The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-02-18
Dramatic Powers of the Elder
Booth. Wonderful Render
ing of the Lords Prayer.

Mr.. Elihu Burritt contributes to the
February number of Ptcbard's Monthly an
interesting article, under the title of
"Breathing Living Soul into Dead
Words in which the following anecdote
IS told of the elder Booth:
"rhe elder Booth was a man who threw
into his representations an amount of
heart and soul which his originals could
scarcely have equalled. He did Richard
III to the life, and more. He had made
human passions, emotions and experiences
his life's study. He could not only act
but feel rage, love, despair, hate, ambition
fury, hope and revenge, with a depth and
force that half amazed his auditors. He
could transmute himself into the hero of
his impersonation and he could breath a
power into other mems written words
which perhaps was never surpassed. And
what is rather remarkable, when he was
inclined to give illustrations of this fac
ulty to private circles of friends, he near
ly always selected some passage from Job,
David or Isaiah, or other holy men OF old.
When an aspiring young professor OF
Harvard University went to him by night
to ask little advice or instruction In
qualifying himself for an orator. the VEN
cradle tragedian opened the Bible and
read few verses from Isaiah in way
that made the Cambridge scholar tremble
with awe, as ifahe had risen from the
dead and were uttering his sublime Wis
ions in his ear. He was then residing in
Baltimore, and pious, urbane old gen
tleman of the city, hearing Of his wonder
full power of elocution, one day invited
him to dinner, although strongly depre-
eating the stage and all theatrical perform
anceS. teag 1858
"a large company set down to the ia
bic, and on returning to the drawing room
one of them requested Booth, as a special
favor to them all, to repeat the Lords
Prayer. He signifed his Willingness to
crafty them, and all eyes were fixed upon
him. He slowly and reverentialiy arose
from his chair trembling with the burden
of two great conceptions. He had to
realize the character, attributes and prce-
ence Of the Almighty Being he was to adj
dress He was to transform himself into
a poor SHINING, stumbling, benighted,
needy suppliant, offering homage, asking
bread, pardon, light and guidance. Says
one of the company present, it was wons
derful to watch the play of emotions
that convulsed his countenance. He
became deathly pale, and his eyes,
turned tremblingly upwards, were wet
with tears AS yet he had not spoken
The silence could be felt, it bad become
absolutely painful, until at last the spell
was broken as if by an electric shock, as
his rich toned voice, from white lips,
syllabled forth 'Our Father, which art in
heaven, etc, with pathos and feryid sol
emnity that thrilled all hearts. He fin
ished the silence continued; not a voice
was heard nor muscle moved i'll his rapt
audience, until, from remote corner of
the room, subdued sob was heard and
the old gentleman (the host stepped for
ward with streaming eyes and totterlng
frame, and seized Booth by the hand Sir
said he, in broken accents you have at
forded me pleasure for which my whole
future life will feel grateful am an old
man, and every day, from boyhood to the
present time, / thought | had repeated
the Lords Prayer; but | never heard it
before, never
You are right, replied Booth. TO
read that prayer as it should be read
caused me the severest study and labor
for thirty years, and am far from being
satisfied with my rendering of that wons
derful production. Hardly one person in
ten thousand comprehends how much
beauty, tenderness and grandure can be
condensed in space so small, and in
words so simple. That prayer itself suf-
fciently illustrates the truth of the Bible
and stamps upon it the seal of Divinity. $50
great was the effect produced says our
informant that conversation was sustains
ed but short time longer, In subdued
monosyllables, and almost entirely ceased;
and soon after, at an early hour, the COM
pany broke up and retired to their sever
al homes with sad faces and full hearts.