EDWIN BOOTH. Stricken Down on the Stage.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 366, 8 May 1889, Page 3

EDWIN BOOTH. Stricken Down on the Stage.

The Lyceum Theatre, Rochester, on April 3rd was thronged from orchestra rail to dome. It was a night of Booth and Barrett, and the two great tragedians were to present the story of " Othello." Intense interest accompanied the play from the moment the curtain swung up, and none of the hundreds who scanned the face of Mr Booth noted any warning of what was so soon to befall him. He waß thought never before to have been sson in this city more nearly at his best than that night as lago. The fortunes of the dusky Moor and his crafty fellow had progressed through the first act, followed with deep interest and keen enjoyment by the throng in front. lago seemed lithe and active with perfect Hie. The curtain went down before a house whose hush of perfect attention then broke and relaxed into hearty applause. When the second act was preparing Mr Booth, though uttering no complaint, is now known to have felt an approaching culmination of the oppressive heaviness that for several days has caused bun no little discomfort. He went on, however, and progressed nearly through the act with his u&ual facility. He was urging his phy sical powers by his strong will, and at the call for the last scene in the second act the wiil succumbed tv physical weakness. A slight dizziness that for several days had tormented the great actor increased, and darkness came upon him. His attendant and others observed something amiss, and sprang to his assistance. phy&ician was hurriedly called, and, afte? a hasty examination, expressed the fear that Mr Booth had sustained a shock of partial paralysis. This so alarmed Mr Barrett that he determined to dismiss the audience. He was greatly oTercome by what he considered the dangerous illness of his colleague, and when he stepped before the curtain it was evident that he was greatly excited. Mr Barrett's dismissal of the audience was in these words : "Ladies and Gentlemen, — I am called upon to perform the mosfc painful duty of , my life. My colleague has shown symptoms of breaking down for three or four days, past, and his condition is so serious, that it is impossible for him to act. We had hoped that he woul(£ rally from this attack and would be ! able to play his part to-night, but one of your physicians, Dr. Summer, says it would be perilous for him to attempt it. Mr Booth has sustained a partial strokeof paralysis, and we fear that this is the beginning of the end."