The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-06-08

stage. They were ideally happy. Booth
next eSSayed season in London without
great success, and returned to New York
Ill 1852 to begin his series of representa-
lions at the Winter Garden theater, which
established him as the greatest living
American actor. His Hamlet" ran for
more than 100 nights-a measure of sue.
cess mt that time unheard of. In 1863 his
young wife died. For time he abandoned
his profession.
In 1S6l-5 Booth again appeared in New
York as Hamlet. April II OF the latter
year the assassination Of President Lin.
coin by John Wilkes, his brother, startled
the world and engulfed him in a sea Of
grief and wretchedness. He quit the stage
on the very night of the tragedy, intend
ing never to return to it, but the impor-
tunities of his friends were go earnest that
Jan. sd, 1866, he again stepped upon the
stage. His appearance behind the foot
lights was the signal for nine great cheers
which fairly shook the theater But never
since that fatal 18th of April has he played
professional engagement in Washington
Alter his re-entry into public life in 1865
Booth was the central figure of q series Of
magnificent productions Mt the Winter
Garden When the theater was destroyed
by fire he erected the famous Booths thea
ter The revival of Romeo and Juliet"
"Richelieu," Julius Cesar" and other
great tragedies on its stage mark an epoch
III the history of the American drama, but
they bankrupted the man who gave them
to the public. After his failure Mr. Booth
found himself nearly sl,OOO,OO0 in debt
This vast Indebtedness he has since paid
dollar for dollar, with interest.
The death of his second wife was the cul-
nlnation of long series of domestic ankle
ties. He made another and phenomenally
successful professional visit to England
and also scored triumph in Germany.
Successful Tours With Barrett
His tours with Lawrence Barrett began
during the season of lSS7-S From both a
financial and artistic standpoint they were
wonderfully satisfactory. The profits on
one season were more than $3O0, 900 In
lSS9 this connection of the two great Ameri-
can actors was rudely interrupted for q
time On the evening of April 3, at Roch-
ester, \. Y, Mr.. Booth was suddenly
stricken with an illness which it was
thought ut first would prove fatal. But
Booth rallied and acted many times after
that.
The first real manifestations of Booths
dccadence appeared during the winter of
lo'o-l while he was playing in New York
1t was evident that his powers were fnilinv.
anu the death of Barrett, sudden and I'M
expected as it was, was the final blow
which broke the tragedian's strength.
Booth loved solitude admitted few
friends to intimacy and lived us quiet II
life as his profession would admit. TO his
generosity the Players club owes its beau
tlful home on Gramercy park i'll New York
City.
lIatterly, Mr.. Booth had lived in Lake
wood, y. j., where he owned u beautiful
home. 1t WAS there that the general break
down, which eventuated in his death, first
manifested itself Booth was well off and
Is believed to have left IA fortune of more
than S500, 900.
Booths body will be buried about
half past five o'clock Friday afternoon
in Mount Auburn Cemetery near Boston.
Funeral services will be held in this
city at $3.50 o'clock this morning in the
Church OF the TRANSPORTATION little
church around the corner.) Bishop Potter
will otficiate, assisted by the Rev. DR..
Houghton, rector OF the church. and by
Rev. c. w. Bispham, of Washington,
ID. G. The pall-beareTs will be Joseph
Jefferson, A. NJ. Palmer, ex-Judge
Charles =. DAILY. Parke ;odwin,
Eastman Johnson, Horace Howard
Burmese and A. M. Bispham, treasurer
OF the Players Club.