Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-10-06
THE ELDER BOOTH.
From the New York Daily New

that there was no immortality 10 pertorming u
play on the Sabbath
He dressed himself for "Hamlct one Sunday
nlorriug, and, durlug the day, went to Fog y
Stlckncy circus, and mounted one oil the most
vicious horses in the stable-oue, IN fact, that
no one but the owner could approach With safe.
ty. The uobe anima however, as 1t conscious
of some extraordinary performance, allowed
Booth to approach, conduct hun out OF the
stable, mouGt, without saddle, or bride, aud
ride him through the Streets to the wonder aud
aStonishment Of the quiet citizens OF Penn, who
we're vending their way to church.
Ladies aud gentlemen" SAID the tragedian
to the passers by, Il intend to perform Hamlet
tonight for the benefit of the poor, aud good
play is worth forty sermons, both tor morals
and reformation" and then changing his vosce
TO a musical strain, he Saug
'Oh, It's my delight,
OF a shiny night,
lu the season of the year.
TO which he added the significant remark,
Join chorus, Christians.
His friends bad considerable difficulty to
Overcome this strange caprice. He was taken
to his farm at Belair, and, by The care OF his
family, he soon regancd his health.
Whenever Booth &c upled official situations IN
the theatre, his ludu,tr, was uu,lriDg. heo
not otherwise engaged, IL was his custom to
saunter among the fields, pursuing his studteS
and, by the way, it Is the want OF this system
of application which proves the rock upon
which the majority of our actors are shipwreck
ed How may years would it require to COM
plctcly understand such character as Lear or
Hamlet? What study it cost and what time IS
requisite to obtain thorough knowledge OF
the part How many works have been written
10 the endeavor to apayze the siug!e character
of Macbeth, and what depth aud intricacy OF
thought must be iubued in the creations OF
the immortal bard to have puzzled the acumcn
of such commentators as johnson, Stevens and
Malone
In January, 1892 Mr.. Booth commenced an
edgagemeut iu Philadelphia at the Chestnut
street Theatre During the remainder OF the
year he went on a professional tour to.NcW
Orleans, Mobile, ST.. Louis. Louisville ard Cln-
ciunati; returned to his farm IN Maryland IN the
month of June, aud remained during the sea-
sou of the cholera Iu the Faa OF that year he
accepted an engagement from Daua to play IN
Boston, and was to receive twelve hundred dol
lars for nine lights performances. Dana r. :
tanned the proceeds of his benefit, and Booth
not to be paid any mouey until he had played
the STIPULATED number of nights. On the ninth
evening "Evadne" and Amateurs and Ac.
tors" were TO be performed, Mr.. Booth being
announced as Lodovico in the play, and Jefry
Mufiucap in the farce. During his perform
ance of the former character, being Imperfect
Ia the part, the audience manifested some dis.
appreciation, at which Mr.. Booth stepped for
ward to the foot lights aud addressed the spec
tators as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen understand you
we'll. Wilson's the tragedy boy for you. You'd
better get him to fnish the part, and he's
good figure for the tragedy-boy 10 the farce.
I've other business to attend to, so l wish you
all Good night
Wilson was the tragedian of the opposition
house, and most Indifferent one, having, no
qualifications Tor an actor. Nature, too, had
'marred his fair proportions by making hln
excessively bow legged.
Neither entreatits uor threats of law suits
could induce Mr.. Booth to 6uish the perform
apce; but he made his exit at once, and walked
the entire distance to Providence IN wretched
state of mind and bodily fatigue. lie soon at
ter left Providence and arrived In New York,
where he formed au engagement with Mr..
Hamblin to perform in Richmond, Va.
They reached Philadelphia IN safety, but 90
the road to Baltimore, when about two meS
from Booth residence, the stage broke down
aud Richard, Hamlet, Ghost, Ophrlla, Grave
Gleger and Fat Jack were all huddled pro-
m.-cuuusly into one common pile together
TLcir exit from this stage was sans ceremonle.
There being no opportunity or prospect OF pr
cceding on their journey until noon OF the ensu-
lug day, Booth proposed to walk to his t"rm,
rendering them all the Recommendations that
his farm would allow. The offer was accepted
and the whole party arrived at Booth 5 resi-
dence, where the principal room IN the house
was shared by Mrs. Booth with Miss Vincent,
,ln,r., 0SH
ilambiin.
Haublin, who was subject to the asthma, had
an attack of his complaint during the ulght,
which prevented him from sleeping, SO, like a
philosopher, he pulled out his pipe aud stra-
munium, which he always carried as preveu.
tive to the nalady. &ud eugelopcd himself and
Booth in cloud Of smoke. Occasionally he
apologzed for wrapping his ancient 10
mist, but "Iago" did not allow his desire ter
repose to iutcrter6, with his companion S en-
dcavor to rid himself of his affllctiou, although
in his heart he cursed the unfortunate hour 10
which HambliD contracted the asthma. Hamb-
lin, at last, concluded to adopt another remedy,
and called for gin and water, iu the hope uf
getting to sleep; but Booth never allowed any
alcohol to be used at his farm. Mr. Booth at
home and Mr.. Booth abroad We're two different
perSopages, When ut home ne was temperate,
frugal and industrious. and scrupulousy par
,icular 10 his ha bits apd method of living. He
practiced all the manual exercises OF the nus
bandman-plowing, narrowing, sowing SEED
aud carrying his vegetables to market IN "ag-
ou drawn by his tavorite Peacock, and DIS DIS
posing of his stock to the best advantage de
was known for miles around the neghborhoodI
as Farmer Booth" and Peacock was equal
ly familiar to the people in the vicinity aud ID
the Baltimore market.
Late iu the afternoon the company all pro
ceeded to Baltimore, aud thence TO Richmond
where they opened to tremendous house.
% the tou.th night Booth was announced tc
apuear as Pcscara On the morning previous