Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-03
SOL SMITH RUSSELL.
Went On the Stage at the Age of 14
 With S6 a Week.

the stage loses one of it's quaintest and most lovable characters. His odd, unctuouS performances will never be forgotten by those who saw him. His wealth of dry humor was equalled by his supply of tenderness and path os- Throughout the west and south Mir Russell enjoyed his greatest pop ularity, and there no actor held a warmer place in the affections of the public.
 Mir Russell was himself a westerner, having been born at Brunswick, Mo, June 15. 1S4S. His parents were in no wise inclined toward the theater, though his mother was a sister-in-law of Sol Smith, after which famous manager young Russell was named. Perhaps something inspired him to live up to his name. for the lad early showed interest in the stage. He was a frequent attendant at the minstrels and other performances in St Louis, where his family had moved. He learned the songs and dances and practiced them constantly, gaining among his playmates a reputation as an entertainer.
 When the war broke out young Rus
 
 age. was fired with an ambition to go to the front, and he ran away from home and tried to enlist in a regiment at Cairo. III. As he had not the con sent of his parents he was not allowed to enlist. His songs and jokes had won him some attention from the sol diers. and after the departure of the troops the manager of the Defiance in Taf 1ffa hi gagement at $6 a week. For this munificent sum the lad had to play in the orchestra, do a speciality between the acts. and play parts ranging from ingenues to williams His first role was that of a negro, Pet-a-Pit, in ''The Hidden Hand.'' At first he slept on sofa in the property room of the theater. but later the manager took him to his home. Later Russell re- ceived an offer of S8 week from an- other manager who wanted him to do slack wire turn. but this position brought so many bruises that he aban- doned it and went to Deagle's theater, St Louis, playing in stock melo- dramas. After this engagement he made an inglprious one night appear ance in Chicago. and next played with a Milwaukee burlesque com pany. Subsequently he joined the Peak family of bell ringers for time and then returned to Deagle's in St Louis. Other engagements at this time were in Memphis, Little Rock and Nashville.
 These enga agementS covered a peri cd of about five years. during which the boy-for he was no more-under- went many hardships and privations. Fortune began to favor him in 1866, when he was engaged as second low comedian with Ben de Bars stock company in St Louis. Here he SUD- ported many of the prominent travel ing stars of the time. and gained his Knowledge of the art of acting Fol lowing his season with de Bar he was a member of a Leavenworth. Kan. stock company. Here he joined the Berger family of bell ringers and made a tour eastward with them. His comedy work gained such notice that he branched out for himself as a hu- morous lecturer. His success here brought him an engagement. in 1867, with the stock company at the Chest nut street theater. Philadelphia, un- der Colonel William E. Sims man agement. More tours in monologue followed and then his first New York engagement. at Line Edwin's theater in 1871. He next played at the How l ard Athenaeum Boston. Augustin DaIy engaged him in 1874. and on Au- gust 24 of that year he made his de but with the Daly stock company at the Fifth avenue theater, New York. as Mir Peabody in t'What Could She Do; or. Jealousy" He left the con- pany the next season. but rejoined it in 1876. While under Daly's man. agement he played many comedy roles with success.
 In 1880 MT Russell made his debut as a star, appearing in "Edgewood Folks" a comedy written especially to suit him. Though his own work was admirable and his company ex- cellent. the first seasons tour was q failure pecuniarily. The following season the tide turned and for the next four years Mir Russell toured prosperously in ''Edgewood Folks 2 and became firmly established as a star. For one season thereafter he was the comedian at the Boston Muse um. Then he resumed starring. play ing in three seasons, ''Felix McKus- ick," "Pa." and "Bewitched" Then came GA Poor Relation in 1SS9-1 S9O: ''The Tale of a Coat'' produced at Daly's in 1890. and later Peaceful Valley" "April Weather" a revival of ''The Heir-at-Law." and "A Bach elor's Romance" It was in this play that had it's original New York production at the Garden theater that Mir Russell made his last appearance in New York. The season of 1899 hf produced ''The Hon John Grigsby,'' 7 and while appearing in the play at the Grand opera house. Chicago, De cember IS. his breakdown came. MT Russell suffered a nervous attack. for got his lines. and the curtain had to be rung down. His physicians or dered q complete rest. His health did not mend however. and efforts Of skilled physicians and visits to vari- ous health resorts were of no avail.
 MT Russells widow and two chi1- dren survive him. Mrs Russell is q daughter of William T. Adams coli yer Optic'D The home life of the comedian was a happy one. and the hardships of his early days were atoned for in later years by the wealth that professional success and iudicious investments brought him. Mir Russell had a handsome residence in Minneapolis and a summer home at Vineyard Haven Mass For more