The Mountaineer. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1859-1861, 1861-03-30

many as you CAN Halls Journal
YOUNG BOOTHS FIRST RICH.
X ARD. "a
TFN or twelve years ago, old Booth
was playing on engagement at the Chat.
ham Street theatcr III this city. ma WINS
announced on a certaiti night for Richard
III he went TO rehearsal ia the morning
and gave no Indication Of the cccentricity
which sometimes seized him, Oh 81 any
j disinclination to perform ia tile evening.
He was III, however, and when night fell,
utterly refused to 60 TO the theater; bis
dresses were packed and put into the
lcarriage that awaited him, but he was
obstinately immovable. He said to his
son, Edwin, now the ihheritor of his
fathers fame, but then boy Of sixteen,
who had played only parts like Richmond
in this very play, OF Laertcs In Hamlet,
and these very seldom, "Neddy Won must
go aud play Richard for me- The boy
thought his father was joking, but the
strange man Of genius persisted, and the
other genius, not knowing what he did, Z
or what be was going 10 do, rot into The
carriege and drove to the theatre. He
told his story, and the manager. who
knew how ihtractahle old Booth was
when he got into his yagaries, called for
j. i. Scott, who sometimes played part
when the great actor disappointed lis au.
dielce. Scott, however, ralused: he was
cast for Richmond, aud Richmond only
would he play. The house was crowded..
the overture was over. The manager ex-
claimed in dispair;
There's no one to play Richard but
you, Edwin
That's what my father sent me to do. r
Are you up in the partlD (Which
means 'do you know the tcxtl')
~ es.n
And without consulting the youngster
further, they dragged him into the dress
ing room, made him 10 look as much like
bis father ms. possible; dressed him in the
paternal garments ESQ that be literally
stepped into his fatherts shoes, and wore
his fathers monte }, aud without giving
him time to think, without announcing 10
the audience any change in the cast. they
rang up the curtain and Edwin Booth
appeared as Richard III. 1t was d
strange debut for him TO make, as a star,
who Illus since gainea SO engiahle dr.l-
fniatic fshk
The audience looked amazed, bat they
were used to having Booth The elder take
all sorts OF liberties with them; most Of
them knew who It was that filled bis
place, from tile sou having supported the
father &c intervals in that tlIeater; they
were curious TO see II any OF the. Ere
that animated The old man so wonderfully
had been transmitted. The boy went
through the piece, was applandcd Ill
times, and called ont ut the close Of the
play; then indeed he was more frightened
than before; then be must appear III his
own person, and leave Richard ILL., be.
hind the curtain. He dnred not 30; SO
Scott took him by the hind, and led him
out, and said TO the house that elieered so
loudly "A chip Of the old block p words
that have been proven since, more than
casually true And so. Young Booth, for
the first time, played Richard. i He has
played il since, hundreds Of times, TO au.
dienees Of far higher distinction, and
more critically inclined than those who
applauded his maiden effort in Chatham
Street; but there mist have been evident,
even then, something Of the genins that
chains his auditors now; they could not
otherwise have endured five acts Of a
tyro. But it was years before he tried
the part again; although the boy must
have had his aspirations; must have felt
that he was destinedito be a great motor;
must have studied the very words care
fully, TO be thus ready with the textile
seemed Indifferent to what would have
turned the heads Of most young actors, or
great actors sons. He went home to his
| father who merely asked, Ibid You get
through. "fes;n and that was oil the
conversation that passed between the
two beings Of such singular gifts aud
such close relationship, aud that vas all
that came OF Edwin Booths playing.
Richard when he was sixteen years old.
He did not play II again during the life
time Of bis father.--Neg York Express. 4
I