arrived Friday morning.
The two physicians made careful
examination, and found that pneumonia
had developed in the right lung. The
patients temperature Friday morning
was lO315, pulse 40, respiration fluctu-
ating between 81 and 36. Another
consultation was held in the after
noon, there being no change. An
appointment was then made be-
tween the physicians to meet
again for consultation at 10 o'clock
at night. Between the hours Of and
10 o'clock Mr.. Barrett's temperature
had risen to los, while his pulse had
grown perceptibly weaker. At 10
o'clock Drs Chambers and Oliver went
to Mr.. Barrett's room. At this time
Mr.. Barrett was in comatose con-
dition, from which, however, he was
reused and appeared to be entirely
conscious Of his surroundings. Soon
there was an evident failing, and at
1O:45 the actor breathed his last.
BARRETT's LIFE sKETcHED.
Lawrence Barrett was born In Paterson. N.
J., on April4 1888 His father was an Irish
man and his mother frugal American. His
mother did her best to gain for her children q
good education. Barrett Was sickly and
feeble. 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 a
boy. He accordingly became call-boy at the
leading theater Of the city. He attracted the
attention OF the manager, and In 1853 made his
debut In small part In the French Spy. I'm
1854, then but i6 years old, he once played
Romeo to Julia Deans Juliet. In 1856 he made a
formal debut In New York at . minor theater
IS Sir Thomas Clifford In ''rhe Hunchback. /"
He was then employed at Burton's In 1859 he
was leading man at the Howard Athannum
Boston. He became soldier during the war
and came out as captain In the Twenty-eighth
regiment OF Massachusetts, volunteers.
Mr.. Bsrrett's sturdy ambition has always
characterized him. Thus he was not altogether
successful on his first trip to England in
1857, but like Disraen In parliament he WAS
finally heard. In 1857 he toured in California
Liverpool. In November, 1859, and thcreabouts
he was the lesding man with Booth. In 1870
he was associated with John Mccullough in Cal.
ifornia, assisting with great credit in the di.
rection OF the San Francisco theater. Decem-
bef q, 1873, he began the remarkable produc
tion OF Julius Cesar at Booths theater. The
run lasted l0S nights. December 4. 1876. Bar.
rett appeared rs King Lear. October 3 1881.
he played "Richelieu' at Haverlys Fifth
avenue theater. October Il. with Edwin Booth.
he gave . matinee, .Othello." for the benefit
Of the sufferers in the Michigan fire. Decem.
ber 5, 1881, he produced Mr.. Youngs Pen.
dragon at Mcvicker's theater, Chicago. Sep.
tember H. 1882. he put forward Bakers Fran
cesca da Rimini' at Philadelphia, and gave II
In revised form at the Star theater. New York
August "a. 1889
July %, 1873. Mr. Barrett's daughter became
the wife Of Baron Roeder at Stuttgart, Ger
many, Mr. Barrett being then in Europe. He
played In England this season and began
In August. 1884. his regular tour oi
this country. February O. 1885. he pro
duced at the Star theater "A Bio,
ON the 'Scutcheon He brought out
"Hcrnani" in Philadelphia about this time and
was seen In It Ut the Star theater February /
1885. "Rienzi" was his next elaborate produc
tion, first In Washington December 13
The season OF 1887 began with the Booth Bar
rett combination, and on December %, 1887, the
two actors appeared at the Academy Of Music
New York, In Julius Cesar" Mr.. Barrett q
Cassius, Mr.. Booth rs BrutuS.
Such audiences were never known in thu
theaters Of the United States rs patronizet
Booth and Barrett throughout the season. thu
unprecedented success Of which il defined b,
the fact that the profit 70 the tragedians abov,
all expenses, was . little In excess Of 100000
In 1850 the two actors were separated
though Mr.. Booth was still under Mr.. Bar
rctt's management playing with Nine. Mod
jeskA In this season Mr.. Barrett produced
''Ganelon" in Chicago and other cities, but
was obliged TO abandon his tour before reach
Ing New York on account OF his health
He had already been to Germany to find
cure for the swelling that appeared OF
his neck. and two operations were performed
In Boston. These seemed quite successful
and he went TO Germany again to recover
strength. He returned last summer to arrange
for the present season with Mr.. Booth. Sinct
the beginning Of the Now York engagement
Mr. Barrett has been seen In fourteen plays
sometimes alone. sometimes with Mr.. Booth.
In the course Of his long professional life .,
star alone on the professional stage Mr.
Barrett had amassed u large fortune. which
he dispensed with q graceful and judicious hos
pitality. His house in bofth avenue, New
York. was . favorite trysting place with thu
literary and artistic circles Of the Empire city