Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-01-24

personally S15,20O per annum, the Empress s., 200
and each of his ministers $500.
From the Boston Post
Booth and the Fat Girl.
| The veteran tragediau Mr. Booth, while PLAYING
recent engagement in this city, received horrible
shock, which might possibly have resulted fatally
but happily, was productive of a much more ludi-
crous than serious result.
| The renowned fat girl. Miss Anna Grouse, was ex-
hbting herself at the museum at the time of his en-
gagement. MIR Booth to appear on Monday
evening as Richard. He was in an exceedingly ner-
vous, irritable and unhappy state from some unac-
countable cause, all that day. Everything seemed
wrong, and by one mishap and another he was work
ed up to frenzy. The time for the performance
arrived; Booth grew calmer and commenced his
work.
The deectable fat girl, urged by an insurmounta-
BILE desire to the great Booth in Richard her ex
perenca in the drama being limited gathered her.
self together, and with some difficulty succeeded in
gaining the rear Of the stage Painting with the ex-
ertion necessary to get all of herself through the
contracted entrances. she found the stairway
by which Booth would leave the stage and composed
ly adjusted herself in capable of obtaining
all the comfort which stair, q foot wide was COM
petent to afford Her bulk being enormous when
sitting the fat having ulllcense to spread itself in
all drections,) she completely choked up the pas
sage, and found herself securely wedged between
some substantial banisters one side and on the
other a firm brick wall Though somewhat alarmed
W 10 Tree HeTSclI THIS situation,
should emergency occur, she sat patiently wait
ing for the grand burst of Booth in the last act as
the stricken king. It came-the death scene was
executed in most effective and received the
liberal plaudls OF the vast assembly in the front
AS we have stated Booth was in a frenzy previous
to the opening and his efforts during the evening
made him still worse. He distracted his ner-
vous system was wofully oyertaxed. At the conclu-
sion OF the play he rushed from the stage seek his
dressing room, thinking to gain there quiet and re-
lief Reaching the staircase, his glance at once met
Annals delighted and admiring gaze. There she sat
silently and calmly. while Booth, waiting to make
the passage his mind being temporarily disordered,
could not comprehend this singular obstruction
She began, however to be quite alarmed at the
tragedlans terrific look. Booth was astounded at
the sight of her. Gle had not CHANGED to see the
tat girl and knew not that such person existed y
He imagined his vision was obscured and that Anna
was blind fancy of the brain-or else his sight had
dou5ted-and yet there certainly was a human face
peerng at him. He locked and looked He assured
himself that he must be mistaken in taking so huge
hill tor a human being. Determined to satisfy him
self he unsheathed his dress sword merely prove,
with its point the existence of this strange phantasy
The fear occasioned by this act was soon apparent
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
of no avail the bannsters fearfully stout and
the brick wall frowningy resisted her.
But when the sword was drawn. her overwrought
senses left her-one Loud long, piercing Shrek and
she swayed to and fro like the wind, and finally, her
head dropping on to her breast, she seemed dead,
the treacherous but yet friendly brick wall and ban
nisers alone preventing her from falling Booth, by
this time, perfectly insane He drove his sword
iercely towards her. excaiming, Out of my way,
Idemon-heils tortures be thy doom-way way, or
by st. Paul I'll cleave thy ruhans skull-stand
say-defend thyself, hee-so that thou giv'st 1ne
way 7 care not Foaming with rage he violently
thrust at her. but luckily the thick folds of her dress
IL 1+l,oA 81 ~
vented aught but scratch That scratch,
however, suficed--' Murder. murder, murder, MUIR
DER" re-echod through the building, coming from
the revived Anna Help, murder, oh, help help !"
Then what ensued. Actors, supernumera-
res, carpenters and all the mysterious beings that
dwell invisible, behind the scenes rushed toward the
spot from whence the continued and thrilling sound
proceeded
There stood Booth-calm. but pale-his eyes
flashing lips compressed. and his uprg ht men be-
tokening his dauntless spirit and there shrinking
and trembling like an overgrown lily sunfower,
sat the Fat Girl-her features convulsed with fear
and her agtated, substantial frame, heaving with
spasmodlc jerks. On her fine forehead stood big
drops of perspiration, and her flesh swayed to and
fro like the waves of the troubled ocean,
Save me-save me u she shrieked.
Sathanas-have at thee" furiousy cried Booth
I'll drive my point full at thee if thou Civ st not
way. Draw, or by St. George - Here the ira
gedian seized, disarmed, and conveyed away
The terrified fat girl was again placed erect through
the kind oces OF two OF the strongest ropes and pull
lies, and order restored.
Booth, when told Of the incident--for he I'M
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 i'm
presentations since; her curiosity entirely graft
fed. Just and impartial always, she considers his
acting by far too vivid-too ferce-t0o natural But
she has recovered her calmness now-time having
intervened-and still continues at the hall of the
museum, looking quite stout and hearty, receiving
the congratulations of visitors with an amable suavi
ty and hig born grace, we'll becoming her