Brief biographies of the figurines on display in ... - University Library

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MRS. EDWIN BOOTH
(Mary M. McVicker)
Mary M. McVicker, <strong>the</strong> little daughter <strong>of</strong> James H.
McVicker, was born in 1848. She appeared on her
fa<strong>the</strong>r's stage in her tenth year. So pleased were <strong>the</strong>
audiences with her playing <strong>of</strong> little Eva, "<strong>the</strong> angel
child," and o<strong>the</strong>r parts, as well as <strong>the</strong> charming quality
<strong>of</strong> her singing voice, that she did much to help her
fa<strong>the</strong>r throughout <strong>the</strong> first difficult years <strong>of</strong> his undertaking
in Chicago.
When Edwin Booth opened his new <strong>the</strong>atre in New
1869, Mary McVicker, at <strong>the</strong> age
York, on February 3,
<strong>of</strong> eighteen, played Juliet to his Romeo.
Mr. Booth fell
in love with her, and <strong>the</strong>y were married on June 7, 1869.
This was Mr. Booth's second marriage, and to his little
eight year old daughter, Edwina, Mrs. Booth made a
good mo<strong>the</strong>r. Although Mrs. Booth did not again appear
on <strong>the</strong> stage after her marriage, but devoted herself to
her husband and her home, she <strong>of</strong>ten took notes <strong>of</strong> how
and why Mr. Booth did certain things in <strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong>
his performances.
When, in later years, her health failed, and she became
an invalid, Edwina took her mo<strong>the</strong>r's place in social
and household duties. In a letter written by Mr.
Booth to one <strong>of</strong> his friends, he said <strong>of</strong> his wife: "Her
great pluck keeps her up and about, but she is a very
sick woman, having lost her voice and much flesh, and
she suffers great pain constantly."
Mrs. Booth died November 13, 1881, when only
thirty-three years <strong>of</strong> age.