New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-08
EDWIN BOOTHS BOYHOOD.
STORIES OF HIS EARLY LIFE TOLD BY His
BROTHERIN-LAW.
JOHN S. CLARKE. WHO MARRIED BOOTHS SISTER
ASIA. AND Is HIMSELF wELL-KNowN
ACTOR GIVES SOME INTEREST
ING ANECDOTES.

ASIA. AND Is HIMSELF 4 WELT-KNOWN
ACTOR, GIVES SOME INTEREST
ING ANECDOTES
John S. Clarke n brother-n-aw OF Edwin Booth
and formerly well known TO American theatre
goers actor Of leading comedy parts IN Old
English plays but who is now known TO the pro-
fesson = a theatre owner, is staying at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel. Mr.. Clarke. although an American,
has lived in London for many years. and his name
is more familiar to the English than 10 the Ameri
public. He arrived In this country several
weeks TO look out for his property in Philade'-
pha. including the Walnut Street Theatre. In con-
versation with a Tribune reporter he talked enter
tainngly about himself and his recollectons OF Mr..
Booth
Il have been living secluded life for six or seven
years" he said in reply TO a question, 'and am
afraid ] have little OF interest TO tell you"
Something about the early days OF yourself and
Mr.. Booth would be interesting" was suggested.
II shall be glad to speak Of Mr. Booth"
You knew him from childhood?'
Yes, when became acquainted In Baltimore
he was about twelve years od-a slim. delicate lad,
sensitive. gentle even shy. lie often spoke Of our
first meeting which was under rather singular
circumstances. and recalls the only display OF pug
nacity on his part that | remember. II happened
that big boy Of our neighborhood-a broad-shoul-
dered Spaniard-had insulted Edwin Booth by ridi-
CuiiilS MS personal aPptdTdHce IpootH Hd' 'o"S
black hair and wore a short Italian cloak. a fight
was on. l. impressed by Edwns demeanor took
the side Of young Booth volunteering TO be his
second The Spanish lad had struck him. and then
the eyes OF Booth flashed as in after years they
did when as Richelieu he threatened Baradas with
the thunders OF the Church. His assailants attack
was followed by well-deivercd strokes about the
head and face Of Booth. but Edwin with one hand
wildly and rapidly returned succession Of blows
directly into the ribs of his antagonist until the
fellow, becoming almost breahless. staggered and
fen. and Booth was proclaimed the conqueror--al-
though damaged one. From that time
constant friends TO the end Of his life"
WAS Booth in boyhood OF a moody dispostion?'
"No nor in manhood. | knew bim When
sharing the same bedroom with him | have known
him frequently to shrek with mcrriment at some
ludcrous incident, and from II O'Clock at night
until daybreak. at intervals, he would burst out
with of laughter
WAS he q studous YOUTH
BOOTH As DANDY JIM"
Not particularly so. When a boy he composed
several little poems of order. He was a
capital horseinan and played the violin. also the
banjo; and when negro minstrelsy into
vogue. in imitation OF the original Ethiopian Ser
enaders.' he used to masquerade social gather
inss with bIao<ene,I face as Dandy Jim or Caro-
Int While ! mi Inn C0l0In W9nlh llllTal N
Errs dress and Pan'ale''es OF the period These
u IL; 80 go ~; =: = '' < ~; 49,
"you remember az course, the elder uoothe"
"Oh. yes. Edwin and usually passed school
holidays at Edwin's birthplace The Farm. IN
>>e>vs>>>. -s,r~~v~
lmateup Ii ast.raltufal pursuits Wlth plenty Of
time 10 think. many the Incidents Of thosi
days I might rocsn"
How does New-York appear to you
"a wonderful ciyi I WAS rather shocked upon
seeing the cable cars in Broadway. but soon be-
came accustomed to them. and rather like them
now manage to dodge them efrcctually."
Have you visited the theatres"
Eyes. ami at several beautiful theatres. under
the command OF Mr.. Charles Frohmsn. witnessed
some capital acting while l thought the plays
were admirably mounted: and other houses |
heard musical eXtravaganzss. admirably costumed
and staged. Yet i should like to these pro-
ductions altogether acceptable. more equally d.
vided with what Is termed the genuine Legitimate
drama However. that will come with Henry
Irving and Ellen Terry
IRVING AND BOOTH Of FRIENDLY TERMS
Were the relations between Booth and Irving
frlendly?'
"Yes always. on both sides Irving before he
became famous was a warm admrcr of Booths
acting. | we'll remember. before Booths Theatre
was opened. Edwin writing to me asking II |
could sugges; any English actor 10 support him in
leading Shakespcarean characters. | mentioned
the matter 10 Irving. ana his modest reply was. in
effect. that he had acted in Booths pieces when
Booth first performed In England. and had the
temerty to venture TO play equal parts with 90
fine an actor. Yet not a great many years later
I'm London they alternsted Othcllo and Iago with
the greatest and In the most friendly
spirit"
Mr. Clarke IL hfty-nine years Old but is old only
in years and in the Wilderness Of his hair His car
rage is erect his step is elastic. his eyes clear
L.,. ttsfy1 a.. L., aud 10. ...,.
the vigor and enthusiasm Of youth. His wife died
six years ago. and he has acted since then His
theatrical career began in his childhood when he
used TO play opposite parts in tragedy with Edwin
Booth He entered the office Of Elisha r. Sprague,
in Baltimore. to study law. but his tastes drew him
to the professional stage.
His first regular engagement at the "Old |
Chestnut Theatre. in Philadelphia. where he played
Soto in "She Would and She Would Not" I'm Au-
gust. 1852. The following January he was promoted |
to be leading comedian OF the theatre. He became
the leading comedian Of the Arch Street Theatre. in
in 1850. and became joint lessee and |
manager with William Whcatey. making occasional |
starring tours TO Southern cities, where he was |
highly successful
MIR CLAEKE'S FIRST NETWORK APPEARANCE. |
Mr.. Clarke first appeared in New York in 1851 and |
made a hit" George william Curtis wrote OF him |
in "Ilarpers Weekly" after witnessing his per-
formancc Of Farmer Ashfeld and Toodes at the |
Winter Garden Theatre: by far the finest artist |
that has been upon these boards since Rachel"
His acting was also commended by other critics. |
including ". II. Fry, Hurlburt. William Winter, |
Stuart. Seymour. Fiskc Barry Gray and Daily
For years he filed annually star engage |
fncnt at Ncw-York, generally Of 100 nights |
duration. ana regularly acting for shorter |
periods In all the principal cities Of America. In
1863 he became Joint lessee Of the Winter Garden |
Theatre. New-York, and continued until 1851, |
In the spring Of which year the establishment was |
by fire lie purchased the Walnut street |
Theatre. Philadelphia. and in 1866 became joint les
see of the Boston Theatre. In the autumn Of 1866 |
he made his first professional appearance In Boston.
where his performances met with immediate and |
unequiyocal success.