The Irish standard., 1893-06-10

were watching knew it. Grouped
about the bedside were Mr.. Booths
ssn-in-law and daughter, Mr.. and Mrs
Ignatius Grossman; J.. H. McGonigle
superintendent of the Players club anc
a brother in-law of Mr.. Booth; William
Bisl,am, close personal friend OF
Grossman, and Charles III. Carrel, one
of the Players clubhouse committee
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Edwin Booth was born in Bel Air near Bal
timore, Md, and was the son Of Junius Brutus
Booth the elder, an English actor, who OBJ
tanned his reputa ton. however, mainly In the
United States. He was named Edwin Thomas,
out Of compliment to his fathers friends, Ed
win Forrest and Thomas Flynn, both great
actors. The boy Edwin had but few oppor'
tunities for educa ton, but he took the best pos
sible advantage of these, with the result tina,
he gained for himself an excellent education
while still a lad Although the elder Booth at first
objected to his sons going on the stage, he did
finally consent, and the young mans first ap-
pearance In any part occurred In 184s at the
Boston museum, when he appeared as Tressel
in Richard Ill" He made success in this
small part, and from that time forward no
question was raised as to his continuing on the
stage. His capacity, indeed, so demonstrated
itself that he WAS presently playing Cassie in
"Othello'' and MILFORD in "rhe Iron Chest -
his performance OF the latter character being
highly commended.
During two years Edwin continued to play
with his father in different cities, making his
first appearance in New York, September q,
1880 ut the National theater, Chatham street,
in the character of Wilford The following year
ne took the most important step in his dramatic
career up to that period by playing Richard
I'LL at the same theater, in place OF his father,
who had been taken suddenly ILL., This per
Torrance gave him at once the reputation OF
being an actor of unusual promise.
AT that time the elder brother or Edwin j.
B. Booth, was MANAGER Of . theater in San
Francisco, Cal, and the two went th1ther and
played with him in the popular pieces of the
day. In the latter part of 1852 the elder Booth
died while on his way from New Orleans to
Cincinnati Edwin was now left to rely upon
his own intellectual resources and he con.
tinued to travel through the state OF California
playing, amid great deal Of poverty and
many hardships, whenever opportunity offered.
Even at this early period of his life he had al
ready added to his repertoire the characters OF
Shylock, Macbeth, Hamlet, and his great part
of Sir Edwin Mortimer in 1.-THE Iron Chest. "
In 1854 he played in o company with Miss
Laura Keene in Australia, hut returned to the
United States the following year and ,origi-
mated in San Francisco the character of Raphael
in 1.-THE Marble Heart" He ais, at this time
made his first appearance In Rich ellen, which
atterward became one Of his most noted charac-
ters 'ssA' Y. s'*S ~ - ~
BY this time the name and fame of Edwin
Booth had Travelled to the Atlantic cities of the
United States, and there was experienced
everywhere. between San Francisco and New
York, the greatest possible desire to witness
the powerful representations OF Americas new
and obviously great tragedlan. Accordingly,
in 1857 MIR. Booth went to Baltimore and
played at the Front Street theater, playing aft
erward through the principal southern cities
with the greatest success In April 81 that
year he played in Boston Sill. Giles Over.
reach in IA New Way. to Pay Old Debts, y
and created Juror: In the following
month he appeared at Burton's Metro,
politan thealer, New York. where he aroused
the greatest enthusiasm. and, within another
year he had achieved, by sheer power, intelli-
gence and art, the highest position on the
American stage-a position which he never
after lost, SO long as he regularly followed his
profession. ess al rs l ;,
During his professional career Mr.. Booth ap-
peared number of times in London, where he
played with Henry Irving, and also in Ger
many, where he was highly praised by Emperor
William L For number Of years Mr.: Booth
made starring excursions throughout. the
United States, in partnership with the late
Lawrence Barrett. until the latter's death,
early In 1891 Since that. time Mr.. Booth APP
peared infrequently having led retired life