Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-03-15
.iEyA. GAZETTE l. VIRGINIA ADVERTISER
The Elder EsOefsa.

The article appended was written by Elihu
Birrt many years since, and published in d
rIgions journal known as The Church Union
Those who have heard the Elder Booth read,
.Yi Witnessed his mobile couutenance beamiug
with intelligence, will readily recall the most
,naoruus voice and attractive face that have
leu seen and witn,s>cd duiing the present
,.n,ury. His clocutiouary powers Were truly
marvellous, and to add to their potency he was
lifted with Il voice OF wonderful heX!blIty and
rare volume
Booth, the celebrated tragcdian was man
who threw into his ilnpcrsoration au amount #
heart and soul which his originals could scarce
II have equaled He did Richard Ill. to the
lie aud more He had made human passions,
emotions and experiences bis iites study. lie
r,ul not only act but feel rage, love,
,v>aair, hate, ambition, fury, hope and re-
vclsc, with a depth aud force that have alnaz.
ed his auditors He could trausmutc llimSelf
into the hero Of his iupcrSonatlon, and he
could breathe u power into other mems writ
ten wor,!, which perhaps never was SURPASSED;
uul What is rather rcmarkae, when he was
inclined to give illustrations of tins faculty to
,riya,c circles of friends, he nearly always
selected >lac passage from JOB. David, Isaiah,
or other holy men OF oiu.
When au aspiring young Professor Of Har
ward University went 10 lllm by night to ask a
ElIe advice II instruction III qualifying himself
for au orator the veteran tragculau opened the
Bible. and read il few verses from Isaiah III
manner that made the Cambridge scholar trem-
bic with awe, =, ii TIE prophet had arisen from
the dead aud was uttrrlug his sublime visions
IL his ears.
Booth was then residing 10 Baltimore, and
-. ,ll bo i1ya IN IA
city, hearing Of his Wonderful power OF elocu-
ton, one day invited Booth to dinner, although
strongly leprvcatiug the stage and all theatrl
cal pcrtrrnauccS. \ large company sat down
to the table. and on returning to the drawing
rom one oi them requested Booth, as spe-
cia. favor to them ali to rereat the Lord 5
Prayer. He Signiiicd his willingness to crafty
them and al! eyes were fixed upon him. Hc
slowly and rcvcrcntia!Iy rose trotu his chair,
trembling with the burden Of two great concep-
tion> lie had to realize the character, attrl-
hutcS and presence o! the Almighty Being he
was 10 address He was to transform himself
into a poor shining, stumbling, benightcd,
Ieedy Supplant, offering homage, asking
bread, pardon, light and guidance. Says one
"l the company present:
III was wonderful to watch the play Of emo
tons that coHvuIscd his couutenance. lie be-
cane dcathy pale, and his eyes, turned trcmb-
iIngly upwards, we're wet with tears As yet
lie had not slnkcn. The silence could be felt;
II had become absolutely painful, uutl ut last
the spell! was broken as if by an electric shock
as his rich-toned voice from white lips, syllab!-
Cd forth: Our Father, who art in Haven
etc. with Il pathos aud fervid solemnity that
rllci all hearts. lie hnish,d the silence
eoltaued not a voice was heard nor muscle
moved in his rapt audience, until from remote
corner of the room subducd sob was heard,
and the old gcntleman (the host) STEPPED forward
with streaming eyes and tottering frame, ard
seized Booth by the hand. Sir, said he, 10
irvkeu accents, you have afforded me pleas
urv for which my whole future life will feel
grateful. [ am an old man, and every day
mm boyhood to The present time thought |
lad repeated the Lords Prayer, but never
heard it betore-never?
'"Ycu are right replied Booth; to read
'iaI Prayer as it should be read caused me
he >cvcrcst study and labor for thirty years,
and am FAR from being satisfied with my rem
4rr,ig Of the wonderful production.