, 1880-08-27
DR.. Ever and Edwin Booth.

At the time OF the recent farewell
breakfast to Edwin Booth 1t was a good
deal commented on privately that tho
Dey. Hr. Ever SHOULD have been Il
member Of the committee Of arrange
mcnts. A correspondent Of the Spring
field Republican writes He is re
gardcd as the special eXempar Of high
church Episcopaiianism, the attitude of
which toward the stage has not been one
of extreme cordiality. Still, by those Of
more broad and sincere catholic views,
it was taken as the sign of clearer un.
derstanding Oh the part Of the c!ericaLS
of the real Importance and value OF the
theatre, and was rejoiced in as a growth
of the times 1t was known to only
few that DR.. Ever and Mr. Booth were
old personal friends. In the early days
of the reverend gentleman's career he
was a Journalist in California, and was
a member Of the staff of the San Fran
cisco Times. During his newspaper con.
nection the young actor-he was then
little more than a boY-went to the Pa
cic Coast to play an enga cement, and
the journalist was one Of the FIRST to re-
oognize his. present ability. and great
promise 2or the future: The two Young
men met during the dramatic season,
and became excellent friends After a
time the actor left California, the war
interviewed and the friendship that had
begun so auspiciously was suspended by
time and Separation. Mr.. Ever came
to the East and became prominent as
clergyman Booth had also gained a
world-wide reputation in his profession.
They occasionally met in the street or
elsewhere, but neither made any attempt
to renew the old acquaintance. In the
course of time the actor came to firmly
to believe that the minister had grown
to share the common prejudice against
the stage and the minister concluded
Elthat the actor did not wish TO remember
their old relation; and for awhile they
very cordially disliked each other 49,,
| =. AT last, ono Of those accidents that SO
often change the course Of human lives
occurred, and. the two were thrown to-
gether in such way that they were OBJ
liged to. know each other and then
found that utheirsfoldo esteem for each
other really remained, and that each had
been waiting For the edother to make adj
yances!J Before they parted Booth
asked.hissold friend TO come sndsee him
act--vhe was then at his own theatre
but the reverend doctor said that he did
not 60 to- the theatre now!aIHays@; not,
he added, H'that I think any differently
about the stage from what / did when
we first met; but I have thought that it
would not be setting a good example, if
1 l, as a clergyman should 'habitually at
ltend theatrical performances. I could
make distinctions, and only go to see
that which was really good and really
elevating; but the young people OF my
flock might mot be SO well able TO tell
4 the helpful from the harmful and SO 1
have Thought it best to sacrifice my own
enjoyment, lest should seem to coun-
tenanoe was hurtful to them. Still, l
should like to see you act again, and |
think will come" "You would ike a
private box, would you not y asked the
player. "You will be less conspicuous
in it" "No,". replied the minister, 81
do not want private box. II go, l
shall go because deem it right to do So
/ shall be in no way ashamed of it nor
afraid to have it known; and 1 do not
wish to appear to be trying to hide my
self to enjoy guilty pleasure lie
went. and ever since the two men whose
paths in life have in many ways diyerged
SO widely, have been close friends. .ru
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