The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-12-02
THE ELDER BOOTH.
Dramatic Life,

Dramatic Life.
During the month of August, 1921,
one of tho brightest "stars" in the
western dramatic horizon presented it.
self in the rcrson Of Junius Brutus
Booth.-the Booth. -whnaccompanied
by his wife. arrived at Norfolk. Va.
in v~a.cl from the island Of Madeira.
whv he came to the United States at
tho time and the wav he did, unher.
aided and unknown. have mover heen
INFORMED. Tie presented himself to
Mr.. GiIfert. tho Richmond manager,
and said he wished to perform in that
citv. understood hr had no letters
Of Introduction. and there were somc
doubts whether he was the real Booth
or somc imnudrnt aavrnturer, who,
having hearfl that Mr.. booth contem.
plated VISITING America. took this ne
culiar w.v of introdncin~ himself. and
If rossihlc "hnmhugqing" the Yankees
before the real Booth ahonld arrive.
The Richmond m.Rsgrr. always ready
for somc bold and unusnal adventure,
arranged with Mr. Booth for ona night
and conditional extension Of the en-.
gagsment. Mr.. Booth made his ffnst
appearance in the United States thera
and at that time in "Richarl III"
Mr.. Richard Russell. who WAS acting
as manager Of the Petersburg theatre
in the absence OF Mr.. Caldwell. hap
psnsd to hesr Of tho appearance Of .
Mr.. Booth in Richmond. and went to
that city te ascertain who tho person
was assuming that namo. and came
back highly pleased with the man,
saving he had engaged him ono night
to play in Petersburg. then to finish
his engagement in Richmond and re-
turn to Petersburg for a number Of
nights. He had selected Orchard ILL.,
for his first appearance in Petersburg.
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 first appearance
of the great tragedian, j. B. Booth.
from the London theatres. Covent
Garden and Drury Lane" The play
was called for rehearsal at 10 O'Clock
A. NJ. at the proper time the rehear.
sal commenced, but without Mr.. Booth.
He had not arrived but the manager
said the rehearsal must 20 on and he
would have Mr.. Booths scenes re-
hearsed after he arrived. think they
had reached the fourth act of the
play, and 1 was sauntering near tho
head of the stairs that led up to tho
stage, when a small man, that I took
to be well-grown boy of about 16
years of age, came running up the
stairs, wearing a roundabout jacket
and 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 1 was
conversing, and hurried toward us and
cordially grasping the hand of the
strange man, said "Ah, Mr.. Booth, I
am glad you have arrived wc were
fearful something serious had happen
cd you." Idon't think any man was
ever itiore astonishcd than / was then
in beholding this meeting. Is it pos
sible that this can be the great Mr..
Booth, that Mr.. Russell says is 'un-
dou ubtedly the best actor iving?" and
l began to think Rnssell was trying to
put up some joke upon us all. 1 OBJ
served, however, that when the small
man cameupon the stage to rehcarse his
scenes he was quite ''at hoine," and
sho wed a knowledge of the business
of tho character that n mere novice or
pretender could not have acquired.
lie ran through tho rehearsal very
gave very few special or pc
culiar directions, tried the combat
OF the last act over twice, and
said "That will dO," and the re-
hearsal was over. He then told MIR.
Russell that he had been few min
utes too late for the stage-coach that
had left Richmond early in the morn.
ing, and that he soon after started on
foot and had walked all the way
miles; that his wardrobe
had been sent to the stage Office before
he was up, had been taken by the
oach, and he supposed was ready In
he city for the proper claimsnt.
When the curtain rose at night all
he company wcre on the alert to SOC
he supposed great actor make his en-
rance before the audience. When the
proper scene opened Mr.. Booth walk
d on the stage, made no recognition
# the reception applause, and In an
apparently meditative mood began the
oliloquy Of 'Now Is the winter Of our |
liscontent," which he delivered with
eeming Indifference and with little,
any, point, something after the man. |
Ter Of school-boy repeating lesson
# which he had learned the words
,ut was needless of their meaning and
hen made his exit, without receiving |
NY additional applause. was not |
where 1 could ascertain the impression |
made upon the audience, but on the |
tage, at tho side-sconcs, the actors
we're looking at each others in all
kinds of ways expressive of astonish-
nent and disgust. l was standing |
lear Mr.. Benton, an old actor, the King
Icnry of the evening, and rs turned
o go away he said: "What do you
hink of him, Mr.. Ludlow" "Think?"
replied, "why, think, as thought
,efore, that he is an impostor. What
10 you think of him?" 'Why, Sir"
aid Brenton, "if the remainder of his
Richard should prove like the begin
ling, have never yet, suppose, seen
he character played, for it is unlike
ny l ever saw it may be very good,
mt don't fancy it." l found that
mong tie company generally like
stimate Of tho great man prevailed,
ir. Russell being the only exception;
lc having witnessed Mr.. Booths act
ng in Richmond, still persisted i'll say
ng he was the greatest actor he had
ver seen. His scene with Lady Anne
where he encounters and interrupts
he funeral procession of King Henry
H., was as tame and pointless as his
irsL soliloquy. l had seen George
frederick Cooke perform Richard III.
bout ten years prior 10 the time l
aw Mr.. Booth first, at which period
was youth of 16 years of age, when
are vivid and lasting, and
had retained perfect recollection of
lie effects Mr.. Cooke produced OH his
nd ence, myself included; and it
eemed To me that 10 great actor would
Ass through these TWO scenes with
hat careless Indifference that Mr..
soolh evinccd. 1t has ever remained
mystery to me why Mr.. Booth al
1ays slighted the first two acts of
Richard ILL., and can only account
Or ii OH Tho supposition that it was
5ith Il view OF reserying his powers for
he remaining three acts, in which con-
lderable physical as we'll. as mental
ff.,rtc oro rorr,i,.o,l aud vat xrhon I |