Chapter 35

EDWIN BOOTH.

The elder Booth--His success as an actor--His sons--Birth of Edwin Booth--Early life--Brought up on the stage--Admiration for his father--Travels with him--First appearance--Appears frequently with his father--Plays Richard III. in New York--A bold venture--Learns the details of his profession--Visits Australia and the Sandwich Islands--Re-appearance in New York in 1857--Recollections of him at that time--His labors in his profession--Successful tours throughout the country--Visits England--Appears at the Haymarket Theater in London--Studies on the continent--Appearance at the Winter Garden--The Shakespearian revivals--Destruction of the Winter Garden by fire--Loss of Mr. Booth's theatrical wardrobe--Popular sympathy--The new theater--Opening of the building--Description of Booth's Theater--A magnificent establishment--A splendid stage--Novel mode of setting the scenes--Magnificent mounting of the plays produced there--Mr. Booth's performances--Personal--Genius as an actor--Beneficial influence upon the drama.