New-York tribune., 1903-04-30

died a
| IngersolI and there will be no religious ceremony
in the usual meaning Of the term. 1t is reported
| that Augustus Thomas has been asked to deliver
| the oration
Mr. Robson collapsed in Auburn Saturday night.
and the physicians told him he must abandon his
tour. He reluctantly consented. and was brought
to this city Monday. At the Savoy he seemed 10
rally, and preparations were made to take MIN 10
vaterwitch, his summer home at Atlantic High
lands. He began to sink about p m. yesterday
and soon became unconscious.
Mr. Robson opened his last at the Mon
tauk Theatre in Brooklyn. in September as Berue
the Lamb in THE Henrietta. He travelled TO the
Pacific Coast playing in Portland, Ore. and van
couver then to Texas and the Southern circuit anu
back to Boston and New England. In PhlIaueIpHa
last February he became i'll that the engagement
was cancelled and he returned to his home, No 19S
West End-ave. where he rested a little more than
two weeks His physician and friends urged him TO
give up his tour, but Mr.. Robson refused, saying
fifty persons Were depending on him for support
and he could not turn them adrift. On March 10 he
plaved in Providence, and then at night stands
in New England and small cities in this State In
this city he played engagement in the Grand
Opera House and in the Harlem Opera house ana
again in Brooklyn where he had opened his season
One night recently. when urged by a friend TO
give up Mr.. Robson replied: ''If I must die 1
would rather die the stage, where have spent
my life.
Mr. Robson was member of the Lambs and the
because his friend Colonel Ingersoll was black
baed-
Stuart Robson was sixty-seven years old. and had
been on the stage for half century. For the last
tventv-fve wears he was one Of the best known and
most personally popular comedians in the country
and the fact that he might almost be said to have
died in harness. before his seasons tour was fin
ished end while he busy preparing for new
production next season. marks the distinction that is
his-the regrets of a rising generation of paygoers
who knew him and expected still more from him,
as we'll the mourning of an older generation who
knew him years ago. before he became BERTHE the
Lamb even perhaps before he appeared with Will
fam H Crane. who survives him. Both generations
can claim him. ne died with his career honor
able 1t had been. unfinished.
Stuart Robson (whOse name was Henry stuart
before he became universally known by the name
he took for stage purposes) was born in Annapolis
Nd. in 1886. His father was prosperous lawyer
and gave his good education. He was not
to be kept off the stage. however. and John h.
Owens gave him his first chance at a leading part
in Baltimore The part seriously sentimental
one in a play called Uncle Toms Cabin As It
Is" and Robson tried to play it such, being, so
he later confessed, full of the idea that he was
made for a tragedian- But the audience laughed
at him so much that then and there he changed
his determination and set about becoming come
dian from intention. Five years later he returned
to Baltimore so far successful that he laughter
''as a tribute, not satire" He remained with
John T. Ford until 1860 Later he became q ia
vorite at the old Union Square Theatre, where he
was associated with the excellent actors In the
company But luck first his way with good
strong swing in 1871 at the Park Theatre. where ne
appeared with w H. Crane In Growers comedy
'Our Boarding House. His Giilipod and Cranes Ell
evator at once jumped up to the leading characters
of the play which was hardly the intention of the
author and the partnership of Robson and Crane
which lasted for dozen years and became famous
all over the country. auspicously begun.
Many of the productions of these two are now al
most forgotten. but two plays they produced are
still fresh in mind, THE Comedy of Errors ard
Bronson Howard's THE Henrietta John Nc
Culough first suggested the shakespearan revival
I'VE cant play that" said Robson: 1T would be
a physical impossibty. We would have to look
alike I thin graceful and beautiful. Crane Is
fat, ugly and stumpy.'
"Ono of us be a liar said Crane. land am too
much OF a gentleman to name his name
But the production finally made at the Park
Theatre. New-York in 1872. under the management
Of Henry E. Abbey. After the performance IN their
dressing room the two mourned their mistake
They thought from the feel, of the house that
Taia @ and fortune are at your feet my trim built
wheITy suppiicattng your ambient caress," said he
to Robson He was right In the next seven years
the two made s125oCO out OF the play ,,u+,, nina
THE Henrietta was n2L proauGeo uI1tt NJ rart %
nership Of the pair it netted $4,000 Crane ia9 ana
with the best of feeling on both sides; Since then
Mr.. Robson revived she stoops to Conquer" and
which he Bought and THE COMEDY Of Errors re-
vehicles
Of Berte the Lamb. with its comical affectations
its drol voice and face, its cry of Peanuts! at a
momentous crisis and its underlying tuehearted-
ness and nobility, Of the best known lmpersona-
tions on the comedy stage II was only coupe
of weeks n Grand Opera House IN tIlls
city that Mr. Robson played The Henrietta Tor
fhe la st time, next season he was TO nave ap-
reared in new comedy by Augustus IhoInas
How much The Henrietta has netted, merely 10
judge its success by financial standards II Is I'M
possible to estimate but it is said to be more than
Mr. Robson was twice married His first wife
who left him A daughter. now living in Boston also
died suddenly from heart failure. fourteen years
ago. His second wife, whom he married IN x1I me
Civ Hall of this city in 1891, was Miss May wal
6ron DougnertY his leading woman in The Hen
rietta" BY her he had son. Both survive nln M
His first appearance after this second wedding was
in rs Marriage Faiure?" the same evening: ana
both he and his leading woman had merry re-
ceptton from Brooklyn audience that entered INTO
the spirit of the occasion. -. c,...o+
Mr. Robson made his summer home al ConaSsst
Mass where he always took ali his company tk r.
hearsug them for the fall production unGeF lle
trees He had a wide circle of personal friends.
drawn to him by his CHEEKY spirit and kindly nat
rre He was q lover of books ano cufioS aAso,
and his home OF the most attractive oh