New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1893-06-28
DISLIKED THE STAGE
What Edwin Booth; Told 8 Friend Who
Would an Actor Be.


Through the kindness Of Mr.. Charles:
Leonard Fletcher the Herald is enabled
to present . letter from Edwin Both te.
q friend who was anxious to. make acting
his profession, but is now Appointment
physician IN this city. In il Mr.. Booth
reveals 9 distaste for the stage which will
surprise thousands who have known;
him as the greatest American actor Of
his age. a facsimile Of the letter IS give d
herewith. The full text is as follows:
81 was indeed startled, and, must con-
fess, panied By your letter announcing
your determination to abandon your pro-
fession for that of the stage, and in sim
cere frankness beg you to reconsider
the matter, for I really have no hope for
a satisfactory result from such change.
The feelings which prompt you to take
this step mean your love, enthusiasm
and natural inclination do not imply
an ability for the art. There are hundreds
of disappointed lives wasting on the stage,
where they felt, as you do, that bril-
liant destiny awaited them. You may
be able to recite in private with perfect
ease and properiety, even with excellence,
and yet have no other qualification for
the highest form Of dramatic expression.
It is life of wearisome drudgery, and
requires years of toll and bitter disap-
pointments to achieve position worth
having. You can form no idea of the
many who solicit my influence, every
season professionals and amateurs,
friends and strangers, ofall qualities,
male and female. 'Tis very seldom that
can serve them, for managers prefer to
judge for themselves; and as my .ssup-
port" no matter how capable it may be,
has been abused by the press for many
years past,and will always be till the end
of my career, my recommendation is not
regarded by managers whose judgments
are greatly Influenced by what the. critics
tsay. l have known many whc, like you,
gave up home, friends and respectable
positions for the glitter of the actors
calling, and who now are fixed for life
in subordinate positions unworthy their
breeding, education and natural refine
ment. I beg you as your friend and
sincere we'll wisher to abandon the mis-
taken resolve and enjoy the drama as a
spectator, which pleasure. as an actor you
would never know, and retain the fami-
", friends and happy home that now
are yours. Hal nature fitted me for any
other calling I should never have chosen
the stage; were I able to employ my
thoughts and labor in any other field
would gladly turn my back on the thea.
ter forever. An art whose professors and
followers should be of the very highest
culture is the mere makeshift Of ever,
| speculator and bore that can hire thea
!. ter or get hold Of some sensational rub
bish to gull the public. am not very
much in love with my calling as it nov
is (and, I fear, will ever be); therefor,
you see how 10th am to encourage an,
to adopt it. / know you will take my
Eadvice, as it issmeant in sincere Kindness
and believe that my only wish is to spar.
| you the sorrow that must follow the
course you would pursue.
i Not many, except Mr.. Booths most
/ intimate friends, knew how desponden,
he was for the future of the stage. All
the tim. he wrote the letter he was al
I. the zenith Of his successful career New
York Herald. Il
Honoring q Vet III
It was on the 500 train. between
Paynesyille and Glenwood and the cars