Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-04-14
SOul-Utterance.

Mr. Elihu Burrtt contributes to the Feb
ruary number Of PdckardS Monthly an inte-
resting article, under the title of " Breathing
Living Soul into Dead Words" in which
the following anecdote is told of the elder
Booth
" The elder Booth was a man who threw
into his impersonations an amount Of heart
aud soul which his originals could scarcely
have equaled He did Richard III. to the
life, and more. He had made human pas
sions, emotions and experiences his life's
study He could not only act but feel rage,
love, despair, hate, ambition, fury, hope and
revenge, with depth and force that half
amazed his auditors. He could transmute
himself into the hero of his impersonation,
and he could breathe power into mems writ
ten words which perhaps was never surpassed.
And what is rather remarkable, when he was
inclined to give illustrations Of this faculty
to private circles of friends, he nearly always
selected some passages from Job, David or
Isaiah, or other holy men Of old. When an
aspiring young professor Of Harvard Uniyer-
sity went to him by night to ask little ad-
vice or instruction in qualifying himself for
an orator, the veteran tragedian opened the
Bible and read few verses from Isaiah in a
way that made the Cambridge scholar trem-
bic with awe, as if the prophet had risen from
the dead and were utteriug his sublime yis-
ions in his ears. He was then residing in
Baltimore, and pious, urbane old gentleman
of that city, hearing of his wonderful power
of cocution, one day invited him to dinner,
although depreoating the stage and all theat-
rical performances.
"a large company sat down TO the table,
and on returning to the drawing-room one of
them requested Booth as special favor to
them all, to repeat the Lords Prayer. He
signifed his willingness to crafty them, and
all eyes we're fixed upon him. He slowly
and reverentially arose from his chair, trem-
bling with the burden Of two great concep-
tions. lie had to realize the character, attri-
butes, and presence of the Almighty Being
he was to address. He was to transform
himself into poor, SHINING, stumbling, be-
nighted, needy suppliant, offering homage
asking bread, pardon, light, and guidance
Says one Of the company present: 1t was
wonderful to watch the play Of emotions
that convulsed his eountenance. He becam,
deathly pale, and his eyes, turned trembllngly
upwards, were wet with tears AS yet hi
had not spoken. The silence could be felt
it was becoming absolutely painful, until a
last the spell was broken as if by an electri,
shock, as his rich-toned voice, from whit
lips, sylabled forth Our Father, which ar
in heaven etc. with a pathos and ferviC
solemnity that thrilled all hearts. He finish
ed the silence continued not voice wa
heard nor muscle moved in his rapt au
dience, until, from remote corner of tn
room, subdued sob was heard, and the OLE
gentleman (the hosD stepped forward, witt
streaming eyes and tottering frame, and seize'
= Booth by the hand. Sir said he in broker
, accents, you have afforded me pleasur
for which my whole future will feel grateful
|, | am an old man, and every day, from boy
hood to the present time, l thought has
repeated the Lords Prayer but neye
: heard it before, never
a. You are right replied Booth. I
|, read that prayer as it should be read cause
me the severest study and labor for thirt
, years, and | am far from being satisfied wit
my rendering of that wonderful production
Hardly one person in ten thousand comprC
hends how much beauty, tenderness, an
grandeur can be condensed in a space $
small and in words 50 simple. That praye
itself sufficiently illustrates the truth of tn
: Bible, and stamp ps upon it the seal of divin
ty.' SO great was the effect produced, say
y our informant, 4" that conversation was SUI
tained but short time longer in subdue
monosyllables, and almost entirely ceased
: and soon after, at an early hour, the con
J pauy broke up and retired to their sever'
2 homes with sad faces and full hearts"