Evening star., 1941-03-23

Washingtons principal newspaper for
Monday, March 90. 1891, told its readers
Of the passing OF two
Fomous Men great and famous per-
Departing sonalities. The first of
these was a celebrated
thespian of whom The Star said The
news of the death of Lawrence Barrett
was received with genuine regret in this
city, where he was always very popu-
lar both as an actor and a man. Few
men in the dramatic profession were
made as much Of by society people in
this city as was he, and his visits here
were always made the occasion of
number OF dinners and other social en-
tertainments in his honor. On his last
visit. in November, 1893, when he played
at Albaugh's for a fortnight, he was OBJ
liged to decline all social attentions on
account of his neck trouble, which by
that time had reached serious propor-
tions. That was his last engagement
prior to his leaving the stage tenn
OIdIl4N. III lIlc 1OIlO"liIs Spi Al15' 4IC
resumed work. playing in connection
with Mr.. Booth. He was booked to play
here in April and his engagement was
to have been marked by grand pro-
duction of 'Rienzi' which he brought
out for the first time before a Washing
ton audience.
Mr.. Barrett was one Of the hardest
students imaginable on many lines IN
addition to those connected with his
profession and was an excellent con-
versationalist, speaking with intelli-
gence on a great variety of subjects.
He was an indefatigable worker always,
a man with high ambitions and a de-
termination to realize them. -.
The death of Lawrence Barrett
brings 10 mind the Lawrence Barrett
Dramatic Club of this city. which was
organized in 1880 and gave its first per-
formance in May, 1881. the play pro-
duced being Julius Caesar Mr. Bar.
rett ALWAYS took a Warm interest in the
club. During his first engagement here
after the formation Of the club he was
given reception. He presented to the
club his portrait and an elegantly bound
copy of his life of Edwin Forrest. The
club prospered till 1886, when, on ac-
count of the principal men being en-
gagged TO take part with prominent ac-
tors, it was disbanded The first stage
manager was Thad K. Sailer Among
the actors brought out by this club
is Charles B. Hanford. a graduate of
the Washington High School, who
showed much ability while in the club
and was engaged to take leading parts
by William Stafford Thomas Keene,
Robson anG Crane and the Booth-Bar
rett combination. Mr.. Hanford is now
supporting Julia MarloWe. Another
man trained for the stage in this club
is Wilton Lackaye, a graduate of
Georgetown College. He has played
with Rose Coghlan.'
On Page of the same edition The
Star announced that Gen. Joseph E.
Johnston the last but one of the six
full generals of the Confederate Army"
had succumbed to heart failure de-
veloping from severe cold that he
took at the time of the Sherman fu-
neral in New York" 1t was explained
that after the war. Gen. Johnston was
president of railroad in Arkansas,
president of an express company in Vir-
ginia and an insurance agent in Sa-
vannah. lr 1877 he was elected to Con-
gress to represent the Richmond dis
trict of Virginia, and during Cleve-
lands administration he was appointed
commissioner of railroads, position he
lost something over year ago" Edi-
torially it was remarked that he had
served as pallbearer Of the three mill
tary heroes of the Nation in the con-
test between the States-Grant, Sheri-
dan and Sherman. For all of these, the
animosities of the bitterest of civil wars
were finished. His rivals ranked Gen.
Johnston 'in military ability higher
than any other Confederate general"
He was mourned as man of superior
culture, OF refined manners, of great
personal popularity. The last years of
his life were passed in the National
Capital, where he had numerous friends
Of all sections, parties and conditions"