Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-11
BOOTH AND THE FAT GIRL.

lie feteTdiI lTdpeQldu DOOtu, White pay
ing recent engagement in this city, received a
ed fatally, but happily was productive of much
more ludcrous than serious result.
The renowned fat girl, Miss Anna Grouse, was
exhibiting herself at the Museum at the time OF
this engagement. Mr.. Booth was to appear on
Monday evening as Richard. He was in an ex-
ceedingy nervous, irritable and unhappy state,
from some unaccountable cause, all that day.
Everything seemed wrong, and by one mis-
hap and another he was worked up to a frenzy.
The time for the performance arrived-Booh
grew calmer, and commenced his work
The delectable fat girl, urged by an insur-
mountable desire to see the great Booth as Rich
ard, her experience in the drama being limited,
gathered herself together, and with some diff
Guilty succeeded in gaining the of the stage.
Painting with the eXertion necessary to get all of
herself through the contracted entrances, she
found the narrow stairway by which Booth would
leave the stage, and composedly adjusted herself
in manner capable of obtaining all the comfort
which stair foot wide was competent to af-
ford. Her bulk being enormous, when sitting,
(the fat having full license to spread itself in all
drections) she completely choked up the passage,
and found herself securely wedged between some
substantial banisers on one side, and on the other
firm brick wall. Though somewhat alarmed as
to her ability to free herself from this situation
should an emergency occur, she sat, patiently
waiting for the grand burst OF Booth in the last act
as the stricken king. 1t came-tLe death scene
was executed in most effective manner, and re-
ceived the liberal plaudits of the vast assembly in
the front.
As we have stated, Booth was in frenzy pre-
vious to the opening, and his efforts during the
evening made him still worse. He was distract
ed-his nervous system was wofully overtaxed.
At the concusio Of the play he rushed from the
stage to seek his dressing loom, thinking to gain
there quiet and relief; reaching the staircase, his
glance at once met Annals delighted and admir-
ing gaze. There she sat quietly and calmly
while Booth, waiting to make the passage, his
mind being temporarily disordered, could not COM
prehend this singular obstruction.
She began, however, to be quite alarmed at the
tragedians terrific look, Booth was astounded at
! the sight of her. He had not CHANGED to see the
fat girl, and knew not that such person existed
He imagined his vision was obscured, and that
Anna was blind fancy of the brain-or else his
sight had doubled-and yet there certainly was a
human face peering at him. He looked and look.
ed. He assured himself that he must be mista-
ken in taking so huge a hill for a human being.
Determined TO satisfy himself, he unsheathed his
dress sword merely to prove with its point the ex-
istence of this strange phantasy. The fear &C.
casioned by this act was soon apparent. Poor
Anna imagined herself slaughtered, and hel
struggles to escape were tremendous-those hor.
rble eyes of Booths driving into her could no
| be borne Again and again she tried to edge
away, but all was of no avail-the bannisters were
| fearfully stout, and the brick wall troWningly
resisted her.
But when the sword was drawn her DER wrough
senses left heroine long, loud, piercing shrek
and she swayed to and fro like the wind, and fin
ally her head dropped on her breast, she seemee
dead, the treacherous butlyet friendly brick wal
and bannlsters alone prevented her from falling
Booth by this time was perfectly insane. He drove
his sword fiercely towards her, exclaiming, "Ou
of the way, demon-hell's tortures be thy doom
way, way, or by st. Paul I'll cleave thy rutfin's
skull-stand, say-defend myself or flee--sc
that thou giv'st me way care not" Foamlng
with rage, he violently thrust at her, but luckily
the thick folds of her dress, and the wavering
| hand that held the weapon prevented aught but {
mere scratch. That scratch, however, sufficed--
"Murder, murder, murder" re-echoed through thu
building, coming from the revived Anne-"Help
murder, oh, help, help" Then what scene ensued
Actors, supernumerarles, carpenters, and all the
mysterious beings that dwell, invisible behind the
scenes, rushed towards the spot from whence the
continued and thrilling sounds proceeded.
| mere StOOu booul-Pde, put eoiH' mo wv
flashing, lips compressed, and his upright neil
betokening his dauntless spirit-and there, shrink
ing and trembling, like an overgrown lily or sun
flower, sal the Fat Girl--her features convulset
with fear, and her agitated, substantial frame
heaving with spasmodic jerks. On her fine fore
head stood big drops of perspiration and her fesl
swayed to and fro like the waves OF the troubo'
ocean
"Save me, save me''-she shrieked.
"Sathanas--have at thee" furiously crie'
Booth-"Pl drive my point full at thee it thol
giv'st me not way. Draw, or by st. George-.
Here the tragedan was seized, disarmed ant
conveyed away-the terrified fat girl again place.
erect through the kind Offices of two of tn
strongest ropes and pullies, and order was res
tored
Booth, when told of the incident-for he was
unconscious throughout the entire night-laugh
ed heartily, and made Anna all the reparaton sh
would accept
But she never has been induced to witness hi