The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-07
A BRILLIANT CAREER.

How Booth Achieved tho Hig host Position
ON the American Stage.
Edwin Booth was born In Bel Air, near
Baltimore Nd, in 1888 and was the son of
Juuius Brutus Booth. the elder. An English
actor. who obtained his reputation. however,
mainly in the United States; he wes named
Edwin Thomas ont Of compliment to his
fathers friends, Edwin Forrest and Thomas
Flynn. both great actors. The bov Edwin
had but few opportunities for education. but
he took the best possible advantage of these,
an excsllent education while still lad. II
ia interesting to know that there was always
. deep sympathy existing between Edwin
and his father, 30 long as the latter was
living, while IL WAS from his erratic but
brilliant parent shat Edwin Booth imbibed
the early lessons in dramatic art which he
afterward turned to such excellent use.
Although tho elder Booth at first objected
to his sons going on the stage. he did
finally consent, and ths young mans first
appearance In any part occurred In 1S49 at
the Boston museum, whom he appeared as
Trssssl In "Richard ILL.," He made sue
cess in this small part. and from that time
continuing ON the stage. His capacity,
indeed. % demonstrated itself that he was
presently PLAYING Cassie in "Othsllo." and
Wilford In ''The Iron Chest" his perform
ancs Of the latter character being. even at
ins ing two year: Edwin eonsinued to
play with his father in different
cities. making his first appearance in New
York. sept. q. 1850. At the National thea
ter. Chatham sttset. in the character of
Wilfotd. The following year he took the
up to that period By playing Richard ILL.,"
at the same theatsr. In place of his father,
who had been taken Suddenly i'll. This
Performance gave HIM at once the reputa-
tien Of being An actor OF unusual promise.
Al that time ths older brother of Edwin, J.
s.p M W.: "nd r.. xo hss. and ID
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 on his own intellectual
5e'ou.os.; Re but u, 'ho.sa 5 hs was only only
over. deeply arievsd and broken
on aoeount of the loss Of his father, who
had been at onoe his parent. his friend and
his only teacher. he continued to travel
through the state of California. playing,
amid . great deal Of poverty and many
Even at this early period of his life he had
already added to his repertoire the charas-
ters OF Shylook. Macbeth. Hamlet and his
great part of Sir Edwin Mortimer in THE
Iron CHEST" In 1854 lie played in = com.
pany with Miss Laura Keene in Australia.
lowing year. and originated In San Fran
CISCO ths character Of Raphael in 1.-The
Marble Heart" He also At this time made
his 6rst appearance in Rienelisu, whioh
afterward became one of his most noted
characters.
BY this time she name and fame of Edwin
Booth had travelled to the Atlantic cities Of
ths United States, aud there was expert
enosd everyWhere, between San Francisco
and New York, the greatest possible desire
TO witness ths powerful impsrsonations OF
Amerioe's new and great sraaedtan. Ac-
more and played ~ tho Front street
thestsr, playing afterwards throuRh the
principal soushern cities with the greatest
success. In April OF that year he played.
In Boston. Sir Giles Oysrreaoh in
"A New Way 10 Pay Old Debts" and
he Hppsat ed At Burton's Metropolitan thea
ter. New York, whore he oussd the great
eat enshusiasn1; and within another year he
had achieved. by sheer power. intslliaenoe
and art the hichess position Oh the Ameri-
can stage-a pOaltion which he never lost
so long 40 he regularly followed the profess
sion. The incident of Mr.. Booths mag
nincent extravaganos in the interest of that
superb structure. Booths theatsr, in
Twsnty-third street, New York, and The
financial ruin that fell npon him
thereafter because hs permitted his splen-
did art instinct to carry away with
IL his business judgmsnt-sll this 10
we'll known and appreciated by the
American ART public and BY the thousands
of fdends OF Mr.. Booth. Yet for shirtsen
years Booth's thsatsr ran . splendid ca
rec having presented within its walls. in
the most supesb manner known In Amerios.
nil the great plays In his repertoire. Yet
this brilliant artist left his thsater. crushed
under terrible load Of debt which. how
over. hs succeeded in entirely paying oil
within year BY his own perio, ,,nsnoes IN
various parts OF The country. During his
professional career Mr.. Booth appeared u