New Britain herald., 1917-07-03
SIR HERBERT TREE
 IS DEAD IN LONDON
Mi6hted Actor-Manager Victim \ Of Sudden Death
 

7-r4kCuoCu, July O.-ClE I1eIDcll IocSA- boArn Tree. the actor, died last night ,s6ir Herbert. who had made many public appearances since his return txom the United States. delivering ad- dresses describing his experiences in America, had been i'll for several days.
 Ut was announced that he had suc- 4eessfully undergone an operation. Aad, according to latest reports, he Was making satisfactory progress to- ward recovery. His death was unex- pected.
 . When Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. apparently in the best of health. left &Ais country for London last May. hc made a brave effort to conceal the disappointment he felt over the fail ure of Colonel Newcome."
 n-""If the curtain speeches I have he>n making all over the country" he enid, "have aided even in the slight ct degree to bring about the en- trance of the United States into the ranks of the Allies. if can feel that l. have been an unoflcial ambassador from England to secure a better un- darsta nding between Americans and my own people. then my visit here Y aat Deen SlOTlOuS success
 ,., This from a knighted London actor manager. fanatically loyal to Eng lard. whose grandparents were Ger mans whose great uncle was aid de- camp to Emperor Wilhelm I. and tutor to that monarchs oldest son who succeeded to the German throne. ,.- Str, Herbert Tree will not be re- fnAmbered in the annals of tho Eng fish stage as great actor. His pe- euliar eccentricities and mannerisms, including a lisp and suggestion of effeminancy, stood in the way of really great histrionic accom- plish- n ants. But he was the most active Industrious and ambitious British &C., .tor-manager of the last decade. He was identified with almost every organization and movement of his profession in England. As a producer and theater owner he was prodigal in bis enterprises. He came to be known as~sthe Belasco of the English k He made. as his own enterprises, . between ninety and one hundred lav- ish productions of all kinds of plays. Sixteen of these were Shakespearean productions.
 For ten years previous to the war he held an annual Shakespearean Fes- LNAl AI I1lS ANdJcSIJ . 4hcdtCi' "AAA could present eight different Shak- speArean plays in a week, acting the leading role in each In his whole career he played probably 500 parts. He was also movie star. He wrote several volumes of fiction stories. es- says and vertical articles.
 First Venture on Stage.
 ,- Herbert Beerhohm Tree was born in London on Dec. IT, 1853 His father was a merchant who was am bilious for the son to enter his busi- ness. The young man tried 1t, did not like 1t. gravitated to the London Arpateur dramatic societies--among them the Irrationals and Eccentrics- and became full-f1edged actor in 1878 as Colonel Challice in "Alone". ,. From that time until he assumed thu management of the Comedy The ater in 1887 he appeared with nearly every prominent star in England and in almost every conceivable kind of role. Six months later he took the historic Haymarket Theater also and managed both with ease. In 1897 he : opened His Majestys Theater. which has been his principal playhouse since that time. and has housed the most lavish productions in London.
 During 1895 he paid his first visit to this country and acted at Abbey's Theater in this city. He came back in tho following year and then re- mained away until 1915. He returned to appear in Shakespearean roles In the following year and again this spring.
 In 1907 he WIS decorated with the order of the Grown by the German Kaiser. In tho next year he received the Order of the Crown of Italy. One year following. King Edward of Eng land, who was long his friend and ad- n,irer. made him Knight. After Sir Henry Irwng's death he became President of the Theatrical Manager s Association of England.
 Sir Herbert had a passion for stage decoration and scenic display. He would never hesitate to cut, trans pose and even mutilate Shakes pearean text to make an actors holi- day. This tendency kept him in con- stant trouble with the London dra- matic critics. one of the severest of whom, In dealing with him, was his half brother. Max Beerbohm.
 But Sir Herbert was i'm previous to their rbes. Shakespeare was a good manager" he would gayly retort and he would have done the same as l if only he had had the facilities"
 The actor was very affable man and belonged to numerous London clubs and societies.
 Sir Herbert had a slight accident June 16 He slipped while descend ing q staircase and strained the liga- noents of his right knee. It was for this that he underwent an operation
 
 sisted upon the cancellation of all Sir Herbert's engagements SO that he could enjoy complete seclusion and rest.
 ,rRna1,S IO LEARN FRENCH