Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-06-15

sui at the Winter Garden he appeared
as Hamlet from November a, 1864
until March "A, 1860, LOO successive
nights. This was even entirely unpre
cedented in tie history Of Hamlet il
any country, and probably the Ionges
run that any tragedy whatever had Il
that time enjoyed"
On February 3, 1869, Booth opened
Booths theater, which he managed fol
five years. His artistic success was
brilliant in the extreme, but the ven
ture proved improbable in a financial
way, and when it ended in 1874 it left
the actor manager under load of debts
Which it required years of hard and
constant labor to wipe out.
He resumed his tours through the
country, and a visit which he made to
the south in 1876 became a triumphal
progress The receipts of an eight
. weeks engagement in San Francisco
exceeded $4,000, a result then UMPIRE
cedented in the histor of the stage.
Mr.. Booth had taken his place as the
most popular player of his time, and
that place he has ever since retained.
: While fulfilling an enga cement in
Richmond in 1853, under the manage
ment Of Joseph Jefferson, Mr. Booth
met for the first time Miss Mary Dew
Lin, the gentle and beautiful woman.
who little later became his wife. His
first love embodied all that is gracious
and refined in wOmanhOOd, but death
all too soon put period to their happy
union. During his first visit to Eng
land, in 1851, his daughter, Edwina.
now Mrs. Grossman, of Boston, was
born. On his return to America he es-
tabllshed his home at Dorchester,
Mass, where his wife died suddenly
in February, 1868, while the husband
was fulfilling an engagement i'll New
York. ....t
! Booths Private Life.
Edwin Booth, the actor, was among
the most famous personages of his
time, but Edwin Booth, the man, was
known only to a few. 1t has been said
of him that the general public regarded
him as one saturated with illness,
isolated from companionship, lonely and
alone. This estimate was in a measure
just and truthful one, but only in a
, measure. Those who have had the
good fortune to call Mr.. Booth friend,
knew him as man of tender heart,
lively mind and playful humor, and
with keen sympathies which responded
quickly and cordially to the joys and
sorrows of others. Despite the almost
unyarying successes of his professional
career, his private life was darkened
and saddenned by heavy griefs and ter
rible Affections.
| In his early youth he was a con-
slant companion of his father. He was
more than that. He was while still a
boy the mentor guardian and friend
of one Of the most hayward and &c
centric geniuses the world has ever
known. Humor, grief and pathos were
strangely mingled in his lot in those
days, and he grew to manhood thought
full and penSive beyond his years. Sick
ness, want, cold and hunger We're his
familiar companions during his early
WanderingS in California and Australia
and then just when his success was as,
sured came his first great sorrow, the
news of his fathers solitary and uI-
timely death.
Would Leave the Stage.
Mr.. Booth had only partially recov-
cred from the fearful blow of his Wife's
death when the assassination Of Lin
coin by his lunatic brother came near
breaking his heart and blasting his
life. Mr.. Booth, who was then acting
in, OF aJ1
ment and resolved to leave the stage
forever. Nearly a year passed before
his friends could prevail upon him tC
reconsider his resolution
| AS riiie passed and the cordial recep
ton the public gave him re-awakeneG
his interest in his profession, he re
solved to build and conduct the nobles
temple to the drama yet erected il
America. He expended more than 81,
100000 in the erection of Booths the
alter, and the sums spent in its maE
agement were equally generous a1lG
lavish. The final failure Of this noble
venture, which did SO much for the
advancement Of the American stage
was a disappointment from which it,
enthusiastic protector has never reeov
cred.
Mr.. Booths marriage to Mary Nc
Wicker, who died some years ago, wa.
in some respects most unfortunate IL
its results, but his later years were
frightened by the loving and tender
care Of his daughter Edw1na, and thu
Icompanionship of her and her children
In his last sickness his daughter wa.
seldom absent from his side, and he
fidelity and devotion We're beautiful t,
behold. One of the dominant traft
of Mr.. Booths character was his tln
tagging loyalty to old friends, ana
many a forgotten footiight favorite ha
been made comfortable in his or he
last days by the charity, as generous
actor. In the bestowaI of charity MI
Booth always shrank from publicity
but the story Of many OF his good deed
deserves to be printed in letters o
gold.
For many years when not profession
, ally engaged, Mr.. Booth resided il
Boston, but more recently has mad
his home at the New York Players
club, OF which he was the founder, an'
which he has most generously endowed
: DIED FOR TWO MURDERS.
John l. OSmond Electrocuted in Sim
: Sing Prison.
4 ii u