The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1893-06-15
4 uraat PlaNer conc.

rom the American stage It's most |
conspicuous as well as lis most illuttri- /
JUS figure, He fulfilled in a large meas
are acting is gift, a matter Of temper
sihent, and those who Insist that is the
product Of intelligence alone. Ma
cauay has somewhere described the
highest oratory asa fusion Of passion
and reason, and asthe arts of acting
and speaking are closely allied, it may
be said Mr. Booths histrionic end.
owment correspond to this description.
He seemed ever TO be swayed by the
very feelings and thought Of the
character he represented, YET every
gesture was directed and regulated by
afne, high, comprehensive intelligence
which left nothing to chance or inn
pulse.
While Mr.. Booth exemplified the
noblest and worthess functions and
purposes OF the stage and the actor, in
his own person, it an not be claimed
that his influences on current the
atrical history was as marked as it
should have been, After his great fame
was established he made no further
exertion to provide important, instruc-
tive or novel theatrical productions
Mr.. Henry Irving has accomplished
in England and the late Lawrence
Barrett was continually engaged in
Undertaking to achieve in this country
results which rebound to their credit
/ results which elevate the stage pro.
fession to the dignity and value oithe
highest of mems callings In these
things Mr.. Booth seemed to take only
a slight and imperfect, interes satisf-
ed to let others employ their energy
and industry on affairs which he
might have made brilliant and re.
nowned. He was seemin gly, as little
inclined to experiment with new crea.
tions as with great productions. Early
in life he mastered several OF the
classical roles, and for thirty years
was content to reproduce them. He
must have been conscious as was the
English speaking world that in many
i of them not one OF his notasble
/. predecessors from Betterton 10 Mac
ready, and his own father excelleC
him. This realization was rock upon
, which he could afford to rest hi life
!, work With security and satisfaction
: but he might have given to hi
powers wider scope.
a In contemplating Mr.. Booths re
i lations with the public, the tragi
occurrence Of April 70, 1865, cal
! never be left out of the calculation
4 Naturally sensitive, gentle an
! modest man, this event had a powers
! full and direct influence on his sui
sequent career. It was the source o
!, constant, unvarying and biting annoy
ance and distress to him, and doub
: less had a determining effect on al
! his subsequent acts. Perhaps if it ha
never occurred Mr.. Booth would nc
! have been open to the about mention
i ed delinquenies touching his ente
: prise in fostering his art.
!, Mr.. Booths life was like tina
!, of Mr.. Jefferson above reproach, an
:. furnished a refuation of the heedle
indictment that actors are not r
: strained by those ties and associatio;
which give stability to the moral su
roundings OF those not on the stag
10 His appetites we're moderate and h
10 habits sensible except in one directio
~ the use Of tobacco, and the excessiV
no use Of this is probably due, indirect
= at least, as in the case Of Gen. Gran
- his death. While Mr.. Booth was nc
" in a technical sense, a scholarly ma
- he was beyond question a deeply al
ue widely conversant with dramatic Il
. erature. He wrote stong, pure E
ne glish, and his expressions were markt
~ by clear perception and solid nnde
~ standing, tinged, it is true, by the m,
y ancholy which ever clung to hi
~ Genius alone will not inspire afectio
M and if Edwin Booth could choose
y tribute he would be satisfied with Il
= assertion, which is true, that amor
W. all his professional associates, from t
'i'' humbest to the first, there was n
an one who did not love and esteem hi
~ -Conrier-Journal
elF THE faux pas Of the President Of t
oi Worlds Fair yesterday in attendil
III the breakfast givin by Mayor Harris
= in evening dress will doubtless pro
en- a sweet morsel ior the Jealous NJ
th- Workers
,ly
we THE report that General Pass-ene