Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-16
Written for The Evening Star.
AN HOUR WITH BARRETT,
A Glimpse Of the Tender Side Of the Actors
Nature.

N OAAAAAPo0 Va tAAO Acuuer SlO0 "a Sno ACSOI
Nature.
HIS EARLY ExPEaIENcEs IN Bosrox-Hu CRATE
FUL MEMORY OF WARREN, THE COMEDIAN
HELPING YOUNG MEN ALONG IN TIE PROBES
sIoN-NoT POPULAR AMONG ACTORS.
A neatly furnished parlor at Wizards, table
on which there was copy Of Hamlet, and
chair SO arranged that visitor would naturally
drop into it. Having done so he would also
see upon the table an envelope out Of which
peeped note. This looked as if it had been
carelessly left by the occupant of the room,
but knowing the habits of that occupant was
satisfied that chair, table and envelope had been
carefully arranged beforehand
This thought came to me as dropped into
the chair to wait for the entrance Of Mr.. Law
renee Barrett some years ago. He had
made the appointment for me to call
and was punctual to the hour
named. As l cast my eye toward the table
saw that the envelope bore the official stamp of
Executive Mansion" and was sure then, if
had been in doubt before, that the room had
Deen duly set prior to my arrival. was
equally certain that I would know all about the
contents Of that note before our interview was
over, and did. In a few minutes Mr.. Barrett
entered through the portieres from the adjoin-
Ing room. greeted me very cordially and we
drlfted into pleasant conversation that lasted
something over an hour.
mention these details to show that although
Lawrence Barrett was genial and companion
able man In private life to those with whom he
became intimate, he never failed to get the
benefit of theatrical effect. l knew Mr. Bar
rett and esteemed him very highly. / appre-
clated the struggle he had made to reach the
nigh position in his profession which he occu-
pled at the time of his death; knew how hard
he had studied to acquire that education that
had been denied him in his youth and was
aware OF the difficulties he had experienced be-
fore he reached that social recognition which
was, perhaps, more grateful to him than even
the praise he received for his professional
work.
HIS EARLY EXPERIENCES IN BOSTON.
remembered when he had come to the Bos-
ton Museum as its leading man, a slim young
fellow, looking more youthful than he really
was. bnt with an intense ambition and a con-
scientiousness in his work that commanded the
respect OF his Older and more experienced as
socrates in the company and the appreciation
of the patrons of that or thodox place of amuse-
mont. recollected how patriotic he was dur
ing the war, how he had gone into the army
and served calamity in defense Of the Union,
and had carefully watched his career after
ward and noted his gradual but certain devel-
opment as an actor. His whole career is a
splendid illustration of what high aim, per-
severance, untlrlng energy and seif-reliance can
accomplish.
He was not ashamed of his early poverty
although he did not thrust it forward, pre-
ferring to keep his struggles in the background
and be received for what he had made himself
lie was said to be q cold, unfeeling man, thor
oughly selfish and without any gratitude to
those who had aided him when he WAS I'M
known, but know to the contrary. and story
that be told me Of the late Vim. Warren is SO
firmly fixed III my memory that believe l can
give 1t substantially in MIR. Barretts own
words.
when I was engaged as leading man at the
Boston Museum, said he, 81 had been playing at
Burton's Iheater in New York and had made a
little reputation as an actor OF some ability
and promise. / think, however. that the work
did as support to lady, who had an ambition
to star, and who had engaged a theater and a
company herself, had more to do with NV Bos-
ton engagement than anything else. l
cepted the position and terms without any real
idea OF the character of the company of which
was to be the head or the public
which l would have to please, and
the week before the season was TO
the company was called l had met only one
OF the members Of that body before and that
was Mr.. Warren, whom / had aided in New
York short time previously. He came for
ward, greeted me kindly and introduced me to
the rest OF the company, each of whom said a
few pleasant words to me in the effort to make
me feel at home. Wild Oats was the play
selected for the opening night, and of course
was cast for E0reTi. The other parts were as
signed and then VIC separated. don't think
i'll the whole course of my professional life |
ever so distrusted my own abilities as on that
day. found that the company was like one
great big family. each member being expe-
rIenced and having a recognized standing,
while all were much older than /. There were
Miss Kate Rcignoids, an excellent leading lady;
Mrs. j. IL. Vincent, one OF the best cid women
on the stage, whose Mrs MdLdprop, LIdy Du.
terty and characters of that line I have not
seen surpassed; Mr.. VIM. III. Smith, John Wilson,
Jimmy Ring and others whose names do not
now remember. l think if l had known and
understood the character of the company when
the engagement was offered me l would have
declined 1t. As 1t was, in that frs: day of
meeting those with whom was to be associated
began 10 wonder if l really had the ability to
fulfill the task that would be required OF me.
HOW WARREN HELPED HIM.
"Another thing that bothered me was about
my wardrobe. 1 had no personal wardrobe
and was poor and unable to buy one. When
had been at Burton's. although played
good line of business. always got my Costumes
from the property room. 1 found at the Mu-
scum that each member of the company had
his own wardrobe, and l began to speculate as
to what l should dc. l knew l could fake up a
dress for R0CG', but what would come after
that ulu not KNOW. All this went through my
mind very rapidly and felt very down hearted
although l eIdeavored not 20 show it, Still
something of the way felt must have mani
Tested itself in my countcnance. for as We sep
aratod Mr.. Warren put his arm in mine and as
we got into Court Square he remarked, WHAT'S
the matter, Mr.. Barrett? You seem rather
dOwn-hearted'
ii told him that was down hearted for I
distrustei my ability to play leading business
In a company like that l had just met and
added that had good mind to throw up nv
engagement and so back to New York Mr..
Warren asked me if it wasn't rather cowardly
to runaway before had been under fire and I
admitted that it was, and then told him nv
trouble about the wardrobe. The old gentle
man s manner was kind that Just opened
my heart and told him how poor l was. I
added that supposed l could get an advance
from the management, but that 1 hated to
do that because it would place me under
an obligation, and would prevent nv
doing my best work. He agreed with me that
IT would be disadvantageous to put myself in
tbs power of tho management and SAID that we
must think OF some other way. All tho time
we had been talking We had been walking and.
as l was not well acquainted i'll Boston had
no particulars idea where we were going. Ri
naliy Mr.. Warren stopped ut costumers and
invited me III, stating that there way where he
lI