The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-07-24
Forrest and the Elder Booth.

IRscollections OF John Gilbert, n. Y. Times
The elder Booth, ~ Mr. Gilbert remem-
hers him, was Of the most gentle and good
tempered Of men. Unlike may great
actors, he always had a kind word for The
most Insignificant mi mbsrs of the COM
psnies win which he played, and he was
even ready TO excuse their bluIders. An
incident will illustrate tie latter trait in
his charac,er. He was playing Sir Ed
ward Morrimeo in the Iron Chest"-one
of bis greste-t parasite an immense
audience, ard wss just on the point of max
ing the most effective speech which he hsd
in the play, when, by mistake of one OF TIE
minor char -c:ers, he was obliged-to make
sense Of the srene-to slur il over and go
on without delivering the speech in question.
When the curtain fell the young man who
had made the mistake stood in fear and
trembling, fully expecting that the Highest
punishment which could come to him
would be an instantaneous dismissal from
the theatre. He was mistaken. Mr.. Booth,
in passing him, said simply, "You were
not very clear in that scene. Try to do
better another time" That was the end Of
the matter. Very different would have
been Edwin Forests mauner of referring
to such an offense. The unfortunate being
who CHANGED to cut him out of a scene. as
the theatrical phrase has il, would during
the remainder of the great mans engage
mebi, find his life burden. Mr. Gilbert
Ii no; alone in believing that Mr. Forrest
WAS not only a truly wonderful actor, but a
bully ard a coward. 1t ia matter Of
record ihat on one occasion, in the fremont
Theatre, he tormented little fellow one
third his size almost to madness, but whe n
the yonng man at last turned upon him
with Roman sword from "the property
room," swearing to take his life, he fled 10
his dressing room in the widest alarm, and
did not come out again until the dagger, If
there was any, waI passed.
In morey matters the great actor il ssid
to hsve been close and graspiug to degree
which thoroughly disguised The warm
hearted, open handed men and women who
were his associates on the stage. At the
end Of ore short engagement at the Ire
mont theatre his share of the receipts
amou 1ted TO- S4 600; and though the mana
gers lost by their contract with him and for
the moment were unable to pay the stock
company, he exacted the prompt payment
of the last penny which was his due. The
money WAS handed over 10 him, few odd
dollars being in rolls Of % cen; pieces, and
he left the box ctice. Half an hour after
wards he returned with one of these rolls,
and, taking a piece OF silver from it, said to
the treasured, in his own peculiar pompous
manner, This quarter, sir, which you gave
me, il not good"
What is the matter with it ?" asked the
treasurer, CURLY.
a,,nath 81 op4 h. %
at the bank refuse to take it. You must
who was good deal of a wag, handed Mr..
Forest bright new quarter. took the worn
piece, and with the words, Il wou DIT cell
these two shiliipgs for tive dollars" slipped
it into his pocket. That night the story Of
Forrest and the smooth quarter was known
all over Boston.
In marked contrast to the CREST actors
meanness vas the reckless generosity of the
comparatively poor men attached to The
stock companies which supported him. At
one tile while in Boston, John Gilbert,
John srongham and one or two others who
have since made their mark, were playing
together, business being bad and their
salaries being much in arrears, the
manager decided to withdraw and allow
them toconduct the establishment on the
sh.re System. GiiDent, Broughsm, and the
other principal people agreed to this, at the
same time pledging themselves to pay the
salaries of the lesser members of the troupe.
Under this arrangement the theatre vent
on for a week, and at the end of that time
Mr.. Gilbert and the Others who were asso-
ciated With him in the management came
together for q settlement. First they paid
salaries a. agreed, and divided the money
which remained among themselves. Gil
bert received for the services of himself and
wife Just IS, while Broughamis share
amounted to the magnificent sum of 81
cents! Walking down the street after
ward, Genial John Brougham" invited his
companions into . tavern, and throwing
down his dimes and pennies upon the coun-
ter, cried out cheerily, "There, drink it up,
boys, we'll trust to providence for = fresh
:vsf lpnontr