The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-03
EDWIN BOOTH.


INTERVIEW WITH THE TRAGEDIAN AT COS COB
HIS LEFT ARM PowERLEss-THE TERRIBLE |
ORDEAL MR.. BOOTH MUST PASS THROUGH.
In order to ascertain the exact condition of
Mr.. Edwin Booth, and to learn, If possible, |
from his own lips the effect of the injuries
which he sustained few weeks since, and
| which have been so severe as to compel him |
to postpone his engagement at the Fifth Ave-
nue. Theater, q Herald reporter visited Cos
Cob yesterday, where he found the tragedian
and held with him the conversation given IN |
the sequel
The reporter met Mr.. Booth in the prettiest |
part of his estate, which overlooks the waters |
of the Sound, right in the midst OF his gar
| den of flo xers. He Was arranging to trans |
| plant some Of the rarest and daintlest specl- !
MEMS and during the conversation with him |
he paused ever and anon to direct the gar
dener There was little in the tragedian's ap-
| pearance save that his arm hung in sling, |
| to indicate the great injuries he sustained, |
and nothing in his face to betray the pain
which he suffers from day to day.
"Come," said he, after the reporter had in
troduced himself, "let me take you over my
little place and show you its prettiest out
looks" and as they passed from point to
| point he talked freely of himself ana OF his
coming theatrical work.
| elf it were not for this left arm of mine all
would soon be right with me. and would be
able almost Immediately to fulfil all my con-
tracts with the various managers. But the
arm is
ABSOLUTELY AND UTTERLY PowERLEss.
When unbandaged it falls helpless to my side
like bar of lead, and 1 have no power what
ever to move it. 1 cannot even move my
wrist There seems to be a stiffening of the
elbow, and when try to move my left hand,
with the aid of my right, the pain is so severe
that cannot endure it. l have been ex 'eed-
ingly particular since my accident In taking
care of myself Medical aid has been regu-
larly called in, and my arm is bathed and
rubbed every day but, do what l will, Its
muscular strength, nerve and energy seem
wholly gone. 1t is impossible for me to tell
you when will appear upon the stage again.
Until there is a great change in the condition
of the arm I must needs keep off the boards.
THE GREAT ORDEAL.
The doctor has come and gone already to-
, day. He tells me that he fears force must be
applied to loosen the stiffened joints. He
thinks i1 is the only remedy left. But assured
him the pain would be more than could
endure. He replied that would have to be
put under the influence of some strong
, az aesthetic, and that the experiment would
necessarily have to be made while was un-
conscious. fear, as the doctor says, that my
only hope lies in this direction. don't know
exactly what the doctors intend to do, or pre-
cisely how they will operate upon me, but
leave it all to them. Ny doctor, who daily
calls here, did not tell me definitely when the
experiment would be made, though, if made
at all, it must needs be very soon. My in
ternal injuries, as you will remember, were
very severe Several of my right ribs were
: broken, and I suffered a great deal in my
right side. My pain in the morning is dread
ful-nay,
IT IS positively ExcRUcIATING.
am always aroused by severe muscu lar
: suffering, the pain resting principally in the
right side and across my stomach. Every
: morning. as regularly as morning comes, L
Z have to pass through these awful spasms,
| which do not leave me until two hours after l
D have risen from bed. 1t is not very pleasing
E to retire every night as do, with the knowl-
i edge that will bs aroused by pains such as
: am compelled to endure. When [ was thrown
: from nv carriage I landed in the midst OF
J. bushes and weeds that were poisonous, and
the consequence was that broke out all over
8 8 with blnbbery sort of a rash that greatly
u annoyed and tormented me. Still l DOM
despair of being made right again. I try to
keep up my spirits, but this arm is SO pecu'
r liarly affected that until I gain its complete
/ service will be almost useless for my parts
J. Mr.. Booth then showed his hand and wrist
Both are swollen to more than twice their
e normal size One can easily understand from
a a looking at his left hand how much agony it
must give him.
> A NEW STUDY.
II "You notice." continued Mr.. Booth, /" that
}, these grounds about here furnish fine facili
IL ties for dramatic study. have improved
J. them, too, this summer. I've been making a
study of Richard II, part which my father
used to play. have never yet essayed the
J. character, nor have ever seen it on the stage
l. I'm sorry that have been so unfortunate:
= wanted to play on MIR. Days stage ike
!. small theater I never liked my own because
T. it was so large. couldn't tell anything abou
the architects designs on paper, and when
IL came back from my long tour and saw tn
Q huge interior. was disheartened at the verj
y outset. IN Y. Herald, Sept %.
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