The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-04-25
LINCOLN AT THE THEATER.
His Interest in Plays and Players-Recollec
ton of John T. Raymond.

His Interest in Plays and Players-Recollec-
ton of John t. Raymond.
The following is an extract from an inter
view with the comedian John I. Raymond,
which recently appeared in the Washington
Star: by the way" said Mr.. Raymond,
'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,
sit there for an hour and chat, and very of
ten go through the stage entrance into his
box, sit there quietly and unobserved, see
the performance and then go back home
He always expressed himself as delighted to
get away from business and take an hour of
recreation at the theater. The chsracJeris-
tics of the man were so noble, so simple and
grand. He seemed to enjoy, when he came
TO the theater, his freedom from business
and cares of State. / remember" he ran or,
zone night we were playing 'Pocahontss,' a
buriesque, with Mrs. John Wood In those
days when they caught a pickpocket in the
streets here the soldiers would plscard him.
This is pick pocket and send him around
the 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! a jolly little fellow;
every body liked him-c me 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 get 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 IL and
shouted for him. He had 10 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 Ia
Their and the boy was most delightful. The
pleasure, the affection of the father was so
intense, SO spontaneous, and ii was glorious
to see him. Why, at that time il anybody
had wanted to sieze Mr.. Lincoln they could
have done it readily. He most always me
to the theater alone He would go to The
box-office and then pass on in. Sometimes
he would stand on the stage few minutes.
He seemed to enjoy everything he saw, and
was a most hearty Laughter"
did you have much experience with him
as O story-tellerP inquired the reporter.
ooh, yes, heard him tell lots of stories.
/ can not remember the stories now, of
course. He was always pleasant and CHEEKY.
He had knack Of illustrating his points by
| some comparison which was always effective.
Every thing he said had a meaning in il, and
vas expressed so that it would bring its full
meaning home to the most ignorant person.
He was-if 1 can such expression
the most illustrative man / ever met in my
life. He could illustrate by Jest or little
anecdote, which would have a volume OF
sign fcsnce."
"Puritanicalw exclaimed the gentleman.
who wGs now half Mr.. Raymond and half
Major Bob, as be turned around from the
mirror at a suggestion of the reporter that
some people thought Mr.. Lincoln austere ard
puritanlcal. There was nothing of the kind
In him. He loved life and It's innocent
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 a kind word for everybody. He
was friendly with all the actors. think he
used to entertain Hsckett at the White
House. He was a warm patron of the thea
ter and seemed to love it. When he came
down it always seemed to me that he want
ed to get away and be alone. He would sit
in his box often when the audience had no
suspicion that he was there.