The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-06-21
EDWIN BOOTH DEAD.
The Great Tragedian Passes Away
Peacefully in New York City

Peacefully In Nc" 1orh Oi'S
Edwin Booth, the well-known actor, died
at the Players Club. New York City, where
he has been i'll for many weeks, at 1 :15
O'Clock few mornings ago. At Mr.. Booths
bedside when he died were Mr.. and Mrs.
Grassman, his son-in-law and daughter. John
Henry Mngonigle and DR.. st. Clair Smith:
The attack which was the beginning OF
Mr. Booths last sickness occurred on
Wednesday, April 10. He had gone to bed
at his usual time on the previous night and
apparently in his usual health. No one went
into his room till his usual time for ordering
breakfast the next morning, and then 1t was
found that he could not speak. He mad mad
a stroke OF paralysis which finally caused MS
death.
Edwin Booth was incomparably the finest
tragic actor of our time, and most playgoers
will no doubt agree that they will never
look upon his like again. He combined the
shirt and intelligence Of Forrest with the
grace and polish of Edwin Adams Though
he came from d long line OF play actors,
several OF whom were distinguished, ne was
accounted q much more finished player
Br,ltus Booth. Edwin Booth was born in
Baltimore, Md, on November 13, 1888,
in which town he lived until he was
about seventeen years old. That he was born
TO be q play actor was shown at an early day.
Edwin Booth, John Sleeper Clark, John E.
Owens, Theodore Hamilton, George kunkle
and half a dozen others formed an amateur
dramatic club. While Edwin Booth and his
playmates were playing at acting, his 1atner'
Junius Brutus, was starring the country.
Edwin went on the stage in 1S49 He was
then only sixteen years old. In several
wears thereafter he was his fathers constant
companion. Together they visited the Pa
cife coast, whence they sailed to Aus
t-alia. In ten years he played anything and
everything. No young actor ever had bet
ter schooling. In 1860 he visited England.
Half dozen years later he for the first time
tried his hand ut managing. he took hold OF
the Winter Garden Theater, New York City,
in which he played Hamlet for 100 nights.
Mr.. Booth had little managerial timber in
his composition. He was too dreamy and
impractical for such work. Still, in his
youth he was IS gay as most actors.
In 1869 he opened Booths Theatre. New York
CITY. managing it himself 1t was by for
the most complete play house In the coun-
try. Still it was failure. Mr. Booth
emerged from its MANAGEMENT, some
$500, 900. He buckled down to act
ing, and in few years had paid off every
penny he owed. His triumphant tour
through the South, which was followed by
a Journey to California, yielded him upward
OF a quarter of q million of dollars. The
hard work this entailed affected his
health. When Lawrence Barrett became
his manager things went we'll with MIR. Booth.
His health improved. He furnished the
Players Club and endowed it handsomely.
Sincs Mr.. Booth retired from the stage in
Brooklyn, in April, 1891, he has lived at
tho Players Club. 1t was noticed
that after the death of Mr. Barrett Mr..
Booth became more reserved and retiring
than ever. He cared little for society. He
had an almost matchless knowledge OF
Shakespeare and the history OF the drama.