The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-07
SEA zzzE. wxDsEsDAE. JCSs .
xDwIs BOOTH.


In the death Of Edwin Booth the Ameri-
ran stage loses very popular tragedian.
whose career has been . comparatively
nabroken success for more than thirty
years. Mr.. Booth was . man Of superior
dramatic talents. but was not. like his
famous father. . man Of histrionic genius.
The elder Booth Was educated at one OF
sic English universities; was thorough
scholar, and before he came to this coun-
try was next to the peerless Edmund
Eean, the first actor on the English
boards. An eccentric man Of dissoluts
kahits, whose genius was dsrkened at
tsu.ss by moods OF insanity. the elder
nooth was easily tho greatest tsaGedian
that ever trod the American stage. This
was tho verdict not only Of the boxes and
sfchestra chairs. but OF the pit and the
galleries.
Put the elder Booth on . hay NOW with
the rudest dramatic and thsatric Access
soyies and - Q mere "barn stoSmer" he
would have thrilled and held his audience
in . mood Of unmixsd admiration and
viva; put his talented con. Edwin, In the
sss,s position. with no dramatic Access
series Of fine scenery and costumes, and
the audience would have voted him to be
handsome man. whose melodious voice
snd tasteful slocution made him . most
agreeable actor and elegant dsclaimer, bus
his fathers power and genius or anything
approaching them Edwin Booth never
possessed.
lie vas distinctly man Of talent, . man
Of industry. man Of taste. . man Of hand
some. well bred appearance. but Of the
divine frs Of histrionic genius. which
moves. sways and awcs . great audience
from IL top Of culture and artistic taste
down 70 its bottom Of rude passion and
uncultured heart, Edwin Booth had not
a spark. He had the advantage Of Law
wonderful father; his name was invested
with compassionate interest when his
hayward brother slew Lincoln; he had re-
ceived . better literary and dramatic edu-
cation In his youth than Barrett. but he
was about the same grade Of that dramatic
talent which does what IL can. while its
best can never hope to approach the ac-
complement Of dramatic genius. which,
like genius In ell other lines of human &C
complainant, does what il must.
The elder Booth, like his great rival.
Edmund kean. rose above the trammcls
of stage traditions when he played
great part. and swept his audience. rs tho
rost Coicridge records. with him a. CON-
ristely ~ II he was great harper sweep
tag the strings Of the human heart with
supreme skill and power. This Is the
quality of true histronic genius. and this
was not possessed by either Booth or
Harriet.
Unlike his great father Edwin Booth
played Hamlet. Othello. Romeo. according
On the absurd traditions Of tho stage
His rendering Of tho parts implied no
more critical. independent study Of great
Part than the capacity Of . young woman
to brilliantly execute fine bit OF famous
music implies that she 10 . great musi-
elan or composer. Given . handsome
face and figure, q mclodious voice and a
knowledge OF the traditions of the stage
unilinching industry will in timc make a
very respect able actor of man or woman
IT very moderate talents. for tho powers
that are necessary are those of imitation
rather than reflection.
To . man or woman who never read
Hamlet" Booth was an interesting per-
con, hut 10 those who have read the play
with the spirit and tho understanding IT
vas "A sorry sight Ia sec Booth stalk
through the scenes with the old tradition al
stage stride. which was laughed at by men
81 taste ~ long ago rs when the Roman
poet Homer satsrired the ancient stage.
Hrmlei Is drawn by Shakespeare as a
prince. the FIRST gentleman Of his court:
his every word and action when he is him
se'f with U0rstio indicate that he was a
high.hresi. genial. noble spirited man. full
cf grace and courtesy. ~ course gallan,
young cavalier like Hamlet did no; stalk
IN and fro like sulkv Sioux warrior.
Hamlet could not possibly have entered
or !efs room with the stride of a Meta
mora. and when Booth. wrapped in his
inky cloak. stalked up and down the stage.
ne suggested Metamcra With his blanke,
exchanged for . coursicr's CLOAK. rather
than = gallant white prince.
When Fcchter played "Hsmie," years
ago he never played Hamlet As II he vas
playing "Uneas. the Lass Of the Mohi.
cans" he walked like . gentleman: he
did no; stalk around the stage Ike "a In
dian warrior saii Of melancholy because
be had failed 60 take scalp.
So. too. Bocta's conception Of Romeo
Vas that 81 an scsor destitute Of reflective
power. for in tae scene where Romeo
climbs Tho balcony Ia kiss juliet, Booth
goes over the haleGny With ali the aeiseera.
zion 81 rymnsss in 4 Circus. og course
grea. Actor Knows tha, an ardent, ro-
0aasie Young l,s.lan lover woa!a no, sion
10 th!nk Of formal gymnastics when he
wanted 80 climb quickly up 70 his ..se.,
girl" on the haleeny.
To BE- reputable master o. the rslrne,i,
sni hissrionie art dess nes irnriy much
pure intellectually. A good elocnssOnist
n~~a not have much brains. while really
great seser. like really rrea. orator. nauss
tsvs . powerful intellectually that is