The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-21
ssAbramO Lincoln Giovanni BOOth.n

NAUTuNIO OlONhUut DUOJis'
A correspondent of the New York World
writing from Naples, gives the following account
of tragedy performed recently III that City, Of
which Abraham Lincoln was the subject
Some of your readers may remember an
account of o theatrical representation which
mentioned having witnessed last summer in
Perugia, the tragedy of Stokes pAnlericdno.
Hero in Naples we were all tempted to the
small theatre la Fenice" by the promise held
out by a gigantic playbill announcing the
tragedy OF AbroRO Lincoln GtO1dRai Booth,
consisting Of prologue and a three-act drama
the FIRST entitled The HerOism of a Slave"
and the Victlm;" second THE Triumph and the
Conspiracy" third, Assassination in the
Theatre" The widest sbsurdity as to plot and
situations was combined with the most touching
language and admirable acting On the part
OF the chief performers. Ii was perfect strug-
gle, as far as our party was concerned at least,
whether tears or laughter should have the upper
hand. The final scene taitly vanquished all re-
naming sense of the ludicrous, and recalled
only too painfully the agitation and dismay OF
that fearful night | cannot resist the tempta-
tion of giving you the heads OF the performance,
though aware that in SO doing may only suggest
the absufdties, and fail in conveying one iota
of the pathOs, The Introduction gives Es Lin
coin as q young man engaged on some abolition
mission in a slave State, in danger of his lite,
and concealed by q faithful slave, George Peter,
During temporary alb eDce of the latter, Jet
feTsOn Davis tWho ngures as the villain of the
play comes IN aud arJlully extracts from
Noemi, Georges wife, the fact Of Lincoln's con-
cealment beneath their roof He goes to give
Instant Information. George returns; discovers
the betrayal OF Lincoln by his wife, and cOmpels
her silence when, on the appearance of the
police he declares himself the man they seek,
and he is led olt and shot. Lincoln witnesses
this from MS window, and receives into his
arms the nanim9te body of Noemi tatnting
besides cradle supposed to contain an infant
daughter. TIE first act OF the drama, dating
some sixteen years later, shows us the President
awaiting the result Of the siege of
Charleston. To him enters General
sherman. They discuss the events
Of the Gay, and Join IN praise of their brave
officer Pe3ington, who is expected to take
Rchemont. suddenly, RoemI rushes in, torn
and dishcvelied, with her hand IN sling,
claiming lincoln's aid for herself and the
daughter she, escaping from the lash of the
tormcntors, had to leave in the hands Of
Jefferson LAWS She has scarcely got through
with her narrowing tale when deputatlon
from Richemont is announced, and walks in
headed by the Southern President himself
Noemi takes fight before they enter, and then
ensUes a scene which for utter impro0ability is
unequalled. The sentiments and blunt honesty
Of Lincoln are made to stand out fore bly
leader. War TO the knife is the result OF this
conference, aud the curtain falls as the
President concludes an eloquent anti
slavery declaration. it rises to shOg us the
talr daughter OF Nocmi in the private apart
ments OF Jefferson Davis. He per5ecItes her
with bis devotion and his mcuacas; she BRAN
dlalCS UNggGI nGE mother lelt with lCf. lie
contriyCs TO obtain possession of this AMI at
the crisis. Booth makes his appearance by a
secret entrance and interleres IN the girls
behalf, merely. as he says, from caprice
She is dismissed 10 an adjoining apart
ment, and two couspTators are admitted,
between whom and j. Davis ana Booth
the assassination OF Lincoln, Seward
and johnson is fixed for that same evening.
They then quit the place, locking the doors
behind them. The slave girl comes from the
inner chamber, having overheard the plot and
resolved 10 warn Lincoln. Finding all other
means cut off, she leaps from high window
and the act closes. The last scene represents
the lobby of the theatre. Jefferson Davis and
the two COnspiratOrs enter. Booth is said to be
vacillatEg, his trustworthiness is doubtful. He
enters and expresses horror and compuncton at
what he has undertaken; his accomplices taunt
him back 10 the point OF fulfilling his purpose.
They leave him, and the slaye-pirl enters and
throwing herself at Booths feet, almost sue
ceeds in inducing him to give up his intention.
But on the strIkiRg OF the hour assigned, Booth
Tushes out to fulfil his vow, the girls cries Tor
help are sthed by Davis and the report OF a
pistol is heard. Booth rushes back with the
cry OF ''Sc sempeTo ETC., aud disappears WiJu
the other conspirators. Lincoln IS brought IN
to die. Noemi aud her daughter kueel az his
feet and receive his last sign The dying Presi.
dent is supported by General sherman and
others, while behind every one Mrs. Lincoln
now appears for the first time. She is not repre-
feDted as taking any active especial interest m
the tragic scene. Her name is on toe play-bli,
so that we knew it 10 be her but she was eVi,
DENLY OF most retiring disposition,