The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-12-30
fayoriie part Of Orchard" !"

| lSSt1 dl Inc Oh ldTN DehlTe, WITH IL
was first introduced to New York audi
ence. His career since then is familiar t
most of our readers; in the course of it W,
believe he has performed at nearly ever,
theatre in the Union, and It wond be pro
f,less to couut bis peregrina:ions. Thirty
years ago the proceeds Of his profession
enabled him to purchase farm near Bali
more, and in the selection Of this spot ht
displayed his usual eccentricilies. 1t has
been described as barren rock, on which
if was necessary to transport soil in cart.
before any hope Of vegetation could be en-
terlaued, aud which, after an outlay o
twenty thousand dollars, was scarcely
worth the purchase money he had given
Upon this spot, however, he established his
headquarters, and, when not professionally
engaged, devoted himself in the most
practical manner to agriculture. lie fire.
quentIy performed at the Holiday Street
Theatre, Bal.imare; and was frequently to
be seen during the day preceding the
evening which was to witness his persona
lion of the crooked b4ck'd tYrant, or the
Prince of Denmark, in his shirt sleeves,
selling potatoes in the market place.
In 1890. Booth performed the part Of
..Ser,orius." in David Paul Browns play
If tha, name, on its original production.
Asa actor. Booth was remnant Of the
old school, md in his happier Efforts was
admitted by all unprejudlced persons 70
have been, even in his decline. an exam
pie Of heir superiority; bat. unfortunately
so eccentric and irregular were not only
bis habits and conduct, but il seems, also
The flight Of bis genius, that part in which
upon one occasion he would display the
most vigoroas originality (aPpeariug com
pleteIy to lose himself in the character he
represenled) would, on liz attempted repa-
li,ion, prove a complete failure. We have
before alluded Of a charge made against
him Of being an imitator. This is totally
nnfaanled, and il is hard 10 conceive how
the London press could have 50 misrepre
,enred him. Ills powers and defects werC
It leas, original. and III ey were both extra
ordinary. Many critics have compared
his npersonstion Of bis best parts t'
kean. Richard The Third was his favor
tie 4; but his vehemcuce and intensity rem
iered him an altnest inic'ahe represen
ia,iye Of Sir Edward Mortimer and Sil
Giles Ovcrreach.
Mr.. Booth beyond the power of acting
possessed many other abilities. He Wa,
an excellent Iinguist. and il is related o'
him that he PLAYED his tavorite part on ont
occasion in German, and on another II
French. His talents rs dramatist were
Of no mean order. rs shown IN "Ugolino,'
and some other standard tragedies OF which
he was the au hor. His memory was OK
traordinary; so retentve that he could re
pea, correctly any chapter in the Old @
New Testament, any Of Shakespeare
p!avs. and of other Of his favori,e dramatic
authors, entire.
As compnuion, during his lucid inter
walls, he was exceedingly agreeable, pos
.essed of a fund Of anecdote and intorma
ton; but to such terrible extent were hi.
irregularities carried, that his warmest anc
most attached friends were compelled in ;
great measure to withhold their hospita!i
~.
There is little doubt that at times, a
least, his reason was unsettled, and lha
his eccenlricity was not all the result o
dissipation. Some thought this was as
sumsd, but the most intimate with hin
were of different opinlon.
For long period at one time he adhered
TO vegetable diet, and was continually in
weighing against the enormlty of eating
animal food, until he had nearly starved
himself. This mania he carried so far as
to insist upon having vegetable oil to burr
in his lamp.
Every scene he has visited abounds il
anecdotes Of his extraordinary sayings ant
dolngs, both on and off the stage. One o
two Of which we will relate as examples:
One night as he was PLAYING Sir I'D
ward Mortimer, in the ..lron Chest" a
Phiadeiphi-, II became very evident iha
ms potatons had been too deep, and to tn
managers horror he at length got off tn
stage into the orchestra aud commenced
singing an old English song entitled 9Th
Poacher," the burden OF which is
ats my delight OF a shiny night,
In the st ason OF the year,"
To the great merriment OF the audience
VINO bore with him very good humorediy
Having succeeded in getting him behin
the scenes, he was vociterously called for
and after parley, it was agreed he shoule
finish the play. On he went again, ant
again the managers fears were intense
Finish it as quick as you can," said he il
whisper from The wing. Ga which, th'
Sir Edward walked forward, and said
"Ladies and gentlemen. have been direct
ed by the manager to finish this as quickly
as possible, and so III flush it at once
here, Wilord catch me!' saying which
and throwing himself into his arms. he ''dl'
the diving scenc," and the curtain wa
rung down amid roars of laughter. A
Pittsburgh, one evening Mr. Forrest wa
abou, to play Me,amora, when Mr. Booll
came in, and said he was going to supper
him by playing the Indian Chief, Antenl
no, for which part he dressed and mad
up, when, instead of going on the stage, h
walked ou, and took the cars, at,lred as h
was.
In New York, some twenty-five year:
aoo. he was arrested much in the same con
OTTOMAN as he refused to give any othe
name than that of Lucius Junius Bru'us
uo y,s sopt hv Justice Wynans to the oil,