Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-03-11
AnecIotn of the Elder Roatb.

Mr.. Elihu Burrt contributes to the Feb
rnary number of Puckard's Monthly an
interesting article, e,underthe title of Breath
Ing Living Soul into Dead Words" in
which the following anecdote is told of the
elder Booth:
"Thc elder Booth was n man who threw
into his impersonaliOns an amount of heart
and soul which his originals could scarcely
have equalled. He did Richard LII. to the
life, and more. lie had made human pas
sions. emotions and experiences his lifcs
study. lie 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 a power into mems
written 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 University went to him by night,t to
ask little advice or rinstruction in qualifying
himself for an orator, the veteran tragedian
opened the Bible and read few verses frJm
Isaiah in a way that made the Cambridge
oIhViui tlCtiulC Wltu uWC, uo IL tnc DEOpuct
had risen from the dead and were uttering
his sublime visions in his ears. He was then
residing in Baltimore and pious, urbane
old gentleman of that city, hearing of his
wonderful power of elocution, one day in
vitcd him TO dinner, although deprecating
the stage and all theatrical performances.
"a large company sat down to the table,
and on returning to the drawng-room one of
them requested Booth, as special favor to
them all, TO repeat the Lords Prayer. He
signied his willingness to crafty them, and
all eyes were fixed upon him. He slowly
and reverentIally arose from his chair, tremb-
ling with the burden of two great concep-
tiOns. He had to realize the character, at
tributes, and presence OF the Almighty Being
he was to address. He was to transform
himself into poor, SHINING, stumbling, be-
nighted, needy suppli,nt, 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 countenancc. He became
deathly pale, and his eyes, turned trcmb-
lingly upwards, were wet with tears. AS
YET he had not spoken The silence could
be felt; IL was becoming absolutely painful,
until at last the spell was broken as If by an
electric shock, as his ricl-toned voice, from
white lips, syllabled forth 'Our Father, which
dil III hNafcuy WI WIN u Jutllbo anu lCIflu
solemnity that thrilled all hearts. He fin
ished; the silence continued; not voice
was heard nor muscle moved in his rapt
audience, until, from remote corner of the
room, a subdued sob was heard, and the old
gentleman (the hosD stepped forward, with
streaming eyes and tottering frame, and
seized Booth by the hand. Sir said he in
broken accents, you have afforded me a
pleasure for which my whole future will feel
grateful. am an old man, and every day,
from boyhood TO the present time, thought
had repeated the Lords Prayer; but l
never heard it before, never
"'Iou 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 wonderful production.
Hardly one person in ten thousand compre-
hends how much beauty, tenderness, and
grandeur can be condensed in space so
small and in words SO simple. The prayer
itself sufficiently illustrates the truth of the
Bible, and stamps upon it the seal of di-
vinity.' So great was the effect produced,
says our informant, THAT conversation was
sustained but short time longer in sub
dued monosylables, ard almost entirely
ceased; and soon after at an early hour, the
company broke up and retired to their sew
eral homes with sad faces and full hearts"