The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-14
IN EDWIN BOOTHS MEMORY.
s<LTINI, IRr1Ns, AND JEFFERsoN
SPEAK IN HIS PRAISE

All Adnired Hts Art and Loved Hin es . |
Msn-Iwpressive Exercise, on the sir. !
ueth Anniversary OF the Great Actors |
B,rth-"Aunt" BETTY Carey, who Knew
NJ. Booth "M.ster Eddie" There. |
Americas greatest comedian, Joseph Jeffer- |
son: Italv's greatest trseedian. Tommaso SAL
vinl and the leader OF the English stage. Henry |
Irving. were the principal flgures In the Edwin
Booth memorial services held yesterday In the
Concert Hail OF Madison Square Garden. With
these were Joined hundreds OF the players OF
this country and others distlng uished In other
professions, In art. In commerce. In society.
II was the anniversary OF Edwin Booths six
tieth birthday and the day was made an oc-
casion by the players OF New York to extend
moro formal tribute to the memory OF their
great fellowcraftsman than was possible In the
aim lo funeral ceremonies which he desired
The handsome hall was crowded. main floor
and gallery boxes. by the players and their
friends. Admission was by cards issued by
the Players Club. and all the details OF the ex-
ercises were under the experienced care Of
club members. They acted as ushers and
masters OF all ceremonies. There was great
demand for cards OF admission. SO great that
the capacity OF the hall had at asst to deter
mine tho limit Of the issue OF cards.
Yet there was one person who gained adj
mission without card or invitation. An old
coored woman plainly dressed. came to the
door aud asked to be allowed to enter to hear
what his friends had to say In praise OF
Master Eddie" Her EXPLANATION gained her
admission and secured her seat in the front
row. She was Betty Carey. who had been .
slave on tho modest estate Of the elder Booth
in Bel Air. Md. She had known Master
Eddie" Booth from his birth. and In her free
days had been the first Mrs. Booths maid.
She had heard down in her MARYLAND homo.
she explained that tho great friends OF her
dead master were to pay q tribute OF praise to
his memory. and she had como to Now York to
hear their words. Would they admit her?
Those in the audience who saw handsome and
faultlessly dressed Nelson Wheatcroft escort
ing an old colored woman to a front scat did
not know what 1t meant.
The circle back OF the stage was draped in
purple cloth. and befonN This sombre back
ground were rows OF palm and orange trees
supporting Rarlands oflaurel. A pedestal in tho
centre Of the back Of the stage supported Launt
This bust was made twenty years ana more
ago. and. although 1t was alwaysa fayorite OF
hS mss psTt i to d be d
the Players Club. Mr. Booth stipulated that 1t
should never 10 shown in public until after
for the first time. The face OF tho pedestal
bearing this bust was oTnamssntea by white
Grossnan. who was too Ill to be present Her
children were there.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry. Z. Abbey. and Mr. and
piayinT in New York manaeers. and Wflters "
s.1e sas ssas Thes So to
speak and SUN reporter. who know them
asked them about the manuscripts OF their
have written some remarks ks. s SCI i, Mr.;
tna m L DO6Slbl0
tostudy ny own we w9r d. ,,o., 4. ,.u,,. T., ~.
actors sense, meaning memoriza"
d.S Il to hs aqd ID has
his own words. and would therefore have to
vote to my speech. and 1t Is very short. the
a ."a1 ps1t ssould ss have to read What
AZ Sssh sn by ss ss BY f.
Booth 70 Hamle,, BY eighty musicians Of ths
G Hss Sle Of T% Waiter psmroscS. ' '''' w
The feeling. Of the audience. composed in
psrs was eurioSsIy manifested By re 40.
senee Of applause which followed this es,
chan he Wn By
silence.
Sdu ssd d ssr. "a HIS 1sSrs an
Efs surveyed ths silsas sadisaSs : %onsnt,ipp
the effort Of man who was trying hard to con:
troll his emotions. He tried In vain twice: first
When he said. II shared his youthful Joys: It
was on N, ny arm he leaned In the autumn OF his
After he had stated the order OF the exercises
And now It would seem that my duty is
done; but can quit this scene Without telling
Edwn T BOOTH eSis We wer s boys teasther. He
was but ~ years Of age when first met HIM him.
s sSsT oofea anS on the His pends
social and dramatic career was marked
y me from its OsEn.p 4so to co,s IT. eGss
his early domestic life. but 1 was the conndan mt
between him and the sweet lady to whom he
gave his first love-was coRnizant OF his youth
ful courtship. his early marriage. and the be;
reayement that followed after. l have acted
Kim though the woods Ne shared our Youth:
full Joys together. and IN after years he leaned
''lt was but little more than year ago that
We stroiled together upon the seashore and II
considered no man happy until he could enjoy
tho success OF his enemies. surely this was
to step across the threshold from this world to
the next T., ,nov r,r,, Root,,. nuh,,, no,.vo-
lone". but lis privass charities ,wers only r.;
have concealed from all eyes had It been pos,
sb!a. May mention one2 When he returned
to san Francisco after twenty years absence.
he discovered tho ubode OF an old lady who had
ted with him In tho years gone by. He found
her in poverty, and his charitable hand sur
rounded her with comfort Tor the rest OF her
ius o ,.,u If. ,,,,ou
one Of The great traGenIanS Of the world. came
to act in tho city OF Charleston. He was at
tended by MS son Edwin. They We're living ut
the house o:nn oil, irend | saw ;hem under
til. unfortunate city Of Charleston was shaken
&c its very rentre Ivy a terrib BILE earh1pakc. and
that same house. with hundreds oil others was
crushed 10 earth and it's donates nJured mud
ruined. Beiore the fallen telegraph wires had
i,'-n lifted an hour message of comfort to
that afflicted family was flushed over the wires
ny edwin q 9th. with splendid gift that
ailced :hum beyond tho reach OF :yant."
Dir. Joilcrson :hcn told the audience about
Tho success nj petition OF Aunt Betty for ad-
NILSSON to the nall. III conclusion he said:
But mllSt ;respass no further upon your
time that r!-:htGully belongs to others. only
EsE OF you rapt attention. that in which /