Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1865-05-03
ENccniG,CisIfs nf tkc E0Giss
Family ---Ske;Ch Of the s-.tcT
Booth.
From tie Cincinnati Commcrcial ]

From the tlncGEuSil CJT9IiI TCia! |
The c!ier Booths habits were exceed
iBrly irregular, and - iui':fered with his
performances at times, that an actor less
gifted would have forfeited his popularity
beyon,I redemption. Ii WAS rarely that
he appeared sober On the stage, and tow
ards the close Of his life it required all
vigilance and art Of managers to keep
him in II condition to appear on the stage
NJ all.
Tie stories ,o!d of him in this connec-
ton are innumerablc and some OF item
extremely ludcrous. His appetite for
EGuur was extremely voracious. Being
without money at one time when in New
York ne went 10 a pawnbroAcr's shop,
literally pawned himself for norey to
purchase liquor, was regularly ticSeted
and exhibited in a window, where lie
stayed till "redeemed - by a iricnd
On another occasion being announced
TO appear in fi:ladcIp!ia--;lt tie = ainut
street, we believe-ihc ni&uancr, on ihe
day for the performance had Booth locked
up, but WAS outwilted by the actor, who
bribed the servant to h,ing Il bottle Of
ttiN lIi'C III
sering the pipe through The keyilo!c, with
the bowl inverted, the brandy WAS poured
into the saucer, and sucked up through
the pipe, by the thirsty irigy dian, ard the
fact was disclosed when in tie twi i-ht
the manager proceeded there TO conduct
him to the dressing room, and found hIm
in an inscnsibie condition.
Ii was considered somewhat peri'ous to
play R'ctmoad 10 Booths H,ctimd tie
Thrd, particularly if the actor was in
liquor. During the combat on Bosworth
Field he was APT in his excitement to
consider himself in reality the king. and
cut and thrust with the ticrcenCss and ta-
rocity of man engaged in an earnest
and lite depending trial of arms.
AT such times it Was necessary 10 diSa-
ble him, aud II was IN one of these E. ;ra-
" spells -" that his face was dlsfi.urrA ior
life by an inpcrriiod actor the briigc of
his nose being broken by tie blow de-
hveced through sheer defense The very
ludicrOus scene which occurred at New'
York Theatre, between BUuth and the Gel
obrsted =" f.t girl " of Bs,rnum's Museum.
Is probably familiar TO must OF our rea-
ders, ana, perhaps, one vi Tia: mns; anu
sing incidents in the annals of the stage
Ii is very doubtful whether Booth WAS in
sane at any time when under the influence.
OF strong drink. lie was, however. of a
very fiery quality, and in his peculiar
sphere-thc Sudden and i,rryuus express
ion of concentrated passion, as aiso the
more quie: and sub,ls passages of hi deln-
eations-he was perhaps, unsurpassed by
any actor of his time, and would have
passed for crazy if it were supposed he
was guided in his dramatic uutDursls bv
feeling rather than consuniata artistic ski!!
OF the stage, the elder Booth WAS con
vivial, genial, warm hearted, and as much
loved as in his profession he was admired
The family OF Booth consisted of the
following: Jun;u. i3rntus Bonih. ,Ir.,
and daughter, who, If living is sill us-
married-chiidren by his first wife, an
English lady; and Edwin Forrest, john
Wilkes, Joseph, and a daughter, now
wife of John 5. Clarke, the COMEDIAN
children Of his second wife, an American
lady, still surviving, and who must be, at
this time, past fifty years of age