New-York tribune., 1909-03-12
EDWIN BOOTHS COMPANIES.

The ancient. tedious, groundless structures on
Edwin Booths theatrical companies have need
lessly been revived apropos Of nothing but the in
efficiency Of some Of Mr. Robert Mar.tells auxiliary
performers in King John It does not seem to
he remembered that Edwin Booth. when, in the
latter years OF his life. he travelled "a star,
had voice in the selection OF his companies.
Even then however. and es oecially when under the
management Of Lawrence Barrett, his companies
were far stronger than any now upon our stage:
see the casts of the Booth-Barrett tours. Edwin
Booth felt the slightest hesitation in appear
ing with the greatest actors on. tire stage in his
time-Bogumil Dawson. Fanny Janauschek Char
lotte Cushn1an. Tommasso Salvinf etc: and he Of
fered 10 act with Fechter-an offer that the for
eign actor refused He appeared in London with
Henry Irving and Ellen Terry. His feeling about
other actors was. with one exception. absolutely
free from fear anxiety. He did, in a Ger
tain way, fear the opposition of Henry Irving, as
Irving feared that Of BOoth-5Oth of them with
excellent reason But jealousy never entered into
his mind. His attitude acting was Here Is
my throne-coue and see me. and like me. if you
wish-and Il not stay away: 'tis all TO nc. p"
His feeling 10 other actors is shown in the fol-
lowing letter TO this writec:
Boston April o. 1886
If sou can. come and see the 'pOyglot
it will arnuse yol. I sorry that l con-
sented TO play Hamlet I cid under the impress
sion that salvini would act Claudius. and thus
give precedent for other actors 10 perform that
neglected character, in preference 10 the Ghost-
which leading actors, IN I4e4E D-lllNtSS7r e'NNN'
hut salvini concluded that It was too long part
f-- him TO study and at the last, decided not TO
srr Iear-which prevents me from playing sub
s,5srv pa-t with him, return for his compliment
n me- OF course he viii be wasted in the Ghost,
end must drag through the heavy play OF
Hamlet unaided by him. With some great name
for rbe King that character would always be ac-
cented hv the donkeys who decline II as unworthy
ot them -
When Booth was his manager these were
so-,e of The actors whom he employed, several OF
-ber, ct the same time: Edwin Adams, James W.
Wallack il. Mark Smith. ST., D. W Waller James
Stark D. c. Anderson, Thomas J Hlnd CHaF4sS
P Thorne, jr Mrs Emma Waller. Fanny MoTalt'
John Gilbert. Louis Aldrich, Lawrence barrett +
. Bangs, Charles Barron. Maurice barFyluoie =
George Becks. Humphrey Bland, E ). Buckley
ceorre Clarke Edwin Cleary. Charles W Cout-
5oct 4. +. Davenport. John Drew, Charles Fisher
" r Floyd, Theodore Hamilton. Daniel d fiaI-
IT.. PARTON Hill John A Lane. Frank LaWloT'
Mines Ievfck James Lewis, J. b Mason r TaHA
Nsvo John Norton, Samuel percy Aue ISIS
ri,o1 F-ben Plympton. Otis Skinner. EDWIN ar
-av William Z. Sheridan Charles Na4coll' il
E-.se-3ck 3 Warde and Joseph WheeIock' 81
Among his leading women were Blanche De Bar
ag,ss Foo-h Mrs Chaufrau, Annie Clarke, AGA
rrif+on Rose Eytingc Efle Gernlon, Cara Jen-
,,gs Jerrevs Lewis, Ellen Meyrick. Rachael
~ peua Pa;ernan, Elizabeth Robins and 4od
vernon As low comedians he had such actors as
1-;-,,z Powers William Davidge. owen Fawcetl'
alrraS Fze,-, Hudson Edward Lamb Robert Pate
man. Charles Peters, Thomas Plscide and SOL