The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-02
LINCOLN AT THE THEATRE.
Some More Of MIR. Noah Brooks
"Reminiscences OF the Martyred
President.

Some More of MIR. Noah Brooks
"Reminiscences OF the Martyred
President.
From sehbner for March.
Lincoln liked to 60 to the theatre. It
gave him an hour or two Of freedom from
care and worry, and what was better,
freedom from the interruption Of office.
seekers and politicians. He was on such
terms with the managers Of two Of the
theatres that he could go In privately by
the stagc.doOr and slip into the stage-
boxes without being seen by the audience.
Concealed by the friendly screen Of the
drapery, he saw many plays without pub
lie observation. Once, remember, we
were alone together at Ford's Theatre, in
a box directly under the one in which he
afterward was assassinated. He was In
remarkable aow Of spirits and made
many comical remarks on the progress
Of the play. Edwin Booth was playing
in "The Merchant Of Venice" and, as We
sat, two or three Of the supernumeraries,
who wore scarlet hose, were constantly in
the line OF sight Finally the President
said: "I wonder II those red.legged pige.
ou.toed chaps don't think that they are
playing this plsyH They are dreadful
numerous" Just before the act.drop
went up each time, he consulted his pro.
gramme and said: "This is act two eyes,"
or, "Act eye "" as the case may be. And
as we went home he said ut was u good
performance, but l had thousand times
rather read II at home. II 1t were not for
Booth's playing. A farce or comedy is
best played; tragedy Is best read at
home"
On another occasion, at the same theat-
re, Lincoln saw Forrest play Lear. But
he was more impressed by John McCull.
oughs playing Of Edgar than by the great
tragedian's acting. With 4 certain sim
plicity Of manner he asked "Do you sup
pose he would come to the box II we sent
wordP replied that the actor would
undoubtedly be gratified TO hear person.
al commendation from him. Mr.. Mccall
ough accordingly was brought to the door
OF the box, all dressed in stage rags and
straw as he was, and the President thank
ed him very cordially and with discrimi.
mating praise for the pleaure which he
had received from the performance.
j. II. Hackett, in his part Of FalaaE,
was another actor who gave Lincoln great
delight. With his usual desire to signi-
ly to others his sense OF obligation, he
wrote genial little note TO the actor, er-
pressing his pleasure at witnessing his
Mr.. Hackett, in reply, sent
a book OF some sort; perhaps 1t was one
OF his own authorship. He also wrote
several notes to the President. 0ne night,
quite late, when the episode had passed
out of my mind, | went TO the White
House in answer toa message. Passing
into the Presidents office, noticed, to my
Hackett sitting in the anteroom,
as II waiting for an audience. The Presi.
dent asked me II anyone was outside. On
being told he said, half sadly :"Oh, l can't
SEQ him; l can't see him. | was In hopes
he had gone away" Then he added
"Now, this just illustrates the difficulty Of
having pleasant friends and acquaint.
ances in this place. You know how
liked Hackett as an actor, and how wrote
to tell him 30. He sent me that book,
and there thought the matter would end.
lie ia a master Of his place in the profess
sion. suppose, and well fixed In il. But
just because We had little friendly cor.
such as any two men might
have, he wants something. What do you
suppose he wan,s2' / could not guess,
and Lincoln added: swell, he wants to
b. Consul to London. Oh, deari"