Litchfield enquirer., 1879-08-07
Great Actors.

After five years. spent in q rowing life
 John Gilbert, em 1ty handed, ut witlTa ligh1 heart and growin., reputation for conscientious ness and hard work, embarked on sailing vessel at New Orleans, and without adventure arrived in Boston. After visiting his relatives and spending a quiet week or two at home, he began to look about him for employment, but finding none, was on the point of returning te the south, when. while walking on the street one day. he met George Barrett, Gentleman George" at that time favorite actor, who knew something of his capabilities, and by him was introduced to Tom Barry, manager of the Fremont theatre. Soon afterward he was engaged by MT. Barry oplay old mems parts, his salary for the first season being $18 a week. He remained in this position for five years, witnessing the introduction of many improvements in stage setting, appointments and scenery. and playing with the elder Booth, Forrest, Hamblin, James W. Wallack, ST. e Cooper Ellen Tree, Tyrone Power, Charlotte Cushman, MT. and Mrs. Keeley, and other great actors and actresses of the time. Mr. z Gilberts recollections of all his old associates are still very vivid, and he speaks of all those Lhage mentioned, excepting, perhaps, Mir. Forrest, not only with great admiration, but : with something very much akin to affection. Some of the anecdotes which on very rare Oc- casions he can be induced to tell of their pecu- liarties are most amusing. The elder Booth, in regard to whom MT. Gilbert believes much that is untrue and exaggerated has been writ ten, is the chief figure in one of the best of these stories.
 The play was Rsclt0rd III., and at an early hour u theatre was filled almost to suffoca- tiOn. Ita~was almost time for the curtain to rise, and Booth was not in the house. Mes sengers were sent in all directions, but still he was nowhere to be found. The minute hand went round thedial of the green room clock with what seemed to the anxious watchers to be extraordinary rapidity. The manager was in despair, sbut still Booth did not come. At Hast 1t was time to ring up the curtain, and, just as the stage manager was about to go be- fore the audience and announce that an unfor- seen accident and all that sort of thing would make it necessaryto postpone the performance, the back doorkeeper cried out Heres MT. Booth" &~&sS7 g" @# ~E> f-i- Ce
 Where where 2" asked a. dozen voices once. 1aaaa@ z E-E @H E
 Here, at the door, was tIle reply, and in moment the attention was directed to the back entrance. IJ h-
 It was true the great actor was there, but in anything but proper condition toplay "Rich- ard IILsng~ In, fact, he. was so drunk-'sunwell' MT. Giibert. charitably it, that he was not able to stand on his feet. Still the mana ger seized him with glad hands-the elder Booth drunk was worth score of other actors sober-and he was hastily taken to his dress ing-r There everything possible was done to revive him His head was bathed with eaul de Co0ga&, he was rubbed with bay rum, and at last he was so much restored that it was possible to slip him into the clothes of the hunchback Richard" Then the curtain was rung up Booth was pushed out on the stage The magnetism of the great crowd revived him, as was nearly always the case when he was 'unwell" With great effort he collect ed his thoughts saw, from the clothes he had on, that he was to play sRichard," and went on with his part. All went well during the first scenes, and the manager and leading members of the company were just congratu- lating themselves upon what they believed to be the happy outcome of what might have been serious difficulty, when suddenly Booth gave signs of again collapsing. There was no help for it. however; they must go on with the play. .'.1'.t t' 'si
 John Gilbert, who was playing the sick liking Edward" made his entrance with the 'Queen," 'Dorset," "Rivers," Hastings" and the rest, and, as usual, was conducted to couch in the middle of the stage Then, af- ter few speeches by the King" and other characters, it was time for '..Richard's en- trance. As Buckingham" spoke the line, ''And in good time, here comes the noble, Duke, Booth was pushed on the stage. but for once his wit failed him. He could not keep upon his feet, and, instead of making the speech beginning "Good morrow to my sovereign King and Queen" hestaggered over to where Gilbert as the King, was reclin ing, looked at him for moment, and, winking one eye good humoredly, said, in tone audi ble to most of the audience, stGet up, John, and let me lie down." Of course the scene closed amid great confusion and shouts of was concerned, was at an end.-Yeao York Times.