Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-17

President Lincoln by his brother.
John Wilkes Booth,
Edwin Booths Washington was
Bankruptcy. Edwin Booth, the
tragedian. the people of the Capital
took q very keen interest in his
work, many Of them making the
journey to Baltimore when he play
ed" that city. there was profound
sympathy for him when he fell into
financial difficulties fifty years ago
through an unfortunate theatrical
adventure. The Star of February II,
1874, says:
Rarely. if ever, has the bank
ruptcy of a private individual at
tracted so much attention and called
out so much sympathy as has that of
Mr.. Edwin Booth. recently announced.
This Is both natural and proper. Mr..
Booth could have largely increased
his already handsome fortune by con-
tinuing to play star engagements
all his life, but he was anxious to
do something for the drama, rather
than for himself only. and he ac-
cordingly risked all he had in erect
ing the finest theater ever built by
individual enterprise. This he equip
ped in style worthy the high pur-
pose in view, and from time to time
he produced upon its stage nearly
all the standard plays on a scale Of
grandeur and with a regard for his
torical and artistic accuracy never
before attempted in this country, if,
equaled anywhere.
"-As may be supposed. he sunk
money in his enterprise. and Il great
deal Of it. but to his everlasting
credit 1t can be said that be never
turned aside from the path he had
marked out, even in the face of heavy
loss. and, though he might have
changed the tide of fortune by pros
tituing his noble temple to the SEN
sational drama, he kept his faith TO
the last and went down with his flag
flying. Mere money getters may per-
haps censure Mr.. Booth for involv-
ing himself in debt in what might
have seemed from the first profit
less undertaking; but he doubtless
thought there must come time when
his efforts in behalf of true dramatic
art would be appreciated and re-
warded by the great city where ne
had risked his fortune and given the
best years of his life, and so strug-
gled on to the end. -, -
That he failed reflects shame upon
New York. but not upon the bank
rupt enthusiast. And now, being
bankrupt, that city owes 1T. not less
in and clear the establishment from
debt and present IL to him outright,
with God speed for the futures II
the rich men Of the city are. not
willing to make the offering. then
let the task be undertaken by the.
middle class, which is, after all. the
true and appreciative patron of art
in every form. II he fails second
time. let it be redeemed and given
to him again. Public taste will in
time be educated w high enough to
make it profitable. and, even If 1t
does not, the city can well afford to
make the expenditure over and over
again. Money spent in that way is
not lost. 1t will pay in the end
If not in cash dividends. then In
what Is worth even more than money
to New York; higher standard of
taste and a better code of morals"
:; y:
I'm the magical Transformation by
which Washington Is being changed
|. to a city of unsur-
Washington's passed beauty and
e,.r. comfort" says The
/ oAaue AIees. Star of February
II, 1874, "the work done by the adj
mirably qualified parking commission
bears an important part. and the re-
suit Of their labors will be more and
more appreciated year by year as the
fine varieties Of trees they are piart-
ing through the length and breadth
of the city gain in size. The COM
mission has planted 5000 trees this
fall, and by the middle Of next May,
when the planting season closes,
they will have put. out 5000 this sea-
son. This. with the care Of the $4,000
previously planted, the trimming and
preparation for the streets of the
%. 600 in the nurseries and the remov-
ing of all the old worthless poplars,
keeps a considerable force OF men
constantly at work. The trees plant
ed are doing remarkably we'll. and in
ten years time Washington will have
tho most agreeable shade and the
greatest and best variety OF orna-
mental shade trees Of any city in the
world.