Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-09-19
THE ACTORS CHILD.

s.Sh,de of KembIe!n calculated Ward,
:. H., time manager for Jefferson 81 Mac
renzie. in Baltimore, g here it is past seven
O'clock and crook'd back'd Richard not in
his dressing room."
~My dear sir" said the most original of
all men, the imperturable Thomas V. Gar
ner, " do not be SO precipitate. When the
late Daniel Reed -"
.An you love me Hail." interrupted the
stage manager, +" 60 TO the -" and then
1he poor manager chazzeed, as was his wont,
with his hands clasped in agony, from one
side of the Holiday street stage to the 9th
.er.
I" ring in first music, sir p inquired the
call boy, who scratched his head and seemed
, TO enjoy the despair of the manager.
"Ring, you red headed imp of Satan-
you juvenile Calbani get out of my sight,
or I'll ring your neck off,
Away went the call boy, and away went
the manager. Ward searched every bar
room in the vicinity of the theatre, for the
great tragedian, but all in vain. AT last a
little boy came running to him, almost
Ibreathless with fatigue, and told him that
Mr. Booth was in hay loft in Front street.
The manager found crowd Of people gath
,ered around the building in question, and
he had some difficulty in edging himself
Though the dense mass. Climbing up
rough ladder, he cautiously raised his head
above the floor of the second story, and saw
there the object of his search, on rafter,
with wreath of straw about his temples in
imitation of crown
:. Booth" said the manager, inplorngly,
/" for Heavens sake, come down! It's
nearly eight o'clock, and the audience will
pull the theatre to pieces"
The tragedlan fixed his dark eye on the
intruder, and raising his right arm majes-
ticaly, he Numbered forth
al am seated on my throne!
AS proud one, as yon distant mountain,
Where the sun makes his last stand'
Come, my dear fellow, let's go-we'll
have glass of brandy, and supper, and
all that Come, please come"
Booth descended gracefully from his
yellow pine throne, and kissing the tip end
Of his fingers, replied with smile. - at
tend you with all becoming grace. Lead
on, my lord of Essex. To the Tower
to the Tower"
After little persuasion, Ward lead the
tragedan to the theatre, got him dressed,
the curtain rose, and the play wen; on
Just as the second act was announced to
commence, messenger, covered with dust,
rushed behind the stage, and before he
could be stopped, was in earnest converse
ton with the tragedian.
WHAT" said Booth, as he pressed his
long fingers on his broad white temples, as
L.. L Al. 4.
"dead, say you! Dead and buried? My
poor little chld--my loved-my beautiful
onei And then seeing the curtain rise he
rushed on, exclaiming-
a. She has health to progress far as Chertsy,
Though not to bear the sigh. of me" &c.
The beautiful scene between Anne and
Gloster was never better played. The &C.
tor, the @ modest of ALL" when he chose
to be, gave the words of the bard with
thrilling effect; but there was a strange
calmuess about his name, that told hi.
mind was not upon the character. Still the
multitude applauded until the old roof ran
- ngain, and those behind the scenes STOOD
breathless with eager delight. The third
act came on, but Booth was nowhere 10
be found.
II was bitter cold night, and the far.
mer rs he drove, saw his horseman wrap.
ped IN large cloak, which, as it opened,
disclosed a gittering dress beneath, ride
rapidly past HIM. II was Booth in his Rich.
ard costume. Madness had seized him,
and regardless of everything, at the still
hours oil midnight, he was going TO pay a
visit 10 has dead child. Drawing mis- fiat
sword, and throwing his jewelled cap from
his head, he dashed his horses hanks with
the bare weapon until the animal sportec
IN pain. The tall, dark trees on each side
OF ham touched his heated brow with their
silver frosted branches, and thinking they
were men IN pursuit, the mad actor cut al
them with his sword, and cursed them as
he flew rapidly by.
AT last, after a gallant ride Of two hours
the horscman came in sight of country
graveyard, and as he saw the white tops
VI me monuments peeping through the
dark foliage, like snow crests upon the DO.
som OF black billow, he raised a shout
WIG enough to scare the ghosts from their
suIi graves. He dismounted. and away
sped the riderless horse over hill and dale
III was the work of a moment, (and the in
sane are cunning beyond all, 10 wrench
ahe door from the vault containing the
dead body of the child. He seized the tiny
coffin IN his arm, with the strong arm of
desperate man he tore open the lid, and
IN moment more the cold blue lips of the
dead child were glued to the mad actors.
The next morning some OF the trage-
dian's family heard wild strain of laugh
ter that seemed 10 proceed from his sleep
ing room. The door was forced open and
Booth discovered lying on his bed, gbber-
ing in idionc madness, and caressing the
corpse o! his little one.-TNew Orleans
Crescent City.