New-York tribune., 1905-03-08

law He was admitted to the bar and decided a
political career. which. it turned out. was brief.
He made speeches in the canvass for the election
Of Abraham Lincoln. He belonged to Republican
organization of which Sheridan Shook prom
inent member. and through him Mr. Palmer became
secretary of the State Republican Central Commit
tee. Mr.. Shook appointed collector of in
ternal revenue. and made Mr.. Palmer his deputy
This far he went politically, though
he always earnest member of the Repuo-
lican party.
After this Mr. Palmer became librarian of the
Mercantile Library. He had not been in this po-
stion long when Mr. Shook and Robert Butler
took lease of the Union Square Theatre. and af-
ter they had it for about a year at a loss Mr.
Shook asked Mr.. Palmer to undertake the manage
ment of the house. The theatre had previously
been devoted to variety and operetta. but Mr.
Palmer determined TO make 1t theatre of the
first class and to establish a good stock COM
pany. He did this and in the years Of his direc-
tion of the house 1t became famous all over the
country for the plays produced and for the excel
lence of the performances. The organization In
cluded such actors as Charles r. Thorne Miss
Sarah Jewett Mckee Rankin j. H. Stoddart. Miss
Rose Eytinge. Stuart Robson, the Misses Kate
Claxton, Clara Morris and Maud Granger Among
the plays produced Agnes" by Sardou;
1.-THE Geneva Cross" Rose Michel" "A Cele-
brated Case" ''The Bankers Daughter" Led
Astray' and "The Two Orphans"
After retiring from the management of the Union
Square Theatre Mr. Palmer travelled for a short
Theatre Here again he managed stock company
which included many excellent and favorte actors
such as j. II. Stoddart, Mrs. Agnes Booth, Miss
Annie Russell. E. NJ. Holland, Maurice Barrymore
and Miss Marie Burroughs. At this theatre he
PCspsn sWif5 fSafr and
light and Shadow and Alabama AS far as this
country is concerned he discovered" E. S. Willard
whom he brought here
While he was still managing the Madison Square
Theatre Mr., Palmer had taken charge of Wallack,s
Theatre After the production OF Alabama" which
removed his company to Palmers Theatre and pre-
sented 'A@labama" @ again at the opening OF new
Cartersville,' THE Broken Seal" Mercedes and
numerous other plays, together with revivals of
several of the pieces which had been successful in
After this Mr. Palmer gave up his stock company,
and the theatre occupied in turn by numerous
prominent travelling companies. He also directed
had a long run. after it had been presented for a
considerable time at Palmers Theatre. and here
gave up the Garden Theatre in 1886, and only a
short time after he withdrew from the manage
ment of Pamer's Theatre as we'll This house was
then taken in charge by the owner. Theodore Moss
and it again became known at Wallack's. At this
time Mr.. Palmer was engaged in the management
of the Great Northern Theatre. in Chicago, but he
time. His next important venture was the manage
ment of Richard Mansfield. whose tours he di
rected up to the time of his sickness.
Mr. Palmer founded and was for fourteen years
president of the Actors Fund of America, and he
did much work for the establishment and advance
ment of that institution. He was member OF the
Goethe Society the Players, of which he was one OF
the founders and for years vlce-president. He also
belonged to the Lambs Union League and the Dun
lap Society, of this city; the Chicago Club of Chi
cago. and the Garrick Club of London
For the last two years Mr.. Palmer was the man
Frohman. Previous to this he had been IN poor
health for more than two years