Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-28
FAMOUS FAMILY OF ACTORS
Poculiarities, Bccentrioities and Splendid
Genius Of the Booths,
AN OLD ACTORS PERSONAL MEMORIES
The Elder Booth, Junjus Brutus, Jr.,
Edwin and John wilkes, De-
scribcd by One Who Knew
Them Intimately.

Great wits are sure to madness near allied
And thin partitions do their pounds abide
Dryden.
That the border line of sanity was touched
by several members of the extraordinary
Booth family | think will be conceded by
all who were acquainted 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 youngest.
The terrible deed Of John Wilkes Booth,
that struck down the foremost American
of our time, had its origin in the disordered
brain of the young mans father, for II not
madness there was at least psrversion of in
tellect in the progenitor Of this brilliant and
handsome family.
Junius Brutus Booth was still In the 2Os,
when he measured himself against the great
Edmund Kcan, who then dominated the
British stage In spite Of Booths hand
some expressive face and powerful, melodious
voice, that won him instant attention, kean
still continued to hold his supremacy with
press and public.
Booth had ability enough. but lacked stead
iness of mind and tenacity of purpose, for
had he persisted Kean's Irregularities would
soon have given him opportunity. But love
triumphed over ambition. The would-be
Roscius abandoned the contest, left the field
10 his rival and eloped with the sweet and
beautiful woman who became the mother OF
n family distinguished for great talent and
beauty. He went to Amsterdam, where 1t
is said he acted in the Dutch language. lie
was an accomplished linguist, for 1T is OF rec
ord that he appeared as Orestes in Racine's
tragedy at the French theater in New Orleans
where he received the highest acclaim. Theat-
rical tradition abounds with stories and
anecdotes of the vagaries and eccentrlcities
of this singular genius.
ELDER BOOTHS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
George Jameson, an excellent actor, once
told me that he was strolling with Booth
along St Charles street. New Orleans when
he (Jamieson) made some remark about the
weather Booth fell uron his knees there
and then exclaimng: 30 wise young man,
how much more art thou than thy looks. l
told this to Edwin one day and he SAID:
1.-The old man was guytng him.
One night he gave us his idea OF Othello,
whom he made as black as a negro. What
with his wretched dressing and handy legs
he was a sorry sight. Not even his fine
reading could save 1t from occasional rippies
of laughter But despite his eccentricities
he gave us some great acting during that. to
me. memorable week His Richard and Shy
lock were intense and thrilling in their whrl-
wind of passion.
The great scene in the Iron Chest" with
Wilford Is still vivid in my memory. His
secret. was appalling in demoniac fury. The
flesh still creeps at the mere recollection
Yet when the wonderful actor came from
the scene he was as playful as kitten l
had the part OF Fitzhardinge, an old man.
When he first saw me early in the evening
he scrutinized me most mysteriously. What
do you play?" he asked. "Fitzhardinge,,.
said I. my boy, my dear boy, this won't
do at ALL You are not made up properly
Come with me and I'll fix you," and he did
found out what amused the actors when
glanced into a mirror. I was made up like
Scaramouch. The great man was having fun
with me.
A KINDLY FOOTLIGHT KING.
Yet he was kindness itself. l was very
young and very nervous, and had mislaid my
cane. No young actor Can play an old man
without cane! The great man hunted every
corner until he found It.
When in Washington Booth and General
Sam Houston of Texas were great crones.
1t was a picture worthy OF Punch, to see
this eccentric pair take their afternoon
promenade along Pennsylvania avenue.
Houston stood six feet four inches and Booth
about five feet five inches. Az 1t was winter,
Houston's ample shoulders were covered
with large gray blanket that reached to his
heels and his grizZed head was surmounted
by huge Mexican sombrelo. Booth was
fashionably attired 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 cinging to the arm
and with difficulty keeping pace with the
sturdy strides of the hero Of San Jacinto.
They were on pleasure bent, ard were soon
lost to the view of the amused pedestrians
in the hospitable portals OF Hancock's ia
nous hostelry. | never saw ttis 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 California.
His success there was marIed by his un-
reliability and he returned, leaving Edwin
there and landed at New Orleans where
he acted for the last time, his closing parts
being Sir Edward Mortimer in the Iron
Chest" and John Leimp in tho Review
at the st. Charles theater. He boarded the
steamboat J. S. Cheneworth, was taken sud
denly i'll, dying before he could reach medi-
cal aid. seemingly uncared for and almost
unknown, an inglorious end to most check
cred career.
On a visit to California in 1856 first met
Junius Brutus Booth, jr., eldest son OF the
great actor. Like his father, his head was
nodded on classic lines, but figure of more
athletic proportions than the sire. hand
some face and amiabe expression bespoke
him man whom 1t was pleasant to meet
JuNIUS BRUTUS, JR.
While playing at the Chatham theater,
New York. the unsophisticated youth had
been caught in the tolls OF matrimony by
the experienced artist, Clemntina De Bar,
sister of the noted Ben De Bar comedian
anl manager. This lady was a most versa
tile actress, but far from prepOssessing OF
feature. firing of this incompatible alliance,
young Junius sought the freer atmosphere
of California with the Argonauts and carried
with him young and handsome Harriet Mace,
whom he soon made his wife.
l Junius often and found him SEN
sible. upright, amiable man. He had not the
least taint of the eccentricity that 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 claim to be classed with the
immortals. Yet he was a good actor and had
some supreme moments. He was a superb
athlete and had few peers with either foil
or broadsword. With the celebrated maitre,
Colonel Monastery. who had his sale darmes
at Frank Wheeler's gymnasium in San Fran
cisco, we had many hot assault" with foil
and sword. often winding up with few
rounds of the manly ari.
Junus Brutus Booth jr,. came east In
1867, his wife having died, leaving a
daughter. He became lessee of the Boston
theater. He married Agnes Perry, a fine
actress, relict of Harry Perry. an excellent
actor who died in California in 1861. Booth
was not successful manager any more
than his brother Edwin. Later he leased
AT, a