Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-22
4NECD0TE OF j. Il, BOOTH.

Mr.. James Freeman Clarke, in his recently
putIiShed Selume OF Memorial and Biograph-
zeal Sketches relates an anecdote OF janus
BIutus Booth, which, if il Is old, has not for
many yealS found its way into print. Mr.
tlal ke was at the time of his story, preaching
in Louisville, Ky. On the 4th of January, lSSt
he received note, dated at the United States
Hotel in that city, inQuiring whe her place of
1nterment could be granted in the churehylrd
10 certain az the actor friends. and a SO what
would be the expenses attendant on the pur.
chase OF such place OF temporary repoSe. M.
Clarke anSN cred the note ia person, and was
eesdiaiIy .ec er6 " Mr. BooIh The actor
zeal extracts Then, rising I'm very solemn
manner. and taking one of the candles. Boob
said: Would you like 10 look at the re-
Mr.. Clarke writes: Al assented. Asking our
silent friend booths companion) o excuse Us,
Mr. Booth led me into an adjoining chamber
locked toward bed in the corner OF the
room, but saw nothing there. Booth went TO
another corner OF the room, where; spread out
upon large sheet, | beheld 10 my surprise
about bltShe3 Of lrild pigeons.
Booth knelt down by the side of the birds,
and with evidence of sincere affection began
10 mourn over them. He took them up.
tenderiy in his hands, and pressed them To
his heart. For few moments he seemed 10
forget my presence. For this, was glad, for
1t gave me little time to recover from my
aStonishment, aud to consider rapidly what il
might mean. Al first thought il was hoax,
an intentional piece of practical fun, of which
| was to be the object But decided that this
could not be. considered that as Joke il
would DE too poor in i self, and too unworthy
man like Booth. SO decided hat it was
| sincere conviction, and | determined 10 treat
| tie conviction wi b respect.
II also saw the motive for this particular
course OF action Du!ilg the week immense
quantities of Wild pigeons had bean fiying
over the ci y. in their way to and from a rooI
! in the neighOorh0od. These birds had been
slaughtered by myriadS, and were for sale by
the buShel at the corners of every street in the
| city. Although all the birds which could be
killed by man made the smallest impression
on the vast multitudeS contained in one of
these flockS,-computed by Wilson to consist
sometimes of more than 2.2O0000, 00O,-yet to
Booth the destruction seemed wdSteful, wan
ton, and, from his point OF view, was willful
! and barharouS murder.
| II could not but feel certain sympathy
| with his humanity. ItwaS an error in good
direction If an insanity, it was better than
the time, therefore, that Booth was ready to
! speak was pI epared TO answer.
| You see,' said he, these innocent victims
pub ic way against this wanton desfruc ion
OF lie. Aid wish you would help me. Wlll
"'Hardly, replied. Te1pec.ed something
note. L did not come TO you expecting TO be
called to assist at the funeral So!emnitieS of
| birds.
Nor did send for you he answered. Il
| merely wrote to ask you about the lot in the
| grave yard. But now, that You are here
why not help NE! Do you fear the laugh of
men?'
No. returned: If | agreed with you in
regard to the subject, | might perhaps have
the courage to act out my CONVICTIONS. But
do not look at it as you do. L respect your con
! yic,iOnS, but do not share them
He thanked me- and took my leave, eX
! ceedlngiy astonished by the incident, but also
! interested in the earneStneSS of conviction OF
! the man.
Il heard in a day or two that he actually
| purchased a lot in the cemetery two or three
miles below the ely, had a coffin made hired
no fhgn grh
all the soIemnity OF a regular funeral. For
several days he continued to visit the grave
| OF his little friends, and m0urned over them
with grief which did not seem at all theat-
rical
= ''In a week or less the tendency to derange-
! ment in Booth became more developed. One
/ night, when he was TO act, he did not appear
| nor was he found at his lodgings. He did not
| come home that night. Next morning he was
! found in the woods, several miles from the
city, wandering in the snow. His derange-
ment proved to be temporary, and his reason
returned in few days. He soon after left the
| city"