The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-04-19
LINCOLN.


M smInisoencea OF John I. Raymond OF tho
great President 90 Unaffected Admirer
of the Drnma-Ue Appauds 'Ind's'
First Appearance IN Light Comedy--hiS
simplicity and Grandeur.
The following is an extract from an inter
view with John y. Raymond, which
recently appeared in the Washington star
"By the way" said Mr. Raymond, MI
Lincoln would often come down there 1T
night and sit in the Office, There's point
for you, if you want it. He would come IN
sit there for an hour and chat, ana very
often 90 through the stage entrance into
his box, sit there quietly and unobserved, ,
see the performance ard then, go back
home. He always expressed himself as
delighted TO get away from business and
take an hour of recreation ut the
theatre. The characteristics OF the man
were so noble, SO simple and grand.
He seemed to ell joy, when he came TO the
theatre, his freedom from business and
cares OF state. | remember" 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 wonld placard
him, This is pickpocket,' and send MIN
around thu streets to the tune of the
'Rogue's March, so the people would know
him, and we were burlesquing that on the
stage. Little Tad Lincoln, the son OF the
president-he is now dead, poor boy
jolly little fellow; everybody liked him
came down very often with ms
night. He was hanging around
the stage, and for the fun Of the thing put
him in ragged dress ard 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 oil mem
drop over the side Of the box. The audi
ence saw tile hand and recognized II.
There was no band in the world like Mr.
Lincoln's-so long and bony. they recoS-
nized 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 1t was glorl-
Gus to see him. Why, at that time if auy-
body had wanted to seize Mr.. Lincoln, they
could have done it readily. de most Al
ways came to the theatre alone. ne
would go the box-otfice and then pass on In.
Sometimes he would stand on the stage
few minutes. He seemed to enjoy every
thing he saw, and was most n9arty
Laughter"
ibid you have much experience with
him as story-teller?.' inquired the re-
porter.
cannot remember the stories now, OF
course. He was always pleasant ana
CHEEKY. He had knack Of illustrating his
points by some comparison which was al,
ways effective. Everything he, said had
meaning in it, and was expressed so that IL
would bring its meaning home to the
most ignorant person. He was-lt can
use such an expression-the most iliustra-
tive man l ever saw. lie could illustrate
by lest or little anecdote, which would
have volume of significance"
s'Puritancal ~ exclaimed the gentleman,
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 in
nocent pleasures. He was one of the most
liberal and at the same time one Oh tne
most thorough men in every respect. lie
was splendid company, and always lolly
and pleasant on the stage. lie was inter,
ested in everything he saw, and always nau
a kind word for everybody: He was friendly
with all the actors. / think he used to en-
terrain Hackett at the White House. de
was warm patron Of the theater, and
seemed to love it. When he came down II
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 sus-
picion that he was there"