The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-17
He WAS BORN IN
TOWN OF WARREN
Lived Near Montpelier =
Worcester Was Also Vet
eran Of the Civil War

novel, "Uncle Toms Cabin" died at the
Vermont Soldiers home last night.
Daniel Worcester was native of YER
mont, having been born in a log cabin in
the town of Warren Aug. "a, 1888. His
father was farmer and the family con-
sisted of 10 boys and two girls.
He left home at the age of IL years
and went to Lowell, Mass, where he APP
prenticed himself to learn the trade OF
painter Soon after bis arrival in the
city he purchased his first theatre ticket,
an admission to the old Lowell museum.
Sheridan Knowles in "The Hunchback,'
was the attraction and the boy went
fairly wild over the play, which made
such a strong impression on him that the
following morning he was able TO repeat
large port ion of the dialogues and he
then and there made up his mind to be.
come an actor. Naturally, the first steps
in the life journey of the farmers boy
inst out OF the backwoods of Vermont
were not easy, but he finally secured a
membership in an amateur theatrical or
panization called the Aurora club. lie
showed so much enthusiasm and dormant
talent that he was soon elected president
and stage manager. His first profession
al engagement was at the Howard athe-
neum in Lowell, where he played minor
parts for period of about six months.
In the fall of 1851 he became associat-
ed with George Aitkin, who wrote the
first dramatization of Harriet Beecher
stoves great novel, "Uncle Toms Cab
| in" and was given the part of Uncle
Tom in the company which Aitkin or
ganized and with which he toured the
principal cities Of Massachusetts, other
than Boston.
The drama was produced for the first
time in Natick, Mass. From Natick the
company toured the cities and larger
towns of western Massachusetts, and
northeastern New York. At Springfield,
where the company appeared in Hamp-
den hall. Harriet Beecher Stowe, who was
living at the time in Hartford, Conn,
was in the audience. From Springfield
the company went to Greenfield. II
crossed the Hoosac mountains in coaches
to North Adams and Wiliamstown. The
company did not enter Vermont, Tor its
members would have been arrested had
they attempted TO produce the play IN
this state. At that time there was a law
on the statute books of Vermont which
prohibited any travelling theatrical com
pany from appearing within its borders.
This law also applied TO circuses.
Avoiding Vermont, Manager Aitkin
took his company through the north.
eastern counties Of New York. He
nlaved the towns on the west shore OF
Lake Champlain, which gave many of
the Vermonters living on the opposite
side of the water opportunities to see
the drama.
Worcester later became stage manag-
er and il was under his direction that
the tour Of western New York was made.
The actors remained together more than
a year but Uncle Toms Cabin was the
only production attempted.
After his Success as "Uncle Tom"
Worcester experienced no difficulty in Sc
curing engagements with the leading
stock companies. He was usually listed
a. First old man" but not infrequently
as stage manager. Following his return
from the Civil war most Of his engage
ments were in the latter capacity. Dur
ing the presidential campaign OF ls60 he
was touring the Middle West with a
repertoire company. On one occasion the
company was booked 20 appear IN Spring
field, H.. the evening after one Of the
famous debates by Abraham lincoln and
stephen A. Douglas. At Woreester's sug-
eestion 4 change was made in the even
inr's program. Uncle Toms Cabin" was
given II place II the play that had been
advertised. with Worcester in the title
role and the two candidates in the audi
ence.
Worcester Also a Soldier.
Worcester enlisted in the 9th Connec.
ticut regiment. When his term 81 serv-
ice expifed Sc came back 20 his native
state someuhat broken in health BY the
haaBships - had undergone. lie re-
maiuea a. his old home IN Warren until
10 had recovered and then sought an en-
Cacement with Worcester View York
trouF4. In thc fan ~ 1854 his company
was a Montpelier. during tie session 81
the Legislature and ~ remembered an
nouncing President Iincoln's re-eiecti0n
from the stage. AZ that time he vas
risxirg tha part 81 "Old Hurriesne" IN
aTks hidden Hand.~ Later hs hecaue
stage manager for ANY stone and uhen
she srearrd ~ opportunity 81 make
tour ~ Australia ~ purchased her com
uauv ana kfft Il On ths ruaf fur = uuu-
ter 81 wears with q repertoire II =ensa-
tiuual dramas. He wns stars HzsnaEef
for Laura Keens duriuE the two gears
Preceding lssf rsfirrfueut frpsn tho tire
ntrinnl fusimess.
Worcester isFt TIE stare - ls7f rnf
fnak r-n DE rssideuef in EriaFHfssrt.
Coun- nhsru go u ysars ~ uHs E rieti-
ia- of tar rsli.s fierce Wlf5is lltluE %
V-iarara-t - frrgurstly assistrd 81
ruatsr.f tieatriaals snd eitarity eutsr-
frirrrrrfs iut nrrs~ Returned - ths
asnrs professionally. WhHn - resignsd
f-r-r ti.s r,r1ies Sores - rsfuruss 81 -
ratfss stats nud purchases . s-isl farln
us-r nfartus3ifr 1stef - so1i tiss rTer
srfr ara uurss - nrztrrF Hhere -
rsi-nrrf lmH ~ usTwusts sfstFr t-t.lf
aasr Fs1luusne - snsal ninaa. Il M.
rrs-ra.sn4 nrF - wns s1ufftf a. 80
Tr-rurf saiais-s' ltaans hs-s
wH.Is Nrina n MnftrsAisr - tfli uf.f
rsrssraf nHz. fbat CT eaaffr rrsrr.is-
sias.ss 50 autiss ts5n1 - eTiTsafr- -r-r.ftt
- fIas farr nrHfas ate nrte- tks 10
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ir irtuEis1siz1 laguu. Eie ta-m n o.