The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-11-21
,JuniuS Brutus Booth.

from the stage by riot. He then came
to this country, and made his first APP
pearaace at Petersburg, Va, in 1921, as
Richard ILL.,, and in 1922 came out at the
! Park Theater, in New York, in the same
character. His success there was great,
and afterwards, with varying fortune, he
kept possession of the American stage
until his death, which took place on
board steamer and on the way from New
Orleans to Cincinnati, in 1858. Small in
stature, not well formed, and with bad
points in manner and habits that were
exceedingly irregular, he had many per
sonal disadvantages to contend with in
his profession, but such was the electric
quality of his mind that he overcame
them all. An actor less gifted would
have forfeited his popularity beyond re-
demption. He lost himself in the part
he was performing to such a degree that
it bacame sort of insanity. 1t was con
sidered somewhat perilous to play Rich
mond to Booths Richard ILL.,, particular
ly if he was in liquor. During the com.
bat on Bosworth field he was apt in his
excitement to consider himself in reality
the King, and cut and thrust with the
fierceness and ferocity of man in an
earnest and life depending trial of arms.
At such times it was necessary to disable
him, and it was in one of these "crazy
spells" that his face was dsfSured for
life by an imperiled actor, the bridge of
his nose being broken by the blow de-
livered through sheer defense. No one
who ever saw the man in his great char
acter of Richard will be likely to forget
his peculiar impersonation of the part.
1t is said he once played Orinoko with
bare feet insisting that il. was absurd to
put shoes on a slave. On another occa-
sion he actually made his appearance in
Philadelphia, performing the part OF
Richard on horseback. While support
ing Forrest on a certain evening at the
theatre in Pittsburgh, instead of going
| upon the stage at the proper time, he
walked out and took the cars dressed and
made up for the character of an Indian
chief One night while performing Sir
Eduard Mortimer in the Iron Chest" at
Philadelphia, the manager, perceiving
his unfortunate condition, advised him to
Finish as quickly as possible" Booth
quickly walked forward and observed:
Ladies' and gentlemen, have been di-
rectcd by the manager to finish this as
soon as possible, and so I'll finish it at
once. Here WtGord, catch me, saying
which, and throwing himself into his
arms, he Ibid the dying scene" and the
curtain was rung down amid roars of
laughter.
His appetite for liquor was sometimes
| absolutely yOraciouS RpinO without
money at one time when in New York, he
went to a pawnbroker's shop, literally
pawned himself for money to purchase
liquor, was regularly ticketed and ex-
| hibited in a window, where he stayed
till redeemed by a brother actor. On
another occasion being announced to APP
pear in Philadelphia-at the Walnut
street theatcr-the manager, on the day
for the performance had Booth shut up, but
was outwitted by the actor, who bribed
the servant to bring bottle of brandy, a
saucer, and a clay pipe. Inserting the
pipe through the key hole, with the bowl
inverted, the brandy was poured into the
saucer and sucked up through the pipe by
the thirsty tragedian, and the fact was
disclosed when in the twilight the man
ager proceeded there to conduct him to
/ the dressing-roo and found him in an
/ insensblc condition.
I The very ludicrous scene which occur
ed at New York theater between Booth
and the celebrated "tat girl Of Barnums
Museum is probably familiar to most of
the readers of the Times, and is perhaps
, one of the most amusing incidents in the
annals of the stage.
Booth, after being successful in Lon
don, where his professional life com
meuced, made an engagement with
Manchester manager. Manchester then,
as now, a manufacturing town, was de-
voted largely tn the production of but
tons. Booth appeared before his new
audience determined to make a hit. We
have forgotten the name of the play in
which he ppeared-enOugh that he
threw himself into it with his whole soul.
But, alas the house would not come
down. His choicest efforts were thrown
away, and self-distrust began to steal
over him. At last there came in the play
personal set-to, into which Booth went
with such hearty zest that the cheers
and shouts thus far depressed broke into
a perfect storm. Booth caught the secret,
and forthwith so belabored his fellow
actor that he fairly yelled with pain. He
then sat down in his chair, and stretching
his neck toward his audience, with face
on which was depicted the most bitter
contempt and disgust, exclaimed in way
all his own: "What do you think of
that, you low-lived button makers" He
was obliged to leave the stage as we'll as
the city, with a mob Of button-makers on
his track.