The St. Louis Republic., 1901-08-16
BEAUMONT SMITH,
Shakpearean and who died of
sumption at Denver Wednesday.

Friends of William Beaumont Smith. the
well-known St Louis actor and stage mana
ger. who died in Denver Wednesday. will
bring the body to this city for burial in the
family lot In Bellefontaine Cemetery.
The news Of Smiths death came as a
great surprise to his friends In this city. 1t
was known that he was in the West, but
he was thought to be resting after a hard
seasons work with a Kansas City stock
company. Consumption is stated to be the
cause OF death.
Beau Smith, as he was known about
town and among theatrical folk. was one
of a coterIe all Of whom claim St. Louis
as their birthplace, and who have since be-
come generally known as actors or play
wrights. Smith and Augustus Thomas were
early associates Others Of this circle were:
Della Fox. Will Smythe. Louis Carpenter,
Errell Dunbar and Guy Lindsey.
Nearly all OF those mentioned were asso-
ciated with Smith In the Mccullough Club.
an organization Of amateur actors of this
city, which fiourished in the latter seventies
and In the eighties. Smith was stage man
ager in this club. and directed nearly all
the productions of the organization. 1t was
in this capacity. his friends believe. that
he acquired the intimate knowledge of
stage direction which afterwards gave him
a high place in his profession. aside from
his skill as an actor.
Early Career in st. Louis.
Smith was born in 1860. His early educa-
ticn was received in this city. He early
manifested interest In the stage. When still
| a very young man he was an active member
of the Dickson Sketch Club, composed of
, amateurs. This club. though smaller than
| the Mccullough Club. gave Smith the oppor-
funity to appear in public. and his successes
Z n .&or
As a professional he served in the COM
panies of Edwin Booth. Lawrence Barrett
4 and Modjeska and he made his last appear
ance in this city with Stuart Robson. He was
| a deep student of Shakespeare. and many
| think that he excelled in Shakespearean
I tragedy. His versatility an actor and
| his capacity as a stage manager procured
him many engagements in stock companies
| He played two seasons in st. Louis with the
| Imperial stock company.
| Guy Lindsey, elocutionist and stage
| instructor, when seen at his home, No.
| 1853 Delmar avenue, said that he was much
| surprised TO hear of Smiths death. He
ended his engagement at Kansas City las,
| Nav" said Mr.. Lindsey. Il heard that he
| then went to Colorado. but l did not think
he was dangerously i'll. Smith was a tai
ented actor and an enjoyable personality
| Many thought him eccentric. but his tai
/ ents more than compensated for this"
! Beaumont Smith was the son of Genera
A J. Smith. who was at one time City
Auditor. and who has been dead many years
! His mother was a Miss Simpson. She die
about year ago. Mr.. Lindsey knows ol
but one surviving relative-A- jerks Smith OF
| Philadelphia, an uncle.
"Reminiscences of "Beau."
John Ravold. now associated with Law
| renee Hanley as manager and co-star al
Koerner's Garden. was Smiths warm per-
| sonal friend He expressed the deepest re-
gret over the unexpected news of the
actors death.
Dear old Beau" he said. There is so