The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-21

" the Macmillan company of New
FORK. We mentioned the book with
light review at the time it was issued,
nd now find an article in the Mil.
yankee Sentinel that is worth repeat
ng. In fact, too much cannot be said
a favor OF this book or the noted person
whose biography it forms. Sympathetic
eems the word of all others fitted to
lualify the biography and fine analysis
# the art of Edwin Booth, from the pen
If one who loved him and who knew
ihe sources of his art as we'll as that
irt itself. To this chosen task Mr..
Winter brings the memories OF a life
long friendship, an intimate knowledge
of the subject of his memoir, such
facilities in the form of papers and let
ters as his daughter could eupply, and
familiarity with his impersonations
due to many years of dramatic
criticism. 1t adds, moreover, to
the value of such work that the
lsontispiece should be reproduction OF
that eloquent portrait by Sargent which
hangs in The Players; that Eastman
Johnson's portrait OF his first wife, Mary
Devlin, is also reproduced and that
number of Sarony Photographic. Hen
messy drawings, a portrait at 10 by And
rews, and Launt Thompson's bust of
Hamlet, serve to present a very accurate
idea OF Booths appearance throughout
his stage life. In addition pictures of
his father, his birthplace in Maryland,
and the home he made for himself in
Dorchester are comprehended among
hA Hlrrot rok 81 xlrxl ~x
free from professional Jealousy and envy,
the soul of courtesy toward brother act
ors, as shown by his cordial relations
with Irving, Salvini, Coquelin and
in times past with Fechter and
Riston. The notable night of his pre-
sentation OF the clubhouse in Gramercy
park to the Players club is feelingly
described, with all the incidents that
made it memorable, his lighting of the
first yule log and setting in motion the
noble loving cup presented to William
Warren, by him bequeathed to Jeffer-
son, to become his gift to the Players.
Booths death at The Players took
place June 8, 1903, and he was buried at
Boston. yAldrich was present at the
burial, and in q letter written immedi-
ately after this described the scene:
1--WE reached Mount Auburn few
minutes before sunset. Just as Edwin
was laid in the grave among the fragrant
pine boughs which lined it and eoftened
its cruelty, the gun went down. never
saw anything of such Misunderstanding
loveliress as this scene. There in the
tender afterglow two or three hundred
men and women stood silent. with
bowed heads. A single bird, in a nest
hidden somewhere near by, twittered
from time to time. The soft, pure
air, blowing across the upland,
brought with it the scent of ayringa
blossoms from the slope below. Over
head and among the trees the twilight
was gathering. Goodnight, sweet
princeP said, remembering your quo
tation. Then l thought of the years
and years that had been made rich
with his presence, and of the years
that were to come-for us not many,
surely-and il there had not been a
crowd of people l would have buried
my face in the greensward and wept, as
men may not do, and women may. And
thus we lett him."
The second part Of the book is SO
much contribution to historic criticism
"a the first to biography. The IL parts
which formed Booths permanent roper
tory are passed in review with rare in
sight and discrimination. To those
who knew him only on the stage
Edwin Booth will always be the embod-
iment and realization of Shakeepeare's
Hamlet. As that spiritual figure he
will be longest remembered. Whoever
recalls that impersonation will find rare
pleasure in the ample yet discreet ap.
probation of Mr.. Winters critique.
His Lear, his Macbeth. his Othello,
Iago, and Richelieu are dwelt upon with
the convincing praise that means 90
much from one who brings to dramatic
criticism q lifelong study of Shakes
peare as well as of the actors art. One
sentence will find a response in every
one who ever lent ear to Booth: 'sHis
listeners heard from his lips the perfect
music of the English tongue"
The book is full OF jewels in the shape
OF history, biography, anecdote and
criticism. Any one who has ever eeen
Booth can not only appreciate every
chapter, but will also be highly enter
tanned by this loving tribute to his
memory.
Jerome K. Jerome's novels and short
stories are always good and always
funny and full of wit. His last one,
Novel Notes, has just been issued blythe
firm OF Henry Holt & Co OF New York
city. This edition of Novel Notes is
uniform with Stagsland in appearance,
and applies to fiction the same playful
satire that the former work applied to
the drama. The Chicago Tribune says:
American readers do not care to take
their humor in the allopathic doses
that Mr.. Jerome chooses to administer,
but they must admit the wholesome
ness of the draught."
One of the best hits in the book is at
ehe ostentatious charity which is cried
up In SO many fashionable British nov
els. We are all familiar with the maid
en- or the spinster or the matron who is
always talking about cher poor" as if
she had proprietary interest in 80
macy psupers. Novelsts don't grasp
how much they owe to the poor, accord
ing to Mr.. Jerome. Where would their
angelic heroines and noble-hearted he
roes be ii it were not for the poor ?
They wish to show that the dear girl is
rs good as she is beautiful. What do
they do? They put a basket full OF
chickens and bottles OF wine on her
arm, pretty little sunbonnet ON her
head. and send her among the poor.
} Reflections of this kind remind Mr..
jerome OF how cousin of his--a land
agent--had disposed of mansion which
had been vacant for many years, An
elderly dame examined the premises
and found them satisfactory, and then |