Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-19
REMARKABLE DREAMS.
A singular Dream, AHordfng an In
ferestfng Reminiscence ofthe III
der BOOfh. r. a

The elder Booth, father of the seyera
brothers by that name who have appeare,
on the American stage, was a man o
most eccentric character. This pecu
liarity is fully illustrated in the inciden
we have TO relate. He was a great actor
and in his prime the greatest living de
lineator of the part Of Richard III. II
this character particularly, both in Eng
land aud the United States, he won ex
alted fame. He went on the stage at {
very early period Of his life, and in Lon
don drew equal crowds with the eide
Kean, who was then in the zenith of hi
powers and reputation,
In New York he performed at the ole
Bowery Theater (where all the great
actors of the day then appeared, anC
later at the Park Tbeater, where it may
be Said that he closed his career. We
say closed his career, for during an en-
gagement at this house he met with an
accident which forever afterward inca
pacitated him from doing Justice to hi:
parts. This was the breaking Of his nose
by blow that he received on it from the
fist of Tom Flynn, also an actor of the
old time, which gave his speech a disa
greeable nasal sound, and utterly ruined
him for the practice Of his profession
He remained on the stage, but he was
never the same man.
He owned place near Baltimore,
where he took great delight in the cult
vation Of vegetables, which he took to
to the city market. He might have been
seen in the market during the day selling
his vegetables, and at night in Richard, "
or some other character, he electrified
the largest audiences that ever assembled
in the principal Baltimore theater.
Sometimes the manager had to send and
buy him out, for he always refused to
leave until he had sold his entire load.
AT one time he appeared in New York
aud Philadelphia on alternate nights,
making the journey between the two
cities after each performance. Tom
Flynn always travelled with him to see
that he played no pranks on the man
ayers from his eccentricities, and did
not give way to his inclination for the
bottle.
We return to the date of his last en-
gagement at the Park Theater. One
night there was great commotion be-
hind the scenes" Booth was announced
for Richard III, and the house was
crowded from "pit" to gallery. There
was pit " in those days. The time
was nearly at hand for the music to be-
gin, when it was discovered that Booth
was not in the theater. Simpson, the
manager, was in the widest trepidation,
for he knew the eccentric ways of Booth,
and the prospect of having to disappoint
such an audience was not tall pleasant.
He ran to Booth's dressing-room, into
the green-room and everywhere, but no
Booth was to be found. At length he
encountered Flynn, who was in almost
as great fright.
"Where is Booth2 ?" demanded Simp-
son.
" Heaven only knows, replied Flynn,
with a groan. He escaped from me
while / was asleep. ] don't think he'll
play tonight.
"Mr. Flynn thundered the man
ager, he must play. The house is one
of the best of the season, and l cannot
afford to disappoint them. You must
find him. Meanwhile, / will make an
excuse to gain time, and keep the music
going. sr
: Tom Flynn, tall, heavy man, never
moved an inch, to the astonishment of
the manager. -nA rr-g
"Tm afraid to 90 after him, Mr.. Simp-
son, said Flynn. v LftU
p " | cannot understand you. Explain,
Mr.. Flynn cried the manager
well, will returned Flynn. "The
fact is, Mr.. Simpson, I'm thorough be-
lever in dreams. My father and mother
believed in them, and they taught me to
do the same thing.
Out upon your dreams, exclaimed
the manager what have they to do
with Mr.. Booths absenceY" 81
Hear me" said Flynn quietly, "and
you will know. | told you | was asleep
when Booth stole away from me. Well,
| then and there dreamed that he had
left me and that | followed him to a pot
house, where we had fight and l broke
his nose. Now my dreams always prove
true. I'm afraid to go after Booth, for
fear there will be a fight and damage
done to him.
By this time the audience began to
clamor for the play to go on. p
Listen to that said the manager.
and stop this idle talk about your
dreams. Find Booth in ten minutes or
perish in the attempt will go mean
while with an apology to the audience. -
The distracted manager dashed away,
and Flynn. was left alone. Time was in
deed precious. Flynn almost involun-
tarily found himself leaving the rear of
the theater by the short alley extending
from Beekman to Ann street.
"Tll go, muttered Flynn, but hang
me if like it. "
He turned into Beekman street, and
then proceeded along Park Row to Chat
ham street. Going a short distance
further, he went into bar-room. There
he found Mr.. Booth in a maudlin condi-
ton, standing by . table making
speech to a laughing and cheering au-
dience of individuals, many of them in
the same condition. Flynn approached
him in haste, and, putting his hand on
Booth arm, said:
Come away. Simpson is nearly crazy,
and the house is oYerfowing." n
These words were hardly out of his
mouth when Booth exclaimed, Hands
off. and threw himself with all his force
upon Flynn. A terrible struggle at once
ensued The table was overturned,
chairs were upset, and Booth seized the
throat of Flynn with the grasp of an
enraged maniac. Flynn. as he stated
was so suddenly and danger
ously assailed that he hardly knew what
he did In moment of anger and des-
peration be struck Booth a powerful
blow, when the latter fell senseless to the
floor In an instant Flynn bethought
him ofhis dream, and bent weeping over
the PROSTATE Booth. His nose was com
pletely hattened. e ~ II
"You have broken his nose" said a
bystsnder. assI 81
"0h, HeaYenl oh, Heavenl' exelaimedf
Flynn, in agony, He is ruined for life, |
Richard will be himself no more. n-.H.f
He could not bear the sight before him
any longer, and rushed from the place.
He went back to the theater and told the
sad story, which, as may be imagined, |
caused a great sensation among the per |
formers. Another actor was now sub |
stituted to read the part Of Booth, but
many Of the audience left the theater.
Assistance was also sent TO Booth. Flynn |
never forgave himself for what he did, |