SOTHERX
SOULE
SOTHERN, Edward Askew, actor, was born
in Liverpool, Eiiglaiul, April 1, 1826. He was in-
structed by a private tutor; studied surgery in
London, and later studied theology for tluee
years but abandoned it for the stage. His first
appearance was made as Othello at the Theatre
Royal, on the Island of Jersey, and for several
years he was a nienibor of the stock companies
touring througli tiie inovinces. He came to the
United States in 1Sj3 and made his American
debut in B<iston as Dr. Pangloss. He was twice
discharged for incapacity and went to New York
city, where he obtained engagements in stock
companies, and toured in Washington and Balti-
more. He became a member of James AV. "Wal-
lack's company in New York in 18."54, and in Jan-
uary. 1S.j7. was given the part of Armand Duval
to Matilda Heron's Camille. In this he was suc-
cessful, and in 1858 he joined Laura Keene's com-
pany, being cast for the small part of Lord Dun-
dreary, in " Our American Cousin." He rewrote
the part and played it with such humor and origi-
nality that it was the hit of the piece. He then
elaborated the part which became the most pro-
nounced success of his career. The play ran 496
successive nights at the Haymarket theatre,
London. Mr. Sothern starred in Great Britain,
Australia and America in " David Garrick;" as
Dundreary; as Sidney Spoonbill in the " Hornet's
Nest,"' and as Fitz Altamont in the "Crushed
Tragedian." Of his sons, Edward Lytton, Ed-
ward Hugh (q.v.) and Sam, became well known
actors. He died in London, England, Jan. 20, 1881.
SOTHERN, Edward Hugh, actor, was born in
New Orleans, La., Dec. 6. 1859; son of Edward
Askew Sothern (q.v.). He attended the English
school at Warwickshire, England, and the Mary-
lebone grammar school, London, studied drawing
at the Heatherly pre-
paratory school, and
painting and color in
Spain. Failing to se-
cure admission as a
student to the Royal
academy of London,
he reluctantly aban-
doned painting and
joined his father's
company, then play-
ing at Abby's Park
theatre, Broadway,
N.Y., making his first
appearance as the
cabman in "Sam"
in September, 1879.
Ho was a member of the Boston Maseum Stock
company for .several months, and returned to
England with liis father's company, where he
joined John McCullougli's company for a tour in
Z. ff\~cU^
America. He played at the Criterion, Standard,
Royalty and other London theatres, and in 1882
toured with his brother, Edward Lytton Sothern,
in low comedy parts in England. In 1883 he re-
joined McCulIough in America as head comedian.
He took part in "The Fatal Letter" at the Union
Square theatre, New York city, and in 1884
traveled in New York, Boston and Brooklyn in
" Whose are They? " a farce written by himself.
He was engaged by Charles Frohman for '•Three
Wives and One Husband." He supported Estelle
Clayton in " Favette " at the Union Square theatre
and on a tour, and later was engaged with Helen
Dauvray's company at the Lyceum theatre. New
York city, as Captain Gregory in " One of our
Girls;" Prosper Couramont in "A Scrap of
Paper"; Dr. Lee in " Met by Chance; " Ernest
Vane in " Peg WofSngton," and Wildrake in
"The Love Chase." He was engaged by Daniel
Frohman to star in the part of Jack Hamilton in
" The Highest Bidder," at the Lyceum theatre,
and made a metropolitan success and toured with
the play. He also starred in " The Maister of
Woodbarrow "; " Editha's Burglar "; " The Great
Pink Pearl "; " The Victoria Cross "; " The Danc-
ing Girl "; " Lord Chumley "; " Captain Letter-
blair"; "The Way to "Win a Woman"; "The
Prisoner of Zenda "; " An Enemy to the King ";
"The Adventures of the Lady Ursula"; "The
Song of the Sword"; "A Shilling's Worth"
(1898); "The Sunken Bell" (1899); "Hamlet"
(1900); "Richard Lovelace" (1901); "If I were
King" (1901-1903). He was married, Dec. 3. 1896,
to Virginia Harned, who had been his leading
woman for several years.
SOULE, Carolina Augusta, minister and autlior, was born in Albany. N.Y. , Sept. 3, 1824; daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Merselis) White; granddaughter of Nathaniel and Abigail (Steele) White, and of Gilbert (a native of the south of France) and Sarah Van Bentliuisen Merselis, and a descendant of the Van Ben- thuisens, earliest settlers (Holland) of Albany, and the Whites and Steeles (English), earliest settlers of Hartford, Vt. She was graduated with honors from Albany Female academy, N.Y., in 1841, and was principal of the female department of the Clinton Liberal institute, N.Y.. 1842. She was married, Aug. 28, 1843, to the Rev. Henry Birdsall, son of Clement and Mary (O'Dell) Soule, of Dover, N.Y., who died, January 30, 1852, leav- ing her with five children. She engaged in literary work, and was editor of The Rosebud, an annual, 1854-55: corresponding editor of th& Ladies' Repository, Boston, 1855-63. and owned and edited for eleven years 77ie Guiding Star, a Sundaj'-school publication in New York. She was ordained to the Universalist ministry in 1880, and was pastor at St. Paul's Universalist church.
