Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-28

theater in Boston. That able manager,
Thomas Barry, was the lessee. Here ne
began to show some of his eccentric habits
that marred the career Of his feather. On
one of these nights the American tragedian,
Edwin Forrest, was sitting far back in a
private box. He was on visit to his friend
James Oakes, the acorn of the New York
Spirit of the Times. Oakes told me after
ward that the only comment Forrest made
on his prospective rival was, why don't
the young man learn his lines?" AS Edwin
had imbibed most of his fathers great char
acters by ear in the theater he dld not
trouble himself with the midnight oil. But
now, as recognition on his fine powers came
to him, he felt forced to contend
for mastery with the holder OF
the dramatic crown. The fault that was
tolerated and condoned in his father couldn't
be overlooked in this promising son. Edwin
himself began to perceive that the time had
come to chasten and curt the Bacchic ebulli-
tions that destroyed his great father If he
expected to reach the height on which the
master sat supreme. Edwin Forrest still
held the scepter, and was In the very zenlth
of his great powers when the daring young
actor made his gallant attack on the intel
lectual world by his ideal presentation or
Hamlet at the Winter garden in New York.
| saw him quite often during the hundred
night run of this play Chatting one day
he said: 81 understand you acted Charles
de Moor in German in San Francisco. |
intend to visit Germany some day and should
like to play Hamlet in that language
EDWIN ACTS IN GERMANY.
He acquired this notion from the fact that
hs had acted Iago to the Othello OF the dis
tinguished actor, Bogomil Daneson, VINO
spoke the part Of the Moor in German Nine.
Scheller spoke the part of Desdemona In both
languages. AS was then to appear IN Ger
man as Othello with her at the Stadt the
ater our conversation naturally flowed IN
that direction. He did go to Germany, al
though he stuck to his own vernacular, sur
rounded by German players, VINO were ms
greatest admirers. Ovations greeted him
everywhere, the actors crowning him with
laurel His triumphs there and his brilliant
association with Irving at the Lyceum lne-
ater London, are matters OF record His
splendid career in this country has furnished
themes for many loving poetic pens
In the winter OF 1859 l was in Balti-
more acting with Avonia Jones' who later
married the tragedian, GustaVus " Brooks'
in Australia Avonia and Mary Devlin were
very intimate Edwin was then at home lay
ing desperate siege to the susceptible Mary,
who was a CHEEKY, bright and pretty girl.
We were all young then and exchanged the
secrets of lovers,
| dined with him at his modest home and
met his stately mother and accomplished Sis
ters Asia and Rosalie Asia afterward mar
ried John Sleeper Clarke the comedian, and
settled in London, Edwin took me out to
Greenmount cemetery, where he had placed
a noble granite shaft over the grave OF his
father, with the simple inscription, Booth"
on one side, and on the other the family
motto, "Dum spiro spiro'
have known him in every relation OF life;
with his fellow players he was ever consid-
crate, courteous and kind. AS son, in his
household showing Difference and affection
to his amiable mother and cultured sisters
He was chivalric and true both as lover
and husband. Once only can | remember
having seen him reused to anger, giving
vent in strong terms 10 his outraged sense
of justice. 1t was after the death of his
second wife, Mary McVicker, or rather, Mary
Runnlon, for she was not James McVcker's
child. He had been easily managed through
his affectionate, diffident nature, while this
extraordinarily gifted being lived; but when
death severed the tie that held his loyal
soul their greed OF gain became too mani
fest: they crowded him too far and he as
serted his manhood. There never was a
sweeter, gentler nature than that which in
habited the moral tenement called Edwin
Booth. His charities were numerous, but
secret. Few knew that within short time
OF his death he bought an annuity for the
aged actor, Edmon s. Connor. His rever-
ence for his noble art and his high view of
the actors calling is gloriously exemplifed
by his munifcent endowment of the Players
club In Grammercy park, so lovingly accom-
plished under the Intelligent guidance OF
those active spirits and constant friends and
companions. William Bispham. Charles E. |