The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-17
Reniniscepcs, of Jun,us Brulu. Booth.

The April number Of the American Journal Of
Insanity has an article by DR.. A. @. Kellogg on
Junius Brutus Booth, which considers the ques.
ton of the mental alteration of the most original
of American actors. IL says, comparing the
elder with the younger Booth:
Admirable as is the latter, and in some OF bis
delineations so near does he approach perfec.
ton, that the most severe critic can scarcely md
cause for cavil, still il must be admitted, by all
who have seen the elder Booth, that the son lacks
that power Of complete selfabnegation and
entire Identification with the character enacted
possessed by his father. In this respect, In be-
holding the elder Booth we felt that we witnessed
the very cOnsummation of all that could possibly
be desired. When he appeared as Richard, he
did not seem to US as one merely acting the
character, but as Richard he lived, mpyed and
had his beings and the same must be sshhSe his
Lear and Shylock. II is well known o.,
enactng Richard so complete was his seif. -
fulness. and so cunning of fence was he, that
most of his fellow.actors were fearful OF facing
him as Richmond in the last death struggle, lest
he really put an end to them upon the stage; and
frequently he had to be reminded that he was
merely personating character, and must suffer
himself to be slain, at times, indeed, no light
task
" No nervous organization, however strong and
complete originally, can endure the extreme ten.
sion necessary for such effects for any great length
of time without having TO succumb, and the best
reasons that can be given why he did not break
down earlier and more completely, are to be
his calling as an actor, his extreme love for re.
tirement into the bosom Of his family, and for do.
nestle and agricultural pursuits. The following
anecdote from the memorials speaks more than
volumes written on the preservation of health:
Mr.. Flynn having obtained promise from my
father to perform for his benefit, sought him in
his retirement TO remind him that the time Of an.
noupcement was rapidly approaching. Crossing
field he observed person at short distance
digeingi potatoes. and called to him, Halloo,
boy; where is Mr.. Booth! My father looked up
from his work. and replied, Here, at your SER
vice. Mr.. Flynn reminded him of the benefit,
aud the potatoe patch was reluctantly LETT Tor the
servants to finish. In due time he appeared be-
fore an immense audience in New York, an au-
dience so dense that portion Of the stage was
occupied by the anxious throng. UP went the
curtain, and on came the crookback'd tyrant his
hands and face Redeemed by exposure to the sun,
and health and vigor apparent in every movement; ;
- he never appeared to better advantage. There
was firmness and dignity in his tread, bril-.
/ fancy in his eye, and a manlness in the tones Of
his voice worthy of bis palmest days"
Dr. Kellogg gives the following letter from the
actor Charles II. Eaton, which shows the insane
vsgaries Of Mr.. Booth:
ssince we parted have been 'struttng my
brief hour upon the boards of the Olympic, Bow
nry and Franklin. New York, and upon the Pearl
Street boards, Albany. | have just heard of
Booths attack upon poor Tom Flynn at Charles
ton and absolutely shudder as it recalls TO memory
the opportunity he had about three years ago to
playing an engagement together at the same
theateT at Baltimore, andreversed Pierre and Jaf-
fer, in Venice Preserved, 0thello and lago, and
on the second night he had played 0thello 10
part he seldom personates) to my Iago. After
rehearsal he came to my lodgings, and requested
me TO go through part with him again. Iago,
said he you must do your best tonight or shall
play you down.. There was q singularty In his
manner which had not observed before, aud
must confess ! felt considerable fear thathe might
fall into one Of his melancholy paroxysms and do
me great harm. We adjourned 10 an oysterroom
and every time an oyster was opened he cried out
murder in various tones, with apparent horror.
Night came. He played Othello splendidly, aud
drew down thunders Of applause. in the last
act, after the death Of gentle Desdemena,' it
seemed as II all - was raging IL his heart; his
eyes displayed the ferceness OF tiger, and his
thrust at me really believe would have been
fatal had not stepped aside to avoid It. The su.
dience were as hushed as death; my heart beat
audibly. and il was a minute or two before
could recover my self possession. short time
afterwards passed few days beneath his hos
ptabe roof, and was treated with great kindness
by him and his amiabe lady. One night l was
awakened by a tremendous crash in the next
room. hurried on my dressing gown and ran in
the entry 10 see what was the matter. II seems
that Booth had wound q sheet around him, and
with light in hand, had gone to his aged fathers
room, but the old gentleman, who happened 20
be awake and heard him coming, had dashed the
bowl and pitcher on the floor at bis feet as Booth
entered and efiectually frightened him out OF his
mad freak. 'Ah, Junius, Junius,' said the ven.
cradle old man, will you never have dens with
these mad fresks?' Alas for Booth Alas for
the prostTation Of genius
So fourishes and fades Majestic man ~