The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-28

That the border line of sanity was
touched by several members of the ex-
traordinary Booth family I think will
be conceded by all who were acquaint-
ed. with their history, and certainly by
all who came in contact with them.
1t has been my happiness to know
them all personally, from the first
Junius Brutus, to the last and young
est.
The terrible deed Of John Wilkes
Ecoth, that struck down the foremost
American Of our time, had its origin
in the disordered brain OF the young
mans father, for if not madness there
was at asst perversion Of Intellect IN
the progenitor of this brilliant and
handsome family.
Junius Brutus Booth was still in the
20s, when he measured himself against
the great Edmund Kean, who then
dominated the British stage. In spite
OF Booths handsome, expressive lace
and powerful, melodious voice, that
won him instant attention, Kean stlll
continued to hold his supremacy with
press and public.
Booth had ability enough. but lacked
steadiness of mind and tenacity of pur-
pose. for had he persisted Kean'S ir-
Irregularities would soon have given MIN
opportunity But love triumphed over
ambition The would-be Roscius aban-
doned the contest, left the field to his
rival and eloped with the sweet and
beautiful woman who became the
mother of a family distinguished for
great talent and beauty. He went to
Amsterdam, where it is said he acted
in the Dutch language. He was an ac-
complshed linguist, for it is OF record
trait he appeared as Orestes in RAJ
cine's tragedy at the French theatre
in New Orleans, where he received the
highest acclaim. Theatrical tradition
ahounds with stories and anecdotes of
the vaGaries and eccentricities of this
singular genius.
ELDER BOOTHS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
George Jameson, an excellent actor,
once told me that he was Stroiling with
Booth along st. Charles street, New
Orleans, when he (Jamieson) made
some remark about the weather. Booth
fell upon his knees there, and then eX-
claiming: 20 wise young man, how
much more art thou than thy looks"
l told this 10 Edwin one day, and he
said, The old man was guying him.
One night he gave us his idea of
Othelio, whom he made as black as a
negro. What with his Wretched dress
ing and handy legs, he was a sorry
sight. Not even his fine reading could
save it from occasional ripples of
laughter. But despite his eccentrici-
ties, he gave us some great acting dur
ing that, to me, memorable week. His
Richard and Shylock were intense and
thrilling in their whirlwind of passion.
The great scene in the Iron Chest
with MILFORD is still vivid in my men,
DRY. His curse, should the boy reveal
the terrible secret, was appalling in de-
moniac fury The flesh still creepS at
the mere recollection.
Yet when the wonderful actor came
from the scene he was as playful as a
kitten. 1 had the part of Fitzhard-
inge, an old man. When he first saw
me most mysteriously. What do you
piay?" he asked. "F'itzhardinge, said
l. My boy, my dear boy, this won't do
at all. You are not made up properly
Gene with me and I'll fix you" and he
did. I found out what amused the
actors when I glanced into. a mirror 1
was made up like Scaramouch. The
great man was having fun with me.
a KINDLY FOOTLIGHT KING.
Yet he was kindness itself. I was very
young and very nervous, and had mis-
laid my cane. No young actor can play
an old man without a camel The great
man hunted every corner until he
found it
When in Washington Booth and Cen
eral Sam Houston of Texas were great
cronies. II was a picture worthy of
Punch to see this eccentric pair take
their afternoon promenade along Penn
sylvania avenue. Houston stood six
feet four inches and Booth about five
feet I've inches. AS il was winter,
Houston's ample shoulders were COW
cred with a large gray blanket that
reached to his heels, his grizzled head
was surmounted bv 4 huge Mexican
SCmbreTO. Booth was fashionablv at
tired in a brown, long-skirted overcoat
with buttons high UP in the small of
his back, and his classic head held up a
high-crowned silk hat; and thus they
marched, little Booth clinging to the
arm and with difficulty keeping pace
with the sturdy strides of the hero of
San Jacinto. They were on pleasure
bent, and were soon lost to the view of
the amused pedestrian in the hospitable
portals of Hancock'S famous hoStelry.
1 never saw this singular man and
mighty master of tragic emotion again
after this engagement at Washington.
In 1852. under the auspices of his son
Junius he went with Edwin to Cali
fo1nia. His success there was nlarred
by his unreliability, and he returned,
leaving Edwin there. and landed at
New Orleans. where he acted for the
last time, his closing parts being Sir
Mortimer in the Iron Chest,
and John LeiTnp in the Review" at the
st. Charles theater. He boarded the
steamboat J. ). Cheneworth, was taken
suddenly i'll, dying before he could
reach medical aid, seemingly uncared
for and almost unknown, an inglorious
end to a most checkered career.
on a visit to California in 1856 I first |
met Junius Brutus Booth, jr., eldest son |
of the great actor. Like his father, his /
head was nodded on classic lines, but a, /
the sire. 4 handsome face and amiable 4
expression bespoke him q man whom it ]
was pleasant to meet.
JUNIUS BRUTUS JR.
While playing at the Chatham the
ater. New York the unsophisticated /
youth had been caught in the tolls of |
,natrimony by the experienced artist, 1
Clementina De Bar, sister of the noted ]
Ben De Bar, comedian and manager. /
This lady was a most versatile actress, /
but far from prepossessing of feature. |
firing of this incompatible alliance, |
Young Junius sought the freer atmos-
phere Of California with the Argonauts
and carried with him young and hand
some Harriet Mace. whom he soon
made his wife.
I saw Junius often and found him
upright, arniable man. He had
not the least faint of the eccentricity
hat marked the father and other of
his brothers. Nor was there much of
The suspicion of the divine fire" that
gave the father, Edwin and Wilkes q,
lam to be classed with the immortals.
Yet he was a good actor and had some
-,,,,,-...,,a ,.,ornpnfS He was a superb