The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1878-03-15
LINCOLN At THE THEATRE.
Some More Of Nr. Ncah Brooks "reminiscences
go. s. Of the Martyred President .eaaa'fate
From seribneF for March

+ HEoln ScfIDneF I0f MARCH, + z 4
Lincoln liked to 60 to the theatre. Ia i
gave him an hour or two of freedom from
care and worry, and what was BETTER free
J dom from the interruption of Office seekers
and politicians. He was on such terms
with the managers Of two of the theatres
that ne could 60 in privately BY the stage
door and slip into the stage-boxes without
Deing seen BY the audience. Concealed by
the friendly screen of the drapery, he saw
many plays without public observation.
onee, remember, we were along together
at EorPs 8 Theatre, in box directly under
the one in which he afterward was assassi-
mated. He was in remarkable flow of
spirits and made many comical remarks ON
the Progress of the play. :. Edwin Booth
was playing in ss.The Merchant of Venice, -
anG, as we sat, two or three of the SUPER
numer4Fies, who wore scarlet hose, were
constaHtly in the line of sight. Finally the
PresidentssaId: ~ wonder if those red
grssS pi5~s-- ts-l slsssPa taS4.s 5ss-i..i. ta-.
| they are PLAYING this play? They are
dreadful numervdA Just before the act
drop went up each time, he consulted his
programme !. and said: ss This is act two
eyes," or, Act eye W as the case may
be. And as we went home he said &c 1t
was good performance, but had thous-
and times rather read it at home. if it were
not for Booths playing. A farce or a
comedy is best played; atragedy is best
read at home" :~s'
On another occasion, at the same theatre,
Lincoln saw Forrest play Lear & B But he
was more impressed by John McCullough's
playing of Edgar than by the great TRACE
dams acting. With a certain simplicity of
manner he asked" 4" Do you suppose he
would come to the boz if we sent word ?'
replied that the actor would undoubtedly
be gratltied to hear a personal commenda-
tion from him. Mr.. Mccullough accord
ingly was brought to the door of the box,
all dressed in stage rags and straw as he
was, and the President thanked him very
cordially and with discriminating praise for |
the pleasure which he had received from |
the performance asz614.E |
J. H. Hackett, in his part of ,Fa1staf, |
was another actor who gave Lincoln great [
delight, With hisusu desire to signify +
to others bis sense of obligation, he wrote a
genial little note to the actor, expressing |
bis pleasure at witnessing his performance. |
Mr. Hacketts in reply, 'sent-a book of some
sort; perhaps it was one of his own author
ship. He also wrote several notes to the
President. One night, quite late, whenthe
episode had passed out of my mind, i went
to the White House in answer to message.
Passing into the Presidents office,
noticed, to my surprise, Hackett sittingin
The anteroom, as if waiting for an audience.
The President asked maif anyone was out
side. On. being t,ld he said, half sadly:
:. Oh, can't see him /; | can't see him. |
vas in hopes he had gone away" Then he
.dded: =" Now, this just illustrates the diff
iculty of having pheasant friends and ac-
Iuantances in this place. You know how +
liked Hackett as an actor, and how wrote
o tell him SO. He sent ms that book, and
here | thought the matter would end. He
8 a master of his place in the profession, +.
uppose, and well fixed in it. But just be-
ause we had little friendly correspond / ]
nee, such as any two men might have. be-
rants something. What do you suppose
q wants?" could not guess, and Lincoln
dded; g Well, he wants to be Consul to
.ondon. Oh, dear ~ ... ia