Louisiana capitolian., 1880-09-04
The ELDER BOOTH.
"reminiscences ofHist First Ap.
pearance in this Country.

During the month Of August, 1921
!. one Of the highest stars in the Western
/ dramatic horizon presented itself in tn
person of Junius Brutus Booth-th
Booth-who, accompanied by his wife
/. arrived at Norfolk, Va, in vessel from
the island Of Madeira. Why he cam'
to the United States ut the time and tn,
way he did, rmheralded and unknown
l have never been informed. He pre
sehted himself to Mr.. Glib bert, the Rich
mond manager, and said he wished tt
perform in that city. / II understood he
had no letters OF introduction, and there
were some doubts whether he was the
real Booth or some inpndent advcntu-
rer, who, having heard that Mr.. Booth
contemplated visiting America, took
this peculiar way of introducing him
self, and, if possible, hum bugging the
Yankees before the real Booth shonld
arrive. The Richmond mar lager, always
ready for some bold and unusual adyen-
ture, arranged with Mr.. Booth for one
night and q conditional extension of tho
: engagement. Mr.. Booth made his first
appearance in the United States there
and at that time in "Richard ILL.," Mr..
Richard Russell, who was acting as
manager Of the Petersburg theatre in
the absence of Mr.. Caldwell, happened
te hear of the appearance Of a Mr.. Booth
in Richmond, and went to that city to
ascertain who the person was assuming
that name, and came back highly pleas
cd with the man, saying he had engag-
cd him one night to play in Petersburg,
then to finish his engagement in Rich
mond and to return to Petersburg for D
number Ofnights. He had selected Rich
ard III for his first appcarancein Peters
burg The play was cast and put up in
the green room, and the night on which
it was to be performed stated. On the
morning of the day set apart the large
bills posted on the corners Of the streets
announced the appearance Of the great
tragediau, J. b. Booth, from the London
theatres Covcnt Garden and Drury
Lane"
The play was called for rehearsal at
10 o'clock A. NJ. At the proper time the
rehearsal commenced, but without
Booth. lie had not arrived; but the
manager said the rehearsal must 20 OH
and he would have Mr.. Booths scenes
rchearscd 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 q small man that took to BE q we'll !
grown boy of about sixteen years Of !
age, came running up stairs, wearing u
jacket and o cheap straw
hat, both covered with dust, and in.
quired for the stage manager. 1ponted
across the stage to Mr.. Russell, who ut |
that moment had observed the person
with whom lwas convcrsing, and hur-
ried toward us and cordially grasping
the hand Of the strange man, said: "Ah,
Mr.. Booth, l AN glad you have arrived;
we were fearful something serious had
happened YOU" do not think any man
was ever more astOnished than | was
just then in bcholding this meeting. Is
it possible that this can be the great Mr..
Booth, that Mr.. Russell says is "undoubt-
,dly the best actor living ?" aud ! began
to think Russell was trying to put Off
some joke upon us all. observed, how
,vcr, that when the small man came
lpon the stage to Tchearse lis scenes he
vas quite "at home,' and showed a
Of the business Of the charac-
er that mere novice rprctender could
iot have acquired. He ran through the
ehcars,l very carelcssly, gave very few
pecial OF peculiar directions, tried the
combat of the last act over twice. and
aid: "T'l,at will do,' and the rehearsal
vas over. He then told Mr., Russell that
le had been u few minutes too late for
hc stage-coach that had left Richmond
ariy in the morning, and that he soon
fter started on foot and had walked all
he way-twenty-f miles; that his
wardrobe had been sent to the stage Of
cc before he was up, had been taken by
TIC coach, and he supposed was ready in
he city for the proper claimant.
When the curtain rose all night at the
ompany were ON the alert to see the
opposed great actor make his entrance
eforc the audience. When the proper
Gene opened Mr.. Booth walked on the
age, made no recognition of the rcccp.
on applause, and i'll al apparently
'editative mood began the soliloluy Of
Now is the winter of our discontent,"
hlch he delivered with seeming indif-