Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-02-03
AN ACTORS MADNESS,

at that time manager for Jefferson Nc
kenzie, Baltimore "here it is past :
o'clock, and crooked backed Richard not
in his dlessing-room !"
my dear SIR" said tho most original
of all men, the imperturbable Thomas
w. Gamner, "do not precipitate. When
tho late Daniel Reed"
IAN you love me, Hail." interrupted
the stage manager, ''go to tho devil -
and the poor manager, chased, as was
his wont, with his hands claspcd in
agony, from one side Of the Holiday
stage to the other.
"Ring in first music, sir ?" inquired
the call-boy, who scratched his head and
seemed to enjoy the despair of his mana
ger.
"Ring? You red-headed imp of Sa-
tan, you Juvenile Calban get out of my
sight, or III wiring your neck Off"
Away went the call boy and away went
the manager. Ward searched every bar
room in the vicinity Of the thester for the
great tragedian, but all in VAN. At last
u little boy came rushing to him, almost
breathless with fatigue, and told him
that Mr.. Booth was in hay-loft ON
Front street. The manager found n
crowd Of people gathered around the
building in question, and he had some
difficulty in edgng himself through the
dense mass. Climbing up u rough lad
der, he cautiously raised his head above
the floor Of tho second story, and there he
saw the object of his search seated ON n
rafter with a wreath Of straw about his
temples, in imitation Of u crown.
"Booth," said the manager imploring-
ly, "for heavens sake come down ! It's
noarly eight O'Clock, and tho audience
will pull the theater to pieces."
The tragodan fixed his dark eye on tho
intruder, and raising his right arm ma
jestcally, no thundered forth:
! am seated on my throne
| As proud II one a3 yOn distant mountain,
Where the sun makes its last stand!
"Come, my dear follow, let's go; Won
have n glass Of brandy and II supper,
and all that. Come, please come"
Booth descended gradually from his
yellow pine throne, kissing the tips of his
fingers, replied with smile 81 attend
with all becoming grace. Lead on, my
Lord of Essex. To tho tower-to the
tower"
After little persuasion Ward led the
tragedian to the theator, got him dressed,
the curtain rose, and tho play went on,
Just rs tho second act was about to com
mence messenger covered with dust
rushed behind tho stage, and before he
could be stopped was in earnest conver-
sation with the tragedian.
What 2' said Booth, as he pressed
his long fingers on his broad, white tom
plos, as though he tried to clutch his
brain beneath, " dead say you my poor
little child - my loved, my beautiful
one ?" And then, seeing the curtain rise,
he rushed on, commencing
She has health to progress rs far as Chertsey
Though not to boar the sight of mo, etc.
The beautiful scene between "Anne u
and "Gloster was never better played
The actor, the noblest of them all u
when he chose to be, gave tho words OF
the bard with thrilling effect, but there
was u strange calmness about his manner
that told that his mind was not upon bis
charac ter. Still, the multitude applaud
cd until the old roof rang again, and
those behind the scene stood breathless
with eager delight. The third net called
out, but Booth was nowhere to be found
1t was bitter cold night, and the
farmer, as he drove his wagon to market,
was startled from his reverie rs he saw a
horseman strapped in a large cloak-and
us it opened 1t disclosed glittering dress
beneath-ride rapidly past him. 1t was
Booth in his " Richard " costume Mad.
ness had seized him, and, regardless OF
everything, at the still hour of midnight,
ho was going to pay visit to his dead
child. Drawing his flashing sword ard
throwing his jeweled cap from his head
he lashed his horses flank with the bare
weapon until tho animal moaned in pain
The tall, dark trees on each side of him
touched his heated brow with their silver
frosted branches, and thinking they were
men sent in pursuit, the mad actor crt
at them with his sword and crushed
them as he flew rapidly by.
AT last, after a gallant ride OF two hours,
the horseman came in sight Of n country
graveyard, and, us he saw the white tops
Of the monuments peeping through the
dark foliage like snowy crests upon the
bosom Of the black billow, he raised a
shout wild enough to have scared the
ghosts from their still graves. lie dis
mounted, and away sped the riderless
horse over bill and dale. 1t was The work
Of II moment (and the insane are cunning
beyond all Imagining to wrench the
wooden door from the vault containing
the body of his child. He seized the IT,
ny coffin in his arms, and with the strong
arm Of n desperate man he tore open the
lid, and in moment more the cold blue
lips of the dead child were glued to the
mad actors
The next morning some member Of the
tragedian's family heard a wild strain of
laughter that seemed to proceed from his
sleeping room. The door was forced
open, and Booth was discovered lying on
his bed, gibbering in idotc madness and
caressing the corpse of his little one.-
From Brother Jonathan, Jitne 1913.
A Missouri bridegroom dropped the
| hand of the maiden about the middle Of