Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-04-27
rom tho New York World.1
WASIIINGTnN Anil L. lSr

WASHINGTON, April H. 1865.
Some very deliberate, but not at all extra
ordinary, movements were made by hand
some and extremely wel-dressed young man
in the city of Washington, last Friday. -
AT about III o'clock a. NJ, this person,
whose name is j. Wilkes Booth, BY profes-
an actor, and recently engaged in oil specu-
lations, sauntered into Ford's Theatre on
Tenth, between Il and L streets, and ex-
changed greetings with the man at the box
alice lnthe conversation which ensued,
the ket-agent informed Boothe that box
was taken for MIR. Lincoln and Gen. Grant,
who were expected to visit the theatre. and
contribute to the benefit of Miss Laura
Kcene, and satisfy the curiosity of large
audience. Mr.. Boothc went away with a
jest, and a alightlyspokcn Good afternoon.
Stroling down to Pumphrcys stable, on &
street, in the rear Of the National Hotel,
he engaged q saddle-horsc, u high strung
fast, beautiful bay mare, telling Mr.. Plum
phreys that he should call for her in the
middle Of the afternoon.
VISITS MR.. JOHNSON.
From here he went to the Kirkwood IIo-
tel, on the corner of Pennsylvania Avanuc
and Twelfth streets, where, calling for a
card and a sheet of note-paper, he sat down
and wrote upon the first as follows
"For Mr.. 1ndre,c Johnson =. don't
wish to disturb you; are you at home
~. w. BOOTH"
To this message which was sent up by
the obliging clerk, Mr. Jahnson responded
that he was very busily engaged. Mr..
Booth smiled, and turning to his note pa
per, wrote it. The fact, if fact it is, that
he had been disappointed in not obtainining
an examination of the Vice President 5
apartments, and knowledge of the Vice
Presidents probable whereabouts the ensu-
ing evening, in no way effected his compo-
sure. The note, the contents Of which are
unknown, was signed and sealed within a
few moments. Booth arose, bowed to an
acquaintance, and passed into the street. -
His elegant person was seen on the Avanue
u few minutes and was withdrawn into the
Metropolitan Hotel.
uE VISITS HIS STABLE.
At p. NJ, he again appeared at Plum
! phrGys livery stable, mounted the mare he
had engaged, rode leisurely up + street,
turned into an alley between Ninth and
Tenth streets, and thence to an alley re-
leading to the rear Of Ford 5 Theatre,
which fronts on Tenth street, between +
and L streets. Here he alighted and de-
posted the mare in a small stable off the al
ley, which he had hired some time before,
for the accommodation of saddle horse
which he had recently sold. Mr.. Booth
soon afterward retired from the stable. and
it is supposed to have refreshed himself at IA
Ineighboring bar-room.
THE SCENE AT THE THEATRE.
At O. clock the same evening. President
IIppn1u md Snnul ',lf,,s IL,
private room at the White House, pleas.
antly conycrsing. Gen. Grant, with whom
the President had engaged to attend Ford $
Theatre that evening, had left with his
wife for Burlington, New Jersey, in the
8 o clock train. After this departure, Mr..
Lincoln rather reluctantly determined to
keep his part of the engagement rather
than to disappoint his friends and the au-
diencc. Mrs. Lincoln, entering the room
and turning to Mr. Colfax, said, in hall
laughing, half serious way, We'll, Mr..
Lincoln, are you going to the theatre with
me or not?, s. suppose shall have to go,
Colfax, y said the President, and the Speak
er took his leave, in company of Major
Ruthbone, Of the Provost Marshal Gener-
ais Office, who escorted Miss Harris,
daughter of Senator Harris, New York. -
Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln reached Ford Thea
tre at twenty minutes before lock.
The house was filed in every part with n
large and brilliantly attired audience. As
the Presidential party assembled the stairs
and passed behind the dress circle to the
entrance Of the private box reserved for
them the whole assembage, having in
mind the recent Union victories, arose,
cheerod, waving hats and handkcrches, and
maniicsting every other accustomed sign of
enthusiasm. The President, last to enter
the box, turned before doing so and bowed
a courteous acknowledgement of his rccep-
ton. At the moment of the President $
arrival, MIR; Hawks, one of the actors, per
Forming. the well-known part Of Dun
me of story, as Mr.. Lincoln SAYS" The
audience forced him, after the Interruption,
to tell the story over again Ii evidently
pleased Mr.. Lincoln, who turned laughing
to his wife, and made remark which was
not overheard. =.
THE BOX.
The boz in which the President sat con-
sisted Of two boxes turned into one, the
middle partition being removed as on all
occasions when State party visited the
theatre. The box was on level with the
dress-circc, about twelve feet above the
stage. There were two entrances-the
door nearest to the wall having been closed
and locked the door nearest the balustrados
OF the dress circle, and at right angles with
] it, being open and left open after the visi
tors had entered. The interior was carpet,
ed lined with crimson paper, and furnish
ed with sofa covered with crimson velvet
three arm-chairs similarly covered, and sX
cano-bottomed chairs Festoons of flag
hung before the front of the box against q
background of lace,
THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE PARTY.
President Lincoln took one of the arm.
chairs, and seated himself in the front OF
the box, in the angle nearest the audience,
where, partially screened from observation,
he had the best view of what was transpir.
ing on the stage, Mrs. Lincoln sat next
him, and Miss Harris in the opposite angle,
nearest the stage. Major Rathbone sat
Just behind Mrs. Lincoln and Miss Harris.
These four were the only persons in the
box.
THE PLAY.
The play proceeded, although "Ou
american Cousin, without Mr. Sothcrn,
has, since that gentleman's departure from
this country, been justly esteemed very
dull affair The audience at Ford's inclu
ding Mrs. Lincoln, seemed to enjoy il very
much. The worthy wife of the Presiden,
leaned forward, her hand upon her hus
band knee, watching every scene in the
rdrama with amused attention, Even acros,