Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-04-25
Lincoln at the Tbeater

II ''cf'o'aer ior March is the second in
stallment of Noah Brooks esReminis-
cences of Lincoln continued fronD tba
mtdwinter number. After SPEAKING o3f
the Presidents great delight in .Tobn.
Brougham's 'tPoeahontas,'' Mr.. Broolr.
says:
Lincoln liked to go to the theater. 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
theaters that he could 60 in privately by
the stage 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 I remember We
were alone together at Ford's theatre, In
box directly under the one in which he
afterwards was assassinated. He was in
remarkable flow of spirits, and made
many comical remarks on the progress of
the play. Edwin Booth was playing In
'sThe Merchant of Venice,'' and, as we
sat. two or three supernumeraries, who
wore scarlet hose, were constantly In the
line of sight. Finally, the President said,
81 wonder if those pigeon-toed chaps
don't think they are playing this playF
They are dreadful numerous" just be-
fore the act drop went up, each time, he
consulted his programme and said, ''Fhis
is Act two eyes, or ''Act eye "" as the
case might be. And as he went home, he
said, cit was a good performance, butt
1-a%hdF Tnod If af
home, if it were not for Booths playing.
A farce or comedy is best played;
! tragedy is best read at home"
On another occasion, at the same thea
ter, Lincoln saw Forrest play Clear"
But he was more impressed by John Nc
Cullough's playing of Edgar, than by
the great tragedian's acting. With GER
tain simplicity, he asked, "Do you sup
pose he would come to the box if we sent
| word?'' I replied that the actor would
undoubtedly be gratifed to hear per-
| sonsaI Icommendation from him. Mr.. Nc
CuIlough, accordingly, was brought to
! the door of the box, all dressed in stage
rags and straw as he was. and the Presi-
dent thanked him very cordially, and
with discriminating praise, for the pleas
ure which he had received from the per-
formance.
H. Hackett, in his part of Falstaf,
was another acter who gave Lincoln great
delight. With his usual desire to signify
to others his sense of obligation, he wrote
a genial little note to the actor, express
ing his pleasure at witnessing his per-
formance Mr.. Hackett, in reply, sent q
book of some sort; perhaps it was one Of
his own authorship. He also wrote sew
eral notes to the President. One night,
quite late, when the episode had passed
out of my mind, I went to the White
House in answer to a message. Passing
into the Presidents office, noticed to my
surprise, ,Hackett sitting in the ante-room,
as if waiting for an audience. The Pres
ident asked meif any one was outside
On being told, he said, half sadly, ''Oh,
[ can't see him, I can't see him. I was in
hopes he had gone away" Then he add
ed, ssNow, this just illustrates the diff
Guilty of having pleasant friends and ac-
quaintances in this place You know how
1 liked Hackett as an actor, and how
wrote to tell him so. He sent me that
book, and there L thought the matter
would rest. He is master of his place in
the profession, Isuppose, and well fixed in
it. But Just because we had little friend
" correspondence, such as any two men
might have, he wants something. What
do you suppose he wants?" could not
guess, and Lincoln added, "Well, he
wants to be consul to London, Oh, dear ~