The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-06

The veteran tragedian, Mr.. Booth, while play !
ing recent engagement in this city, received
horrible shock which might possibly have resulted
fatally, but, happily, was productive of n much
more ludicrous than serious result.
The renowned tat girl, Miss Anna Grouse was
exhibiting herself at the museum at the time of
this engagement Mr. Booth was to appear ON
Monday evening rs Richard He was in
ceedingly nervous, irritable, and unhappy state,
from some unaccO.htabe cause all that day. Eve
ry thing seemed wrong, and by rnishap and
another he was worked up to frenzy. The time
for the performance arrived Booth grew calmer,
and commenced his work.
The delectable fat girl urged by an insurmount:
able desire the great Booth in Richard her
experience in the drama being limited, gathered
herself together, and with some dfc ulty succeeded
III gaining the rear OF the stage. Painting with the
exertion necessary get all of herself through the
,ajntracted entrances she found the narrow stair
yhy by which Booth would leave the STAGE and
coinposedy adjusted herself in a manner capable
OF obtaining all the comfort which stair foot
wide competent to afford. Her bulk being
enormous, when sitting. (the fat having full Ii
to spread itself in all directions she com.
petely choked up the passage and found herself
securely wedged between some substantial ban
nsters on one side, and on the other firm brick
wall. Though somewhat alarmed TO her ability
to free herself from this situation should an emer-
geney che sat patiently waiting for the grand
burst of Booth in the last act as the stricken king
Ii came-the death scene was executed in a most
effective manner, and received the liberal plaudits
of the vast assembly in the front.
As have stated Booth was in "A frenzy pre-
vious to the opening, and his efforts during the
evening made him still worse. He distracted
his nervous system was wofuy overtaxed. At the
conclusion of the play he rushed from the stage to
seek his dressing room, thinking TO gain there
quiet and relief Reaching the staircase his glance
at once met Anna's delighted and admirng gaze.
There she sat quietly ana calmly, while Booth,
waiting to make the passage, his mind being tenn
porarily disordered, could not comprehend this
singular obstruction.
She began however, to be quite alarmed at the
iran tyag Stnn pJaI,
the sight of her. (He had not chanced to see the
fat girl, and knew not that such person existcd.)
He imagined his vision was obscurcd, and that
Anna was blind fancy of the brain---or else his
sight had doubled and yet there certainly was a
human face peerng at him. He looked and looked
He assured himself that he must be mistaken in
taking huge hill for human being. Deter
mined 10 satisfy hlmself he unsheathcd his dress
sword merely TO prove with its point the existence
OF this strange phantasy. The fear occasioned by
this act was soon appareni. Poor Anna imagined
herself slaughtered, and her struggles to escape
were tremendous; those horrible eyes of Booths
driving into her could not be borne. Again and
again she tried to edge away but all was OF no
avail; the bannisters were feartully stout and the
bri * wall irowningly resisted her.
But when the sword was drawn her o'er wrought
senses left hor-one loud, long, piercing shrek,
and she swayed to and from like the wind, and
finally her head dropping on To her breast, she
seemed dead, the treacherous but yet friendly
bric! wall and bansters alone preventing her from
falling. Booth, by this time perfectly insane.
He drove his sword hercey towards her, exclainI-
ing, "Out of my way, demon-hcs tortures be
thy doom way, way, or Ivy St Paul I'll ceave thy
rutlian's skull stand saydetend thysclf or
lieoso that thou giv'st me way ! care not"
Foamng with rage, he violently thrust at her. but
luckily the thick folds of her dress, and the waver
ing hand that held the weapon prevented aught but
n mere scratch. That scratch, however. sufficed-
"MURpER, MURDER, MURDER, MURDER" re echoed
through the building coming from the rivived An
ma HELP, MURDER, on, hclp, hslpl" Then what
a scene cusued Actors, sspcrnumeraries, carpen-
tcrs, and all the mysterious beings that dwell, in
visible, behind the scenes, rushed toward the spot
from whence the continued and thrilling sounds
proceeded
There stood Booth, calm, but pale-hs eyes
flashing, lips compressed, and his upright mien be
okening his dauutlcss sprit-and there, shrinking
and trembling like an overgrown lily or.sunilowcr,
sat the Fat Girlher features convused with fear,
and her agitated, substantial frame, heaving with
spasmodic Jerks. On her fine forehead stood big
drops of perspiration, and her iesh swayed 10 and
fro like the waves OF the troubled ocean.
''Save ne--save ne''--shc shreSed.
''Sathanas--havc at thee" turiously cried Booth;
"I'll drive my point full at thee II thou gvst me
not way. Draw, or by ST. George --." Here
the tragcdian seized, disarmcd, and conveyed
away, The terrified fat girl again placed erect
through the kind offices of two of the strongest
ropes and pulhes and order was restored
Booth when told of the incident for he was
conscious throughout the entire night laughed
heartily, and made Anna all the reparation she
would accept
But she never has been induced To- witness his inn
presentations since; her curiosity entirely grati
fled. Just and impartial always, she considers his
acting by far too vivid too fierce too natural.
But she has recovered her calmness now-time hnv
ing intervened-and still continues at the hall ot
the museum. looking quite stout and hearty, re-
ceiving the congratulations OF vsitcrs with an
amable suavity and high born grace, we'll be
coming her.
FEMALE RIGHrs. The Cincinnati Nonpareii says
il heard a graceless oaier, who has industrious
wife, inquirng with great apparent earnestncss II