The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-26
DEATH COMES TO BARRYMORE
No FRIEND BESIDE THE INSANE
ACTOR At THE END.

Player In AmtTlca-Nhfeef was run
of successes and DisappOintments
Playwright, Athlete and RaeOnteur.
Maurice Barrymore died yesterday
morning in the Long Island Home at Amity-
viii. l.. l., where he had been for four years.
FOR months he had been confined 10 his
Rod most Of the time, mental disease wear
ing down a constitution that once had been
a byword. On Friday night his extreme
exhaustion became evident and his coma
more pronounced. Just after sunrise he
oeasod 20 breathe. There had been no
time to summon his children or his friends,
and he died alone, leaving as a heritage
only the memory Of the days whom he was
accounted the handsomest, wlttiest. most
oareess and most open handed actor on
the American stage.
He was the son OF an English army officer
named Blythe, who was In India AT the
time of the birth Of his son, in ls47. The
how was named Herbert. The family
returned to England. where their home
was at Cline. The boy went 10 Cam
bridge. where he gained the reputation
q, being the best lightweight boxer the
university had ever seen, and it was said
that he was the best lightweight in Eng
land al that time. Every amateur tourna-
,nent found him entered, but for his mothers
sake he boxed under the name Of Maurice
Barrymore.
Blythe was graduated from Cambridge,
studied for the East India civil service
by his fathers wish, and was admitted TO the
bar lie had no mind for India OF the bar,
and in spite Of his parents protests he
became an actor, taking the name which had
served him in the ring.
America first saw him in January, 1875,
when he appeared at the Boston Theatre,
His first New York appearance was made
in the same year at the Fifth Avenue Thea
tire in Lester Wallacks company. With
Frederic Warde he took part in the original
production Of Sardou's Diplomacy The
following year Barrymore was in the cele-
brated cast at Days, which Included
George Drew, daughter Of Mrs, John Drew
and sister Of the present John Drew.
Barrymore and Miss Drew were married
on New Years eve, 1870. When "Diplo-
macy" was taken on the road Barrymore
appeared as Julian, Warde az Henry and
George Drew-Barrymore as Dord. While
the company was in Texas Jim Currie,
railroad detective, insulted Ellen Cummins,
Who played Z:ckd, and Josephine Baker
now Mrs John Drew. Barrymore and an
other member Of the company, Ben Porter,
resented this. Currie shot and killed
Porter and wounded Barrymore in the
shoulder. Currie was afterward killed in a
duel with a desperate.
On his return 10 New York Barrymore
rejoined Walack's company at the old
theatre, Broadway and Thirteenth street,
acting with Ada Cavendish in As You
Like 1t, as well as in reyivals Of old com
edes and in modern repertoire. He played
with Joseph jefferson in the first season
Of The Rivals" in its new form. He be-
came leading man for Nine. Modieska
and in 1884 wrote 'Nadjeska,' for her.
Barrymore always declared that Sardou
borrowed the story Of Fedora from this
play.
While winning a reputation as a brilliant
actor and as a fairly good playwright
for 'Nadj eska- ran two years in England
Barrymore was lazy and loften shghted
his lines. He hated to memorize. Nine.
Modjeska one day reproached him for
his indifference and reminded him that he
owed " to her, who had made him known
all over the country, 70 be more con-
scentious.
in the most courteous tone, you are in
error II you think you made me famous.
] was known all over the United States
when the people thought that Modjeska
vas the name of a tooth wash.
barrymore played the leading part IN
THE Dom which was not strong enough
10 get east Of Chicago. In 1887 he supported
Mrs Langtry in AS In a Looking Glass.
BarryInore's friends urged him to try TO
put some Of his wit into play and the
n - 81
which was produced in 1891. IL did not
succeed.
After leaving Nine. ModIeska's company
Barrymore made several attempts TO star
Augustus Thomas wrote Reckless Temple
for him, but it did not last long. He had a
similar experience with Roaring Dick
One 81 the actors in this play was Harry
Bagge. Some lime after the failure Bagge
went into the Lambs Club, where Barry
more was sitting with some friends, and
bantered Barry" The latter replied IN a
way that made Bagge regret his action.
You shouldn't mind me, old chap he
said 10 Barrymore. I've always been
Dick"
For that love you, Bagge. said Barry
more For that I regard you as one OF
my best friends
why are you so fond Of me because
! was with YOU in Roaring Dick? asked
Bagge, innocently.
Because, old man said Barrymore,
you ne my only excuse"
As a member Of A. NJ Palmer's COM
ranles at the Madison Square Theatre |
and al what il now called Walack's Theatre |
Barrymore appeared In Captain Swift, |
New Blood and other plays that met |
favor at the time. He supported Olga |
Nethersole and later Mrs. Leslie Carter, |
appearing with her for an entire season |
IN The Heart Of Maryland" at the Herald |
Square Theatre
Barrymore seemed TO he on the decline
a. an actor He lacked the fire Of his early |
Gays, and there was always the inclination
10 forget his lines and eXtempOrile. SO |
noted was he for this that when the Lambs |
put on buresque Of play In which he had
appeared, Augustus Thomas, who bur
hslued Barymore's part, caused roar
10y pretending 70 forget his lines all the
way through. Barrymore was discouraged
by the failure Of most Of his plays, and be-
cause Ne was not the star that he believed
hlmsef capable OF being.
AZ last a change came for the better.
IN 1893 Mrs. Fiske, about to put on Becky
hharp' at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, offered
70 Barrymore the part Of RdudOH CrdUleu
HE character appealed 20 him with such
ioroe that, for the time being, he conquered
al hl~ faults and gave a piece OF acting