The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-04
EDWIN BOOTH.

This accomplished actor was to have
made his appearance, at the Winter
Garden theatre, New York, last night,
in the character of Hamlet. Atthe time
of the death of Mr.. Lincoln, he was
playing in the Boston theatre; but upon
hearing of the assassination of the Presi-
dent, he was relieved ofhis engagement,
and retired from the stage. 1t is said
his friends had some difficulty in secret
ing him from the unreasoning fanatics,
who insisted upon assOciating him with
his brotherscrime. The announcement
of his re-appearance has provoked an
unwelcOme discussion and unfriendly
criticism upon points of taste. 1t seems
to us that the sensibilties which induced
Mr.. Booth to seek seclusion nine months
ago, would justify his continuance in re-
tirement for year or two TO come.
"Time, which all things else removes
with his 'dove's wing" would find a
season for him, to which no one could
object. If Mr.. Booth were poor--if he
needed money-if money were all that
he sought,-the case would be different
bnt he is not poor; on the contrary, he
is quite rich, and joint owner, with
his brother-in- law, Mr.. John S. Clark,
in whatever there is of value i'm the
Winter Garden and Boston theatres.
The desire of fame alone can be adj
vanced as a justification of this return to
the stage. And what is fame?
fancied life in others breath.
A thing beyond Us, even before our death
Just what You hear You have; and what's unknown,
The same my Lord, II Tullys or your own.
All that wo feel of it begins aud ends
In the small circle of our foes or friends;
To all beside as much an empty shade,
As Eugene living, or Cesar dead.
We have noticed that ''small circle' =
of course Mr.. George Bancroft, who has
little else to do, is the leader of the
coterie, --have written to Mr.. Booth, ex-
pressive of their "respect for him as a
man, and their sympathy with him in
the terrible affliction which has kept
him so long from appearing in public. T"
Every right minded man feels this way;
but there is a great crowd who would
justify continuance in his Retreat.
There was no hardship in it; for he was
surrounded by hosts of hearty friends,
and the best scholars of the land and all
that is cultivated and refined ofthe upper
society of New York shared the sorrows,
which were supposed to attend his
asylum-life. We know that modern
advisers are pretty thoroughly insensible
to the "decent respect" which supposed
to be due to the world; and it Is held to
be no offence among this class to "kill a
king, and marry with his brother" The
government went through the mockery
of transforming the dumb-theatre in
which the assassination was consumated
into national temple, and by this act
seemed to indicate that something was
due the memory of The dead. So did
Mr.. Edwin Booth himself against
whose name and family shameless sto-
ries were coined by the very sect that
now persist in drawing him from lu-
crative retirement. We did not orig
mate this discussion; but since the
question is up, we do not hesitate to de-
clare that-in view of the absence of
pecuniary necessity-the reasons which
induced the retirement of the young ac-
tor-his own sensibilities and Difference
to the national bereavement-are in the
Judgment of some, as good now as they
were on the 10th of April last We do
not pretend to know all. 1t is possible
that the Kings advice prevailed:
Ills sweet and commendable in yeur nature, Hamlet,
To give these mourning dutios TO your father
But YOU must know. your father lost father
That father lost lost his and the survivor bound
In hlial obligation for some term,
To do obsequious sorrow but to perservere
In obstinane condolement Is 4 course
or impious stulbornness; tits unmanly grief:
Ii shows will most incorrect to heaven
heart unfortified, mind impatient,
An understanding simple and unschoord;
For what we kaow, must be, and II rs common
As any the most vulgar thing to sense,
WHY should We Ia our peevish opposition,
Take IL to h,artl File, Ills a fault to heaven,
A fault against the dead. a fault to nature,
To reason most absurd whose common theme
IL denth of fathers and who still hath cried,
From the first corse till he that died to-day,
s1his must be so."
THE EDITORIAL TREADMILI.
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