Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-01-09
Nh. Booru As CAHD1SAL RtcHELrEu.-on
Tuesday nightlast, Mr.. Booth appeared in the

Tuesday night last, Mr.. Booth appeared in the
character of Richelieu, and with what success
every one OF our readers who were present nave
d,uhtless determined for themselves. We do
not take up our pen to pass judgement, yea or
nav. upon air. Booths general ability as an actor
or rs a Tragedian. We regard that as settled
question. There are few actors who will COM
pare with him. But that argues nothing here
nor there Is to his adaptation to the character
of Cardinal Richlieu. a man may have pres
tige which goes long way in his favor and
without which his appearing in some pieces
would be reckoned as an intolerable piece OF
assurance. Mr. Booth has prestige IN ms
,,.,ne-the name of Booth on the American
s,sge is a synonyme for Tragedy. A prestige
like this, even though 1t may not justly war
rant an actor In appearing in every character
will often tunes excuse him in the eyes OF
themost censorious.
In the first place, the character is one wholly
unsuited to youth, or even middle age and, IN
the second, it is scarcely possible that young
man can combine in himself the necessary aoii-
ity. experience, and scholarship. 1t is not too
much to saw. that each one of these qualifications
are dependent upon the other. To realize
the character of Richelieu, one must be
familiar with the European history of the seven
tenth century, and especially with the immedI-
ate era of Cardinal Richelieu. The man who has
the stuff in him to enable him, in an after period
Of life. TO assume such character, has, as
,,l. more quick blood and untamed vigOr with
in him than any thing short of actual insplra-
ton could properly subject to such character IN
his youth. And here it was observable that Mr.
Booth was at fault His efforts to tremble were
too palpable, and out of all keeping with his
voice, which had steady, stentorian ring. This
part of the personation is, no doubt, the chez
II aurrs, and difficult above all therest and this
is why it is so extremely difficult for young
man to at all approximate proper delineationof
the character.
But again Cardinal Richelieu stands out up
on the records of the seventeenth century as the
rival and competitor of the en- massed greatness
of his times In the Church he yies with the
pope, and in the cabinet, with the crowned
heads of all Europe. Although Oliver Crom-
well was his competitor, yet he has not subtract
cd an iota from the towering greatness. of Richie
Geu Whom .ve read of Richelieu we read of
France, and France then was Europe. When
Richelieu commanded, denounced, smiled or
caiole it was the act of France, and all the King
cioms and dependencies of Europe paid attention
This then was Richelien as apublic man. As an
individual, he feels his power and tue dignity
aud irresistible bearing which it lent him is a
hard thing for back woods republican to per-
senate Rlchelieu, in court, stood clad in the
habit of the State. In private, although he had
imposed upon himself constant discreet re-
scrve-a watchful sagacity, yet the genuine man
was seen. All the time-everywhere there is
blending Of his two characters, and we realize
in Richelieu something more than mere man
something, as Goethe says, ''demoniacal, not
IN the NAL acceptation of that word, but as e%-
pressive of the instant omniscence and wonder
ful and subtle tliscernment which characterized
him. He was learned, sagncious, mercliul, firm
md bravo above, far above the standard OF hu-
1pnnity. His mind seemed more in the image
of his God than any man of his time. He foiled
the most deep laid schemes of the most astute
diplomats of Europe. He saw at glance where
TO direct the energies of France-where to con-
tract alliances. He knew every prominent man
in Europe He was filled with admiration OF
Oliver Cromwell, and his groan, when Louis the
thirteenth by and with the advice of Baradas,
concludes to send men and money to the help
of the imbecile Charles the first, speaks vol
umc. Worn down, rs was his iron constitu-
ton, by coughs, palpitations and spasmodic
paroxyisns, his intense intellect over powered
his phy steal ailments, aud to the last his mind
caught and digcstod an expression with mi
raculous power and despatch. Mr. Booth
did not personate Richelieu in his weakness
nor in his general bearing His tuOuons were
i Nis nat
hit was in the scene where Julie De Mortemer
is sent for by the King. Here was striking
place for the display of the physical Richelien.
Julie was his ward-most dearly did the old
man love her. Then too, the waiting and anxiety
for the "despatch'' had sunk his spirits. TWAS
either the dispatch or disgrace, and the despatch
was in great jeopardy. The Goaler appeared
he demands Julie for the King. The Cardinal
promptly refuses: he speaks like man who had
had been used to confront kings and was their
superior. The Goaler becomes formal, urges
his message. Richelicu takes away his support
ing hand from Julie-he raises himself as 1t
were above the stoops and infirmities of age,
and with his long hand stretched out he deliv-
ers his message for tho king, He draws the
awful circle Of the church about the place she
stands, and, in burst of his pent up sense of
wronged patriotism, he threatens the curse of
Rome upon that individual who dares pass be-
yond the sacred limits Mr.. Booths performance
in this could not be excelled- twas grand and
imposing in the extreme, and in very deed and
truth might the bystanders have uncovered their
heads as they listened to him. 1t seemed to us
more than representation; it grew into strange
sense of reality.
We say then, that such an act as this was pc
culiarly fitted TO Mr. Booth at his present age,
but Richelieu, as character, is not, andit would