The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-11-14
.HONORING EDWIN BOOTH
Oommemorating the Great Actors
Birthday in New York,
ADDRESSES BY EMINENT ACTORS.
jefferson, Irving aud Saivini Unite in
Words Of Praise for fse Distinguished
Trsgcdian who Has Some So Much for
the Dramatic Art ln America,

- 80
""iuS VI '"''' '''
Tragedian Who Has Zone So Much for
the Dramatic Art In America
NEW YORK, Nov. li-SlNty years ago |
Edwin Booth was born NeSterdny, IN the
concert nall I'M Maul 1 square Garden |
exercises We're held To commemorate UhaU
day and to do honor to the memory OF tne
great actor FlIteen hundred people gum
cred there, among whom We're those most
prominent ON the stage, ln literature ana |
IN other nelds The nall was appropriately |
decorated Joseph Jefferson acted as presl-
dent, and Henry irving anu lomaso sal |
VIM were present
Invitations had been issued only TO those |
more intimately acquainted with Mr.. |
Booth and to the members of the clubs to |
which he belonged Miss Ellen Terry who |
Is at present playing with Henry Irving, |
occupied one of the boxes, Mark Twain !
was present as well as Mrs Eid1dge !
Charles Dudley Warner, President Seth |
Low, of Columbia, Elihu Nedder and the |
members of all the special committees, |
which were composed of prominent actors, |
artists and public men, @
Joseph jefferson, during the course OF
his remarks, after reciting the nature of
the exercises and introducing the various
speakers, said:
But now il would seem that my duty
is done. But ! cannot quit this scene with
out telling you how closely allied | was in
friendship with Edwin Booth. We were
boys together. He was but l6 years Of
age when ! first met him-the sweetest ma
ture the haudsomest face l ever looked
upon / marked the beginning of his
aTnln pn
"Perhaps / press to closely upon his
early domestic life but ] was the contidant
between him and that sweet lady to whom
he gave his first love- was Coguizant of his
youthful COurtship, his early marriage,
and the bereavement that followed after
l have acted with him upon the stage and
rambled with him thro D the woods We
shared our youthful Joy together and, in
after years. ne leaned upon my arm when
| broken down with illness and overwork
1--WE all know Edwin Booths public be-
nevolence, but his private charities were
| only revealed to his friends 1t was but
| little more than year ago that we
strolled together upon the seashore, and,
| il | remember his thoughts and words
Alright, he considered no man happy until
| he could enjoy the success of his enemies.
( Surely this was an elevated condition for
/ one who was about to step across the
| Threshold from this world to the next"
Henry Irving spoke as deeply from the
! heart as jefferson had done of his de-
parted friend. He said: 81 deem it a great
! privilege to he here today and to be per
mitted to t;tSe part in the proceedings
which have been ordained to honor the
memory of Edwin Booth. | think | must
| be amongst the eldest of his friends for.
more than thirty years ago when begin
ming to make my way as an actor, and in
the davs of stock companies. | played an
| engagement with him of many weeks. [
was the Bassanio. the Laertes. the Cassie
the Weldern the Wilfred. and he was the
star who noated across our horizon. bright
| brilliant, buovant beloved, full of viror
full of beauty, lire and genius. an exam
| pie to young actors and one who seemed
/ to show us something of the great tradi-
! tiou and genius he had inherited and the
art which he had learned from his father.
From that time we were friends and IT,
| was a pride as well as pleasure when
| twenty years after had the honor of sun
! porting him in my own theater."
! Salvini in his tribute said: The raw
! ages of time will never eiface the mark
| placed in dramatic history by this artist.
as illustrous as he was worthy, and the