The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-06-15
WALTER LEHMAN,
The Veteran Actor, and His Reminis-
CenCes of Edwin Booth.
Incidents in the Early Career of the
Deceased Tragedian When He
Lived in This City.

The late Walter Leman, in recording
his memories Of stage experience, refers
to Edwin Booths second visit to this
State, after his return from Australia,
whittier he had gone in company with
Laura Keene and David Anderson, both
of whom have preceded him to the grave.
In the light of Mr.. Booths splendid
career reference to his early years in
the profession cannot fail to be interest
ing. 1 first knew Edwin Booth, writes
Mr.. Leman, in the old Sacramento Thea
ter in 1876. Up to May, 1886, he played
there, and in the Forrest Theater, an ex-
tended round of characters with varying
success, but with constant progress.
His first performance of Richard was
in August, and the Sacramento critics
pronounced him promising" Same
month he played Hamlet. 1 remember
it because 1 played the Ghost, and Mrs.
judah the Queen, and the UNION the
next morning said: Mr.. L. Booth por-
trayed the character of the Prince of Den
mark most wildly, and in some scenes
his acting compared very favorably with
that of Murdoch" He appeared as De-
metrius in "A Midsummer Nights
Dream" and AntiphoIus of Syracuse in
The Two DrOmios." He also played
Bucket, the detective, in BLEAK House,"
showing himself genuine STAR" as the
Sacramento UNION remarked.
Manton in The Millionaire" Wild
rake i'll Tho Love Chase were among the
many characters that he played in support
of the Gougenheim sisters. He went to
Marysville in November and afterward
united the two companies of the Forrest
and Old Theaters, Sacramento, and
played Benedick, Charles Surface and
Young NARROW. Mrs. Sinclair was then
fighting her way through the Forrest
divorce suit. Reaching Sacramento, she
leased the "Old' Theater, and enrolled
Mr.. Booth in her company, with Henry
Sedley and others. Here Booths acting
OF Claude Melnotte drew forth great
praise, and critic of the time declared
that IF the subject of this notice will but
apply himself industriously and perse-
veringly 10 his profession he will ere long
rank himself among the foremost of liv-
ing actors" This was prophecy.
Mr.. Booth made his great success as
Raphael in The Marble Heart" which
had a run of nineteen nights, the Marco
of the cast being Mrs. Catherine Sinclair.
The company then went to Nevada
City and Marysville, and on returning to
Sacramento The Marble Heart" was re-
placed on the stage and again had a long
run, at the end of which a complimentary
benefit was rendered Mr.. Booth in
the genius of the man" and sin honor
of his great talent.H = In March
following Mrs. Sinclair's farewell benefit
was announced, as she was going Last to
appear at the second trial of her divorce
suit, and on that occasion Booth appeared
as the Due de Charities in The FolIies Of
Night" That performance was
strange medley of the classic and Ethi-
opian drama--Booth, Sedley and Wheat
leigh in the first, sam Wells, Billy Birch
and Goes in the last. John 5. Patten next
engaged MIR. Booth for the Forrest, but
the engagement was not a success.
In April Lewis Baker became manager
of the theater and Mr.. Booth was his
leading man. One night a Sacramento
dancing-master attempted Hamlet and
Mr.. Booth appeared as the ghost, Sophie
Edwin as Galen and Mrs. Thoman as
Ophelia. The dancing-master was not
satisfied with one exhibition of his folly,
and on attempting to repeat the piece met
with "Shale's" reception, being hoOted
from the stage with shouts of Hands
across ~ Ladies' champ Down the
middle ~ etc. a few nights later Mr.
Booth played Hamlet to splendid bene-
tit, when the UNION said: There is moth
ing now to hinder his onward march to
the highest distinction i'll his profession"
Prophecy again.
Mr. Booth also appeared as Sir Edward
Mortimer in The Iron Chest,' a charac-
ter in which his father was superlatively
great Afterward he ran through the
whole range of tragic characters with in
crossing popularity, and one night APP
peared for the benefit of the family of
James King of William, who was muir
dered by Casey.
In this continuous round of arduous
effort. extending over period of twelve
months, Mr. Booth proved the spirit that
was in him and which placed him at the
head of his profession.