The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-29

every l,ar4room In the vicinity of the
theateF.fO for the great, tragedian, but all
in vain. Atlast.a. littlss boy came run
Ining TO him, al most breath less with fa-
tgde, aud told him that Mr.. Booth was
lin hay oft in Front street. The mana.
ger found a. crowd Of people gathered
around the building in question, and he
had some difficulty III edging- himself
through the dense mass. Climbingup' II
rough ladder he cautiously rAiseds has
mead above the floor of the second story +,
and there he saw the object oi his search
seated on a. rafter, with u wreath OF
straw about histemples III initiation OF u
crown.
"B0oth," said the manager imploring-
| Iy, ''tor heaven's sake, COME down! I?s
nearly 8 O'Clock, and the audience Will
pull The, theater to pieces"
| The tragedian fixed has. dark eye ON
the intruder, and raising his right arm
majestically ne Numbered forth:
81 am seated on my throne!
Asprouu one as yon distant mountain,
| Where the sun makes his last stand"
"Come, my dear fellow, leps go; We'll
have a glass Of brandy, and a supper,
and ALI That. Come, please come"
Booth descended gradually from his
yellow. pine throne, and Kissing the tips
attend with all becoming grace. Lead
on, my Lord of Essex. To the tower
to the tower"
After little persuasion Ward led the
tragedian to the theuter, got him DIRE ssed,
| the curtain rose, and the play went on.
Just as the second act was about to com
mence u messenger covered with dust
rushed behind tue stage, and before he
tcoud be stopped was III earnest conver-
sation with the tragedian.
''What?" said Booth, as he pressed
his long fingers on his broad, white tenn
| pies, as though he tried TO clutch the
brain beneath, "dead say your My poor
little child-my loved, my beautiful
oneT And then. seeing the curtain
rise, he rushed on, commencing:
| "She has health TO progress as far as Chertsey,
Though not TO bear tue sight OF me-" &c.
| The beautiful scene between "Anne"
and "Glostet" was never better played
The actor, ''Jhe noblest OF them alp
when he chose to be, gave the words oil
the bard with thrilling effect, but there
was a strange calmness about his man
ner that told that his mind was not upon
his character. Still, the multitude aD
lplauded until the old roof rang again,
and those behind the scene stood breath
less with eager delight. The third acl
came cut, but Booth was nowhere to be
found.
1t was bitter cold night, and the
farmer, as he drove his wagon to mar
ket, was startled from his reverie as lie
saw horseman wrapped in large
cloak-and as it opened it disclosed a
glittering dress beneath-ride rapidly
past him. 1t was Booth in his "Richard''
costume! Madness had seized MIN, and
l h q;
hour of midnight he was going to pay d
d, flashing SWORD and throwing his jeWeleC
cap from his head, he lashed his horses
flank with the bare weapon until the an
imal snorted in pain. The tall, dark
trees on each side of him touched his
heated brow with their silver-(rosted
branches, and thinking they were mer
sent in pursuit, the mad actor cut at them
with his sword and cursed them as he
flew rapidly by.
| At last, after a gallant ride of two
hours, the horseman came in sight OF a
country graveyard, and, as he saw the
white tops of the monuments peepink
through the dark foliage like snowy
cres IS upon the bosom of the black bill
low, he raised shout wild enough tt
have scared the ghosts from their still
| RCaN0Ss l1S anu away opOO
the riderless horse over hill and dale
1t was The work of moment land thu
insane are cunning beyond all imagin.
ing) to wrench the wooden door from
the vault containing the body of hi
child. He seized the tiny cottia in hi
arms, and with tue strong arm Of des
perate man he tore open the lid, and il
moment more the cold, blue lips of the
dead child were glued to the mad actors
The next morning some member o
the tragedian's family heard "a wilt
strain of laughter that seemed to pro
ceed from his ping-roOm. The deo
was forced open, and Booth was discov
cred lying on his bed, gibbefing in idiotic
madness and caressiag the corpse o
his little one.-[Brotner Jonathan o
June, 1913.