The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-11-14

| morning OF the uhy sci apart the large
bills posted on tie corners of the
streets announced "the first appearance
Of the great tragelian, J. Il. Booth,
from the London theatres. Covent
Garden and Drury Lane The play
was called for rehearsal at 10 o'clock
A. NJ. al the proper time the rchcar-
AL commenced but without Mr.. Booth.
lIo had not arrived; but the manager
said the rehearsal must 40 on and he
would have Mr. Booths scenes re.
hearsed after he arrived. | think they
had reached the fourth act of the
play, and was sauntcring near the
head of the stairs that led up to the
stage, when small man, that | took
TO be wcll-grown boy of about 16
years Of age, came running up the
stairs, wearing roundabout jacket
and o cheap straw hat, both covered
with dust, and inquired for the stage
manager. ] pointed across the stage
TO Mr.. Russell, who at that moment
observed the person with whom | was
conycrsng, and hurried toward us and
cordially gnsping the hand Of the
strange man, said: "Ah, Mr.. Booth, |
am glad you have arrived; VIC were
fearful something serious had happen
ed YOU" l don't think any man was
ever moro astonished than was then
in beholding this meeting. Is it pos
sibe that this can be the great Mr..
Booth, that Mr.. Russell says is sun
doubtcdly the best actor living?" and
| began to think Russell was trying to
put up some joke upon us all. | OBJ
served, however, that when the small
man cameupon the stage to rchcarse his
scenes he was quite lat home" and
shove a knowledge of the business
of the character that mere novice or
petonder could not have acquired.
lie ran through the rehearsal very
caclessly, gave very few special or Pc
cular directions, tried the combat
Of the last act over twice, and
said: THAT will do" and the re-
hcarSal was over. lie then told Mr..
Russell that he had been few min
utes too late for the stage.coach that
had lett Richmond early in the morn
ing, and that he soon after started OH
foot and had walked all the way
twenty-five miles; that his wardrobe
had been sent to the stage Office before
no was up, had been taken by the
coach, and he supposed was ready In
the city for the proper claimant.
When the curtain rose at night all
the company were OH the alert to see
the supposed great actor make his ell
trance before the audience. When the
proper scene opened Mr. Booth walk
ed on the stage, made no recognition
of the reception applause, and in an
apparently meditatiye mood began the
soliloquy of New is the winter Of our
discomfort" which he delivered with
seeming Indifference and with little,
if any, point, something after the man
ner Of a school-boy repeating lesson
of which he had learned the words
but was needless Of their meaning,and
then made his exit, without receiving
any additional applause. | was not
where | could ascertain the impression
made upon the audience, but on the
stage, at the side-scenes, the actors
were looking at each others in all
kinds of ways expressive of astonish-
ment and disgust. was standing
near Mr.. Benton, an old actor, the King
Henry of the evening, and as | turned
to 60 away he said: "What do you
think of him, Mr.. Ludlow "Think?"
Ireplied, "why, l think, as thought
before, that he is an impostor. What
do you think Of him?" "Why, sir"
said Brcnton, "if the remainder of his
Richard should prove like the begin
ming, have never yet | suppose, seen
the character played, for it is unlike
any ever saw it may be very good,
bnt don't fancy it," | found that
among the company generally like
estimate of the great man prevailed,
Mr.. Russell being the only exception;
he having witnessed Mr.. Booths act
ing in Richmond, still persisted in say
ing he was the greatest actor he had
ever seen. His scene with Lady Anne
where he encounters and interrupts
the funeral procession of King Henry
W., was rs tame and pointless as his
first soliloquy. had seen George
Frederick Cooke perform Richard III.
about ten years prior to the time |
saw Mr.. Booth first, at which period
| Twas u youth of Is years of agc, when
impressions are vivid and lasting, and
had retained perfect recollection OF
the ELECTS Mr.. Cooke produced on his
audience, myself included; and it
seemed 10 NE that no great actor would
pass through these two scenes with
That careless Indifference that Mr..
| Booth cviuccd. 1t has ever remained
q mystery to me why Mr, Booth al
ways sighted the first two acts Of
"tichaid H." aud can only account
for il OH tho supposition that it was
with view OF reserying his powers for
the remaining three acts, in which con-
siderable physical as well as mental
efforts arc required; and yet, when |
first met Mr.. Booth, he did not appear
10 be deficient physique. ! retained
my first impression of Mr.. Booth I'M
Til he came TO the fourth act, where,
In scene with Buckingham, he hints
at the murder of the young princess.
Then thought discovered something
worthy OF great actor. From that
on his acting was unique and wonder
full! had never seen anyon produce
such effects and come ~ near my ideas
Of the character; not even Mr.. Cooke,
| In hnlnu Mp nnnth Ia,