New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-06
THE FIRST APPE4RANCE or TWO FAMO Us
ACIORS
From, an Iterrieo o John 5. Clarke, in The C!erednd
Herald.

From an Iterriec c John $. Clarke, in The C!erednd
While rurolizinc N company with Edwin Booth,
near the little town of Bel Air, Md, Booth was So
hcited by the young colegIans and residents OF tne
place TO favor them with "A dramatic reading lie
and /. having but . short time previously tecited
The Quarrel of Brutus and Casslus," in =" julius
Caesar and selections from different tragedies, at
our school exhibitions, before the not oyer-erltcal
audiences OF mammals, papas and other relatives,
readily embraced the chance OF acting before the
genuine paying public. Circumstances made II
necessary that The entertainment should take place
Immediately so we mounted our horses and rode
eight and twenty miles, on one OF enc hottest days
OF "A South American summer 10 OBTAIN III balll-
more. printed programmes Tor the forthcoming I'M
portant event. Thrilling with yOuthlui enlhlsl-
a,In we rode back the next day in the midst OF a
drenchng thunderstorm, TO Bel Air, ana al once pe-
Gan the necessary arrangements III large room III
tine county court house, the Use oil which had Deeh
granted for the occasion. The doors and windows
were instantly bcscEed by an eager throug oil pump
kins anxious to witue : the preparations LOT Inc
show evidently expecting that some circus aero
ba 5 or marvellous maSlcians were about To eAhpl,
rs " The Legitimate Drama hau not Deeh plcsehtcu
~ We procurrd the required properties " from the
farmhouse where we were staymg-a clean sheet Tor
curtain and the dinner bell 10 ring up the same.
While we were III the act OF hanging II, one OF US
fell from barrel. This created a feeling OF scorh
and disgust among the expectaut swans as one re-
marked llcs "a ram circus actor ne ~ can UdL-
ance hisself on the top of big barrel Signify
embarrassed by this scOrching criticism, we pro-
ceetled with our work, and nnaly the curtain Was
adjusted candles were set, seats were arranged,
ana a lame and venerable daTkey called "Old
joe engaged TO post the Dl.ls. Joe was
ruuloycd as "A sort of crer about the court
house He Jumped Tor miles with his pail and brush,
ringing bell &C Intervals, while ne cried Out IN
nasal lone" Oh yOs, on yOS, OH yos, tonight
-(,rcat Tragedy" He was followed by crowd OF
curious rustcs white and black, male ana female;
Far out the country roads, the flaming posters posters
decorated the walls, fences trees, ana out houses
lint fancy our horror as we, the lragedlans OF INC
CItvV rode into Bel Air, from the farmhouse, on
thai eycntful night to discover that every bill had
L.. .falt m down.
ionable and appreclatye." They strictly anhereu
To their Primitive Church customs OF separating NJ
the portal and seating themselves III perfect silence,
the men on side of the room and the women Oh
the other.
The programme was as folOws:-
GRAND DRAMATIC FESTIVAL
At the Court House in Bel Air,
saturday August I'd. .,
In compliance with the requestO OF several gentlemen,
Mr. Edwin Booth
respectfully informs the inhabitants OF Bel Ar anu
vicinity that he will give one entertainment
above, in conjunction with
Mr. John ;. Clarke
shakospearean Readings, Etc.
FIRST PART
Selections from Richard III y oath
Fcna's Selections from Merchant OF Venice.
snT ISs celebrated Dagger Scene Mafoft6
M'cO' Selections Sci from Kctlebue's stranger.
The stranger j. 3 Clarke ES
Hamet's soliloquy on Death, Mr.. +; Booth
Selections from Otways tragedy OF Venice irSHerEeu'
LATTER ............--.........h MI j. D. CIarAe
Cardinal pirhrIien ......... Mr. +. Booth
Tie Quarrel Scene from julius Cesar.
~ tiOotn
PART SECOND.
Yankee Stories etc.
Mr. Clarke's peculiar Illustration OF
Z" Young Man First Appearance as an Actor"
Cards of admission, 70 cents Children under twelve,
12l9 cents. Doors open at o'clock. Performance 10
commence at ;.
Never shall | forget the feeling of elation that
came over me- when meeting aiterward the most
an, nt
shook me by the hand and said, John, L was
n,eased: 1 could not have believed it was in YOU.