New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-09

EDWIN BOOTH. REcoLLEcTIoNs EY US
DAUGHTER EDWINA BOOTH GRoSSMAHH,N ~;
A ARI}H !Gi Emo Win eight ius,ra,ions and
index: PIP 30 The Century Company.
Those friends Of Edwin Booth who were near
10 him in his later years are well aware mat
he was Of an anec,ionate and gentle nature:
that he was domestic In his tastes and that
he was devotedly attached to his daughter
For them. accordingly.-since they kno" ana
remember that side OF his character.-the VOL
ume that his daughter has prepared. contain
ing selections from his Letters. together WIN
an Introductory chapter OF personal remihis-
cence possesses a tender and somewhat mourn
ful interest. For the great public Of miscel-
laneous readers its import u.s. perhaps oi no
considerable value-the book being. to a great
extent occupied with a record Of trivial mat
tiers and with prolonged iteration Of paterna
love and Kindness Portions Of II, however. are
valuable to the outside world. because they
confirm the public estimate Of Edwin Booths
remarkable strength and beauty Of character
and grace and benefcence Of life, and because
also they reveal the effect that was produced
upon his mind by various circumstances, of
common knowledge. IN his experience. His
DAUGHTERS 'Recollections." which are set down
briefly and in reverent spirit. include eX-
tracts from letters written t. her father by
her mother which denote n noble and lovely
soul Booth adored his first wife. and those
letters show that he had reason To do so. MY
future ambtion'-so she wrote To him. in 1860
will be to you great and good. and u de-
votion OF mind. but what is still more infiuen-
tial an absorbing affection. can accomplish It,
Won shall be everything that the world has
predicted" The early death OF Mary Dcvlin'
the first Mrs Booth. was a calamity from the
effects Of which the bercaved husband never
recovered although he bore IT, as he bore All
other sorrows, with calm fortitude and cheerful
patience. Tits my nature to be always ex-
pecting Death."-thus he writes. In letter to
his daughter, October %. lSs5.-"and when ne
comes he does not much surprise me. BESIDES
have aIwavs regarded the change bless
ing rather than loss" Booth did not feel
his Affections any the less however. because Of
that philosophy-as the testimony OF this book
would abundantly prove, even If other evidence
were not at hand No man ever combined
keener sensbiity with a more practical and
helpful stoicism.
Mrs. Grossmann recollects that her father was
trus,ful and childke fond Of home and its
adornments and associations loyal to friends;
charitable to the poor; reverent Of the o'd;
chivalrous toward woman: dignihed and retcent
In the face OF detrsc ton: patient under trials .
playmate with children; thoughtful Of others,
modest: simple; religious: sedulous cutivator
OF hopeful and cheerful views-not understanding
inherent melancholy; a believer In his destiny,
after the manner Of Napoleon; gifted with "A
keenly discerning eye and powerfully tenacious
memory; systematic in business affairs; clever
musician a good amateur sculptor. and a good
writer The character Of her recoections Is
/ denoted in that epitomc Of them. Mrs Cross
mann is not an experienced writer. and her little
paper makes no prctension 10 either the faculty
/ ~ ANALYSIS or literary style She has committed
her impressions 10 writing. as all Impractical
writer's do. without method and without co-ordi-
nation Since. however the present Is period
I'm which everybody writea and In which II
would seem that writing Is generally regarded "a
beng quite as natural to mankind as sneezine
ar the cutting Of teeth the absence OF art in any
narticular composition does not seem singular
Mrs. Grossmann's preface fills twenty-eigh
n,oes the remainder Of the volume consisting al
oas If Booths letters Nlneiy-eight Of those let
,ers were addressed to his daughter and l3s To Z
few Of his friends and acquaintance In ms
letters TO his daughtcr Booth appears as th'
! afYectionate parent and the wise counsellor ah'
some Of his sentences are especially signincah
~ foresight. mental breadth. equpoisc anC
bensgnIty. There are domestic nslpidit'es whici
| ought to have been omitted Persons VINO rev
| srence a great mans memory do not care u
read about Ibis favorte pap-spoon when