The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-01

him many times. He died only a few
years ago in England.
A curious incident was connected with
the skull that Booth used in the grave
scene in Hamlet, towards the latter part
of his life. He was playing in Louisville,
and learning that a prisoner was to be
tried for his life and was not able to
employ efficient counsel, he went to the
Jail, talked with the unfortunate man
and engaged counsel to defend him. The
prisoner was convicted and sentenced to
death. He made a will and beoueathed
his skull to Booth, with the request that
he use it on the stage as the skull of
Yorick in the grave scene, which was
done. Edwin Booth also used the skull
for some time. but finally had it buried.
Edwin Booth said of his father: AL
| though his simulated wrath was fearful,
his real anger was always 'yoked with a
lamb. Even in his most angry moods
there seemed to linger upon his lips the
Christ-like words of Colerdge-
He prayeth best who loveth best
All things, both great and small;
For the dear God that loveth US
He made and loveth ALL -
Again I quote from Edwin Booth: 1.-THE
full sunlight of my fathers genius shone
on every character that he portrayed, and
so illuminated the obscurities of the text
that Shakespeareans wondered with de-
light at the Interpretation of passages
which had been uninteligible to them. At
his best he scared higher into the realm of
art sublime than any of his successors
have reached; and to those who saw him
then it was not credible that any of his
predecessors could have surpassed him.
His expression of terror and remorse were
painful in the extreme, his hatred and
revenge were devilish, but his tenderness
was exquisitely human"
Mr.. Booth acted for the last time at
New Orleans, in the old ST. Charles the
atre, and died on Mississippi steam
boat, which he had taken for Cincinnati.
And so passed from the stage of earthly
scenes one who was called Undoubtedly
the best actor in the world"
EDWIN BOOTH
I have inahy times seen the obelisli
of polished marble erected at tine
!
looked upon it read the line, craven
! in the stone, Hic jacet-matchless
| Booth" / supposed that the words
were there for all time. But they no
longer appear. The chisel and mallet
have obliterated them BY whose order
the erasure was made I know not at
| all. But I do know and the world
knows that there subsequently arose a
Booth who was greater than he whom
the monument had pronounced match
less" His name was not Junius Bru-
tus, but Edwin Booth, his famous son.
| / have always had an especial ir-
terest in the Booths because of the
family ties of friendship and associa-
ton whose traditions have been trans
mitted to the generation which I rep.
resent. My kinsmen and the Booth
boys were reared in the same neigh.
borhood and were companions. AS IT.
tie boys they were all actors. In the
rear of the Booth home, which I re-
in which the boys of both families, on
a crude stage, played at tragedy and
comedy. 1t Is not strange, therefore,
|
erything pertaining to the Booths was
listened to with absorbing interest; nor
is 1t at all astonishing that the lin
gering histrfonic atmosphere was
treathed by the younger set of boys
who were born into these conditions
of romantic interest in the drama and
that number Of them became actors.
The two families are not far apart
in their graves. In the quiet cemetery
lie many who are dear to me. from
whose graves short walk will bring
enc to the restful spot where lies the
dust of the Booths, Edwin, however,
not among the others. he was buried in
New York.
on one side of the monument to
which l referred there IL medallion
head of the great Junius Brutus Booth
on another side of tho she1t are the
lines, His life was gentle. and the
elements so mixed in him that nature
might stand up and say to all the
world, This was a man."
On still another side of the obelisk
are the names Of departed members OF
1.-THE Booth family. the last name being
John wilkes Booth. Here lies the pa