The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-07


head was moulded on classic lines, but he
had "a figure OF more athletic proportions
than the sire. A handsome face and
amiable expression bespoke him a man
whom ii was pleasant 20 meet.
While playing at the Chatham Theater,
New York, the unsophisticated youth had
been caught in the tolls of inatrimony by
the experienced artist. ClemeptiDn do Bar,
sister of the noted Bon dc Bar. comedian
and manager. This lady was u most ver-
satile actress, but far from prcpossessing
of feature firing OF this Incompatible
alliance, young .Iunius sought tho freer
atmosphere of California with the
Argonauts and carried with him young
and handsome Harriet Mace, whom no
soon made his wife.
/ saw Junius often, and found him a
sensible, upright, ami liable man. He had
not the least taint of the ecCentricity that
marked the father and his brothers Nor
was there much of the suspicion Of the
divine fire" that.gave the father, Edwin,
ana Wilkes a claim to be clnssed with the
immortals. Yet he was a good actor and
had some supreme moments He was u
superb athlete and had few peers with
either foil or broadsword. With the cele-
brated maitre, Colonel Monastery, who had
his sale darmes ut Frank Whcelers
gymnasium in san Francisco we had
many hot assault with foil and
sword, often winding up with few
rounds of thelmanly art.
Junius Brutus Booth, Jr.. came East in
1867. his wife having died, leaving "a
daughter. lie became lessee of the Boston
Theater. lie 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 Booths Theater on Twenty. third
street and sixth avenue. He failed 10
make the rent for the owners so Edwin
told me- They were not good managers
for themselves, but art did not suffer lt
was said that Edwin lost $500, 600 in his
theater But in his time he earned over
81, 800, 900 as a player.
Edwin Booth had been in California
for some years acting wide range Of
characters, excelling in negro dialect
parts. He visited Australia in company
with Laura keene and his life long
friend, David &. Anderson. and stopped
at the Sandwich Islands on his way
back to California, playing at san Fran
cisco and Sacramento with Henry Sedley,
who was afterward editor of the Round
Table. He was the chief player with
Catherine Norton Sinclair, who had re-
Gently won her divorce suit from Edwin
Forrest.
Forrest pursued every one who coun-
lence. He never forgave Edwin Booth
for having played with her.
Edwin had just finished a tour of the
mining towns and closed his engagement
at Sacramento preparatory 10 embarking
for the eastern states under contract to
Ben Baker, To begin his career as a star
TO fill the void left by his fathers death.
l followed his engagement at the Forrest
Theater, where .Junius and his wife were
principal players Edwin Booth had been
in California so long, and had appeared
so often that Notwithstanding his per
sonal popularity, even this, his last en-
gagement. had not yielded him an ade-
quate sum to begin his journey east. A
few of his friends rallied again and asked
mo 10 give up one OF my nights for "A
parting benefit to the young star, and Co
participate in the performance This |
was most happy TO do, although L had
never met Edwin. On the evening of the
day on which this matter had been so
pleasantly arranged ! heard a knock at
my dressing room door. / was I'm the
act of changing my dress for the last act
of "lngomar, \ slender graceful form
ipped into the room. A pair o! lumi-
n Ius eyes shone cut from "a beautiful
Oriental face illumined by as sweet "A
smile as ever came from finely chiselled
mouth. A hand was extended, which
met with firm ana cordial grip. Only
the brief, simple words THANK you, -
came from his lips and he disappeared.
/ played Othello to his lago, and the
house was ptckcd. In his performance
of this subtle part saw then the budding
fame that was to flower into brilliant
and prosperous career. And SO Began a
friendship that only ended with his IN.
timely death.
He was not ungrateful, for during ono
of his brilliant engagements at the ~
Charles Thcater, New Orleans, ne vuluu-
fpp nd az a
tremendous audience, l acting Rich
mond to his Richard III. Wo acted to-
'thcr often In the south and west but
My once IN New York amt that Tor ICn
Bakers bouch'. The play was "Othtlio, -
and l was terribly frightened, as | had
never acted so great a par as that of tno
Moor In the metropolis. Here the sweet
ress Of Booths nature was again mani
f3st for words of encouragement came
from him at the end OF the giolt scene in
ie third act when the audience sum
moned us before the curtain We also
apreIrcd together at the theater in Hu,-
ton. The aolc manager, Thomas Barry,
was the lessee. Here he ic-un 10 show
some OF the eccentric habits that married
the career Of his father On one OF those
night, the American trdgcdlan. Edwin
Forrest was sitting far back la "a private
ioX. lie was on a visit to his friend,
james Oakes. the Acorn of tho New
aiterward that the only comment Forrest
made ON his prospective rival WAS, "Mhv
don't tho young man lodrn his liucsy'
As Edwin had immbol most uf his
father great characters by ear IN the
theater, ne did not trouble himself with
the midnight oil. But now. as rcCuyni-
tion ~ his tine powers camc 10 him. nc
icit forced 60 contend for mastery with
Toe holder Oi the dramatic croNn. Ilt.
tuuIt thu' WA. tolerated uut udulFi In
Hi> ftth,r rDuldn 4 bo overlooked fn this
irumi,iuZ SOL Euwin hcgun TO perceive
niW~,lt taut go tunc had como tuc1. -t'u
tHc j. G. hic ,bullitinus THAT destroyed us
-rt.t father ~ lie expect a t0 reach tle
height On which The master sat eupr.iur
Edwin Forrest still held tho sucrtru and
was in the very zenith of his grott powers
wicn thc daring young actor maoc lis
gall no attack ON a. intellectual world
~ his idonl rrcsrntatiDn 81 liamiDt lt tur
Winter Carbon iu Ncw York. ] saw him
quite often during the hundred might run
Of this play. Chatting ono 0ay he said.