Evening star., 1933-10-30
Capital MOurnS Death.

News of the passing of E. H Soth-
ern will come to many Washingtonians
with a special sense of shock and per-
Sonal loss He made his home in
Georgetown for several years between
1916 and 1922, and was frequent
visitor to the Capital during other
periods of his career Scores of repro
sentatives of all classes in the COM
munity enjoyed acquaintance with him
as a friend and neighbor
Mr.. Sothern was bern at New Or
leans, December 6, 1859. His father
was the celebrated comedian, Edward
A. Sothern. famous for his imperson-
alton of Lord Dundreary in Our
also was a player. The first five years
of his childhood were spent in the
United States, principally on tour with
England. the boy, of course, accom-
panied them, and by reason of that
circumstance received an English
rather than an American education.
Began Drawing Early.
The lads earliest predictions were
Tor drawing and painting rather than
the stage. He had remarkable anna
teur talent, and for a while was per-
London and in Spain. AS a scene
painter at the old Haymarket Theater
he had some success. but when a draw
Ing submitted to the Royal Academy
failed to pass muster, he gave up the
struggle.
Then it was that he decided to fol
low in his fathers footsteps. He was
convinced that no great ability was
imperatively necessary to earn living
behind the footlights. In the thea
ter he said, you get paid for know
ing nothing at all Parental OBJ
Jections served only to confirm him IN
his choice of a stage adventure
But his debut was tragic business
1t took place at the opening of the
elder Sothern's American tour of 1879.
The play was Brother Sam" and the
young apprentice had but single line
to speak. That was the difficulty.
When he met his father on the stage
he was so overcome with fright that
he dashed off into the wings without
utterlng word. His collapse, however
reused his fathers anger. The young
fellow" he declared, will be an ac-
tor whether or no" He promptly
packed him off to Boston to Join the
Museum Co., stern but abundantly
competent training school. Later re
was committed to the care of John
Mccullough, the eminent tragedian.
Both experiences were of the highest
value to him. 1t was eXhausting work
but it made him a player in the most
eXactlng sense of the word
Left on Own Resources.
Mr. Sothern senior died in 1881. and
the subsequent physical and mental
bankruptcy of Mccullough left the
young thespian to his own resources.
He acted in London and again in the
United States, but the years until 1886
were hard. His opportunity came when
he was chosen for a small part in
Mona with Helen Dauvray- That con-
nection led to an acquaintance with
Daniel Frohman, which resulted in his
appearance as leading man in the Ly-
ceum Co, New York, in 1887. The tide
had turned. and Edward sothern's s
name soon was to be familiar to play
goers throughout the Nation.
He remained at the Lyceum II years.
starring in "A Scrap of Paper. The
Highest Bidder, Lord Chumley,'' The
Victoria Cross" Change Alley" "A
Colonial Girl" "An Unwarranted In
trusion' and "A Prisoner of zenda.'
In 1896 he married Miss Virginia
Harmed and she was his leading lady in
THE Master of Woodbarrow'' and the