Louisiana capitolian., 1880-08-31
The ELDER BOOTH.
"Reminiscences OF Hist First APP
uearance in this Country.

one ~ tie UlnNeSt StdiS 'h '"o "'''
dramatic horizon presented itself III thc
vrrsou of .Junius Brntns Bootll--'hc
I,mth--who, accompanied by lils wile,
arrived at Norfolk, Va, in vessel from
IN. island Of Madeira. Why he came
,o tlc United States ut the time ana the
way he did, nnbcralded and unknown
, h,yc never been informed. lie pre-
s"nted himself to Mr.. Gilbert, the Rlcl'-
moud manager, and said he wished :"
urrform in that city. ! understood nc
had no letters of introduction, and there
we're some doubts whether he was the
real Booth or some mpudcnt advcnt''-
r.r. who, having heard that Mr.. Booth
contemplated visiting Amcrica, took
this peculiar way of Introducing him
self, and, If possible, hnmbugglns the
y,,,,..s before the real Booth shonld
arrive. The Richmond manager, always
randy for sonc bold and unusual adver-
turc, arranged with Mr.. Booth for ono
uiclt and u conditional extension OF the
engagement. Mr.. Booth made his first
,uuc,ya,,c in tue United States there
aud at that time in "Richard ILL.," Mr..
Richard Russell, who was acting as
manager Of tho Petersburg theatre in
the ul,sc,,cc of Mr.. Caldwell, happened
tp hear of the appearance of q Mr.. Booth
IN Richmond, and went to that city 10
ascertain who the person was assuming
that name, and came back highly pleas
ri witt, the nlnn, saying he had cngaS-
cd him ono night TO play in Petersburg,
then 10 finish his engagement In Rich
n,onl aud to return to Petersburg Tor a
number ofnights. He had selected Rich
ard III for his first appcaranccih Peters
burg. The play was cast and put up III
the green room, and the night on which
if was to be performed stated. On the
morning Of the day set apart the larg'
hills posted on the corners Of the streets
announced the "appca,ancc of the great
trnrclian, J. B. Booth, from the Londo'
theatres Covent Garden and Dr'rA
Lane"
The play was called for rehearsal Il
10 o'clock A. NJ. At the proper time th
,.hc,rsal commenced, but wltho'l
Hooth. He had not arrived; but tn
manager said tho rehearsal must go OF
and hc would have Mr. Booths scene
rcheursed after ho arrived. l thl''
they had reached the fourth act of tn
play, and | was saunterins near the hca
,,f the stairs that led up to the stage
when a small man that took to obo wei
crown boy Of about sixteen years
age, came running up stairs, wearing
roundabout jacket and u cheap s'ra
l,,t both covered with dust, and II
ouircd for the stage manager. p''hte
across tho stage to Mr.. Russell, who
that moment had observed the pcrso
with whom | was convcrsing, and hu
rjed toward us and cordially grasp'''
the hand of the strange man, SAID: IA
Mr.. Booth, | AM glad you have arrived
wc were fearful something serious hi
happ,n.d you." lido not think amy mi
was ever more astonishcd than l W
inst then in bcholding this meeting
it possible that this ca" be the great NJ
Booth. that Mr.. Russell says is "undo"'
ed,y the best actor living" aud l bcg'
+, think Russell was trying to put
some joke upon MS all. ] observed, ho
ever that when the small man ca'
upon the stage to rchcarse his scenes
was quite cat homc," and showed
knowledge Of the business OF the char'
tsr that u mere novice or pretcn'lcr COZ
not have acquired He ran through
rehearsal very carclcssly, gave very Il
,pccial or peculiar directions, tried
combat of the last act over twice, u
said: "rhat will do" and the rchear
WA, over. flo then told Mr.. Russell u
he had been u few minutes too late
the stagc-coach that had left Ricl'mo
carly in the morning, and that nc sc
after started on foot and had walked
the way--twcmty-hvc miles; that
wardrobe had been sent to the stage
Zee before he was up, had been taken
the coach, and he supposed was ready
the city for the proper claimant
When the curtain rose all night ut
company were on the alert to SET
supposed great actor make his 'n'ra
before the audience. Wlclf the pro
scene opened Mr.. Booth walked on
stage. made no recognition OF the rec
ton applause, and in an apparc'
mc,itatiyc mood began the solloHny
"Now is the winter of our dlsc"'Itel
which he delivered with seeming in
ference and with little, if any, po
something after the manner of Il sch