The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-05-24
LINCOLN AT THE THEATRE.
His Interest in Plays and Players-Recol-
lections of John 7. Raymond.

by the way said Mr.. Raymond to
Washington Star man, ''Mr. Lincoln
would often come down there at night
and sit in the office. There's a point
for you, if you want it. He would come
in, sit there for an hour and chat, and
very often 60 through the stage entrance
into mis- box, sit there quietly and unob-
served, see the performance, and then
90 back home. He always expressed
himself as delighted to get away from
business and take an hour of recreation
at the theatre The characteristics of
the man were so noble, so simple, and
grand. He seemed to enjoy, when he
came to the theatre, his freedom from
business and cares of state. / remem-
ber," he ran on, zone night we were
playing 'Pocahontas' burlesque, with
Mrs. John Wood. In those days, when
they caught pick-pocket in the streets
here the soldiers would placard him,
This is pickpocket,' and send him
around the streets to the tune of the
'Rogue's March, so the people would
know him, and we were burlesGuing that
on the stage. Little Tad Lincoln, the
son of the President-he is now dead,
poor boy, a jolly little fellow; every
body liked him-came down very often
with his father, and he was there that
night. He was hanging around the
stage, and for the fun of the thing | put
him in ragged dress and set him on
the stage in the mob in one of the
scenes. Mr.. Lincoln. who was in his
box, saw the boy. Well, he laughed
heartily and long, threw his hands up in
the air, and let one of them drop over
the side of the box. The audience saw
the hand and recognized it. There was
no hand in the world like Mr.. Lincoln's
so long and bony. They recognized
it and shouted for him. He had to come
to the front of the box and bow. When
Tad went into the box Mr.. Lincoln
threw his arms around him, and the
scene between the father and the boy
was most delightful The pleasure, the
affection of the father was so intense, so
spontaneous, and it was glorious to see
him. Why, at that time if anybody had
wanted to seize Mr.. Lincoln they could
have done it readily. He most always
came to the theatre alone. He would
90 to the box Office and then pass on in.
Sometimes he would stand On the stage
a few minutes. He seemed to enjoy
everything he saw, and was most
hearty laugher.n
s.Did you have much experience with
him as story-teller?" inquired the re-
porter.
.'Oh, yes, l heard him tell lots of sto-
ries. | cannot remember the stories
now, of course. He was always pleas
ant and CHEEKY. He had knack of IL
lustrating his points by some compari-
son which was always effective. Every
thing he said had meaning in it, and
was expressed so that it would bring its
full meaning home to the mostignorant
person. He was-if | can use such an
expression-the most illustrative man L
ever met in my life. He could illus
trate by a Jest or little anecdote,
which would have volume of signif-
cance."
'.Puritanical," exclaimed the gentle
man, who was now half Mr.. Raymond
and half Major Bob, as he turned around
from the mirror at suggestion of the
reporter that some people thought Mr..
Lincoln austere and puritanical. There
was nothing of the kind in him. He
loved life and its innocSht pleasures. He
was one of the most liberal and at the
same time most thorough men in every
respect. He was splendid company and
always jolly and pleasant on the stage.
He was interested in everything he saw,
and always had kind word for every
body. He was friendly with all the act
ors. | think he used to entertain Hack
ett at the White House. He was warm
patron of the theatre, and seemed to
love it. When he came down it always
seemed to me that he wanted to get
away and be alone. He would sit in his
box often when the audience had no
suspicion that he was there. y Wash
inQtOn St0r