The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-14
UON0RINGEDWINBO0TH
Commemorating the Great Actors
Birthday in New York.
ADDRESSES BY EMINENT ACTORS.

Jefferson, Irving and saIvini Unite In
Words of Praise for tho Distinguished
Trdgedian Who Has Done So Much for
the Dramatic Art in America.
NEW YORK, Nov. 14.-Sixty years ago
Edwin Booth was born. Yesterday, In the
concert hall in Madison Square Garden,
exercises were held TO commemorate that
day and to do honor to the memory of the
great actor. Fifteen hundred people gath
cred there, among whom were those most
prominent on the stage, in literature and
in other fields. The hall was appropriately
decorated. Joseph Jefferson acted as presi-
dent, and Henry irving aud Tomaso Sal
vini 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. Eldridge,
Charles Dudley Warner, President Seth
Low, of Columbia Elihu Vedder 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
Iut tNtTtISeS ana tn6
speakers. said:
'But now it would seem that my duty
is done. But cannot quit this scene with
ont telling you how closely allied was in
friendship with Edwin Booth. We were
boys together. He was but 10 years of
nge when first met him-the sweetest ma
ture, the handsomost face / ever looked
upon. marked the beginning of his
splendid career.
"Perhaps / press to closely upon his
early domestic life, but l was the confidant
between him and that sweet lady to whom
he gave his first love- was cognizant of his
youthful courtship, his early marriage,
and the bereavement that followed after.
have acted with him upon the stage and
rambled with him through the woods. We
shared our youthful joys together and, in
after years, he 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 n year ago that we
strolled together upon the seashore, and,
If / 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 be here today and to be per-
mitted to take 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 days 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 floated across our horizon, bright,
brilliant, buoyant, beloved, full of vigor,
full of beauty, fire and genius, an exam
pie to young actors, and one who seemed
to show us something Of the great tradi-
ton 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 sup
porting him in my own theater"
Salvini in his tribute said: "The raw
ages of time will never efface the mark
placed in dramatic history by this artist,
as illustrous as he was worthy, and tho
lofty and generous cndowments of his soul
will remain perennial engraved in the
minds and hearts not only of his contem-
pories but of those to come. Surely the
death of such man brought day of ma
tionnl mourning, and all must have felt
that heartache which oppresses the soul
when loved relative Is lost
Among the sweetest pleasures of my
dramatic career none is more sweet than
this, that l have enjoyed fraternal rela-
tions with actors of different tongue,
and the highest of all l count and boast
the satisfaction of having been the COM
panion, even for brief period, of Edwin
Booth. With good reason he enjoyed the
love of his fellow citizens"
A poem, which had been especially writ
ten for the occasion, was read by George
4. Woodbury., after which Barke Goodwin
delivered a commemorative address. Mr..
Goodwin gave a brief review of the great
actors life and work, concluding as fol-
lows:
"He was n man who had genius, but he
had good Judgment as well, and common
sense. Instead of allowing that genius to
prance he took it right in the hand and
drove it to a triumphant goal. The great
est honor he has is that his masterpieces
are the masterpieces of Shakespeare"