Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-06-15

tous for his health just at that time,
had grave apprehensions that he would
not have sufficient strength to war
rant attempting a return to New York,
but with cooler weather came an inn
provement in his condition, and he re-
turned to the Players club in October.
From this time those who knew him
most intimately remarked steady de-
cline in his health. This decline be-
came more rapid about six months ago
when he was compelled to take to his
bed, from which he never arose.
THE ACTORS CAREER
Few careers have been at once so great and
30 poetic as that of Edwin Thomas Booth He
was son of MARYLAND BE was born in Hart
ford county, November Is, 1888 He was named
for two OF his fathers personal friends and
professional contemporaries Edwin Forrest
and Thomas F9yna. 1t is recorded that For
rest resented that young Booth did not use his
full name. insisting that he had been christened
Edwin Forrest
Edwin Booth was one of four children born
to the great tragedian Junius Brutus Booth,
and was the youngest of the three distinguished
sons Junius Brutus. John Wilkes and Edwin
The only sister is now Mrs John S Clarke,
wife of the comedian and manager of that
name. now located in London, but still the pos
SCISSOR of large theatrical property in Philadel-
phia
Edwin Booth made his debut September 10,
1e49, at the Boston museum TreSsel in
Richard III -
Young Booth PLAYED small parts for tw
years before he given responsible char
acter. and then he appeared as Richard Ill at
the National theater, New York, under circum-
stances that were annoying at the time, but
which since then have been made to appear as
a part of the elder Booths well laid plan 20
test the boys true metal Just before theater
time the great actor declared himself unfit TO
go to the theater, and refused to rise from the
couch where he had been mapping until aroused
by his flial attendant
When the son urged upon him the absolute
necessity of going to the theater. which by that
time was crowded the father said impatiently:
''Go act 1t yourself"
LIZ desperation the distracted youth rushed
from the hotel to the theater and told his tale
to the dismayed manager incidentally repeat
ing his fathers reckless instruction that he
should play Richard. 1t too late to change
the bill The manager gave the boy second
surprise by saying that he must take his father
at his word, and before he was really out of his
daze he had been hustled into his fathers
dressing-room, thrust into his fathers far too
ample robes and stood waiting for his cue TO
enter the duke Of Gloster.
II was soon discovered, Of course, that the
and not the father was essaying the historic
tyrant, but the interest of the moment sur
passed anv disappoin and the young man
was encouraged from the beginning to the end
with generous applause He was pronounced
successful, and from that date his friends de-
clared that he would be an actor worthy Of his
lineage
In 1852 he and his brother, Junius Brutus.
companied their father to California. His first
appearance after his return was in Richard III.
in Baltimore. The same season he played at
Richmond under the management of Joseph
Jefferson. In 1887 he made his first appearance
as a star, in Boston followed by successful
appearance in Richard III in New York. In
1860 he was married to Mary Devlin, relative
of Jefferson He was playing in Boston when
the news of the assaS siuation Of President Lin
~, Iod fT,n a,6
he soon retired to the privacy of his home.
After a short retirement he was, however,
prevailed upon to return to the stage His later
histrionic efforts were in conjunction with Law
renee Barrett until the death of the latter.
Since then Mr.. Booth has acted but few
times