Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-26
THE STORY OF BOOTH.
DR.. EVER TELLS HOW EDWIN BOOTH
MADE his START In CALIFORNIA.

The special correspondent of the RECORD
UNION in New York says. under date of
June 18th:
The breakfast" to Edwin Booth yes
terday by his warm personal friends and
admirers was a worthy tribute worthily
bestowed. As full reports of the sayings
and doings appear in the morning papers, |
shall not attempt sketch of proceedings.
But do not find among the published re.
ports anything like fair or full copy Of
the very interesting recollections given by
our old friend Ferd. Ever, or as we now
style him, the Rev. DIR. Ever. As they
revive bit of California history not we'll
known in your State, [ have taken it in
full. Ever was editor Of the Times and
Transcript in Sacramento in 1850
Judge Brady after reading the eleventh
toast, cod Times in California, intro
duced the Rev. Dr. F. G. Ever, as one OF
the earliest San Francisco editors, and as
Mr. Booths earliest critic
After the applause had subsidized DR..
Ever said : l can hardly plead, Mr.. Chair
man, want of due notice that | might be
called upon to respond to some such senti-
ment as has just been read, for got such
notice yesterday. But, trusting as | have
to the suggestions that might come OF the
occasion, and to thinking on my feet should
| be called up, must say that, after listen
ing to the eioquence of our friends who
have spoken, l feel very much like the
colored banker out West during the panic
of 81. The white banks were failing all
around him by DOZENS and this colored
banker, though perfectly solvent fnan-
cially, concluded that he ought at least to
be in the fashion and fail too. The next
morning man came and shook the door,
but voice responded, DE bank
am closed. 81 don't care whether
your bank is closed or not, " replied the
man g | left pair of new boots in there
by mistake yesterday, and | want them. "
After some hurrying and scuffiing inside,
the colored fnancier softly opened the
door little, and throwing out one boot,
remarked, owe is only paying fifty cents
on de dollar to-day" [Laughter.] Put
quite to the blush by our eloquent friends,
| feel that my response will be another case
OF &C fifty cents on the dollar" Laughter ]
The sentiment to- which you have asked
me to reply, calls up olden and
| NEiA1 Nv IkEllNlSNENtES.
l arrived among the 60 forty-niners, and
shortly after our friend here arrived also.
Our callings in life were different. He was
of the profession of the stage, and before |
entered the ministry | was a member of
the press. At that time in California the
gentlemen of the stage and the gentlemen
of the press were very apt to form
warm and very strong friendships,
and it was so in regard to Mr. Booth
and myself. More than quarter of a
century has passed-indeed it is twenty
years since our honored guest plucked the
| first leaves of his laurel crown-and yet do
not believe the incidents of that occasion
are more deeply traced in his memory than
they are in mine. He had come out to
California, mere youth OF Is years. in
company with his famous father, then in
the prime of life and at the meridian of
| his renown. And | remember especially
the Cassie, which he played to his fathers
Iago in the Jenny Lind Theater, and the
Richmond, which he played to his fathers
Richard. Or. Ever turned to Mr. Booth,
who was sitting at his left, and said, &c
suppose you hardly remember them" 81
don't remember anything about them,
said Mr.. Booth.) Well, | do, very well,
resumed Dr. Ever. One of the editors Of
the Sacramento Times and transcript,
to whose lot it fell to write the theatrical
criticisms for that paper, thought he de-
tected in the unknown youth flashes Of
exceeding promise, and ventured the state
ment in the columns of the paper. Sub
sequently, after the departure OF his father
from California, young Booth was engaged
AT A 7 urrT L, rIJpaTrp
Called San Francisco Hall, where he was
cast for several months In utility parts, in
farces and extravaganzas. Meantime that
same editor continued frequently to select
the young stranger for more and more
Mandatory remark coming out at last with
his whole mind and stating that this
youth gave promise of larger fame than
any young actor then on the American
board. Other friends of the youth, men,
bers of his own profession they were, too,
in an unselfish-in that generous recogni-
ton of histrionic talent which is one of the
virtues of the profession las indeed we
have had evidences this afternoon), at last
insisted that he should try nothing less
than some great Shakespearean character.
The consequence was that " Richard Ill"
was tried and then a few nights
afterward "Hamlet." 1t was terri
BILE ordeal. The peerless father had,
but a few weeks before, Illustrated
those great creations OF Shakespeare. His
Hamlet and his incompatible Richard were
fresh in the memories of the public And
the San Francisco audience of that day,
composed as it was of pioneers represent
ing the fresh and active intellect aud cult
ure of the North, the South, the West, of
England, and Ireland, and Scotland, were
not only one of the most critical OF audi
ences, but one of the most independent,
too, in the expression either of censure, of
encouragement or of praise. Prestige
weighed less with it than with any other
audience in England or America 1t
Judged for itself. Actors with sone name
and fame elsewhere came before it, and it
condemned with faint applause actors
and actresses, who subsequently proved
famous. but whose talent had not been dis
covered elsewhere, came before it, and,
with quick appreciation, it recognized
genius and instantly said, "Come up
higher" And the favorable verdict OF
San Francisco audience meant, too, gold in
the pocket. Richard, as ! have said, was
tried and then Hamlet. 1t was a fearful
ordeal What had the youths friends
been doing? Had they not been rash
What ii they had forced the boy forward
for him only to meet with jeers for his pre-
sumption, and with the crushing diacour-
agement of defeat at the very opening of
a career, which, il walked more deliber-
ately, might end at last in triumph =? On
that first night of Richard, the editor of
whom l speak, in his anxiety, and hope,
and nervousness, was now behind the
scenes watching his younger friend
Danger by only a few years and peering
out at the audience, and now round and
out in front on the outskirts of the audi
ence, watching them and waiting nervously
for test speeches and actions on which hung
the issue of the evening. The house vas
crammed. For the first three acts that au-
dience were as
COLD AS A STONE.
shall never forget the anxiety among
young Booths fellow actors and actresses
behind the scenes. 60 Let him alone, let