Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-15
EINCULN Al THE TIL EAT T. x i.
His 5nTeTest la Plays and Players Rec
OF cUOps OF John y. Raymond

WAsHlSeros, April Il In the Course Of
An interview Mr.. John I. Raymond said:
"By the way, Mr.. Lincoln would often come
down there at night and sit in the office.
There's point for you, if you want it. He
would come in, cit there tor an hour and
chat, and very often 60 through the stage
entrance into his box, sit there quietly and
unobserved, see the performance and then 90
back home. He always expressed himself
az delighted 10 get away from business and
take an hour Of recreation at the theater.
The characteristics of the man were 90
noble, 80 simple and grand He seemed 10
enjoy, when he came to the theater, his free
dom from busioess and cares Of state. re-
MEMBER" he ran on, "oue night we were
playing PoeahontIs, burlesque, with Mrs
John Wood. In those days when
they caught a pickpocket in the
streets here the soldiers would placard
him, This is Pickpocket,' aud send him
around the streets to the tune of the 'Rogue's
March, 70 the people would know him, and
we were burlesquing that on the stage.
Little Tad Lincolu, the son OF the president
he is now dead, poor boy a Jolly little
fellow; everybody 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 j put him
in the mob in one Of the scenes. Mr.. Liu-
coin, who was in his box, saw the boy. Well,
he laughed heartily aud long, threw his
hands up in the air, aud let one of them
drop over 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 MS arms around him, and
the scene between the father aud the boy
was most d -lightful. The pleasure, the al
lection of the father WAS 40 intense, so spon-
taneous, and it was glorious to see him. Why,
at that time if anybody had wanted TO seize
Mr.. Lincoln they could have done il readily.
He most always came TO the theater alone
He would go to the box-office and then pass
on in. Sometimes he would stand on the
stage a few minutes He seemed to enjoy
evey thIhg he saw, and was most hearty
Lazy 9!s -, .,u. ,,,,ot ...-;..o, ,.,,,
as story-teIler" inquired the reporter.
"Ob, yes, L heard MIN tell lots OF stories
[ cannot remember the stories now, Of
course. He was always pleasant and CHEEKY
He had q knsck OF il ustr ating his point,
by come comparison which YVES always eff ct.
| i've. Everything he said had meaning 10 it,
end was expressed so that it would bring its
full meaning home TO the most Ignorant per
son. He was-if | may Use such an expires.
siOn-the most Illustrative man / ever me;
in my life. He could illustrate by Jest OIL
little anecdote, which would have a vol
ume OF Significance"
"Puritanieall" exclaimed the gentleman
who was now half Mr.. Raymond and hal
Mai. Bob, as he turned around from the mir
ror at suggestion of the reporter that some
people thought Mr. Lincoln austere anC
puritanical. "There was nothing OF thu
kind in him. He loved life and its iunocen
| pleasures. He was one of the most liberia
aud at the same time most thorough men il
every respect. He was splendid company
and always pleasant and jolly on the stage
He was interested in everything he saw anC
always lad kind word for everybody. H.
| was friendly with all the actors. I-ihink b,
used to entertain Hgckett at the Whit,
| House. He was a warm patron Of the thea
ter and seemed TO love it. When he cam
| down it always seemed TO me that he wante'
to get away and be alone. H. would sit il
his box often when The audience had no sus
picion that he was there"