Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-04-19
Lincoln at the Theatre.


le.!.oHs Of John T. Rlya.9Hi
Prom an In,cuisn ia ,ho washIas,oa 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, aud very often 20 through the
stage entrance into his box, sit there
quietly and unobseryed, sec the perfor.
nance, and then go back home. lie
always expressed himself az delighted
to get away from business and take an
hour Of recreation at the theatre. The
characteristics OF the man were 20 noble
so staple and grand lie seemed to
enjoy, when he came to the theatre. his
freedom from business and cares OF
state. remember" he ran on, zone
night we were playing 'Pocahontas,
burIesque, with Mrs John Wood In
those days, when they caught a pick
pocket in the streets here the soldiers
would placard him, This is pickpock.
ct 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 jolly little
fellow, everybody liked him-camc
down very often with his father, and
he was there that night. Hewas hang.
ing around the stage, and for the fun OF
the thing put him in a rgged 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. We'll, he
laughed heartily and long, threw his
hands up in the air, end let one orthcm
drop over the side Of the box. The
audience saw the hand and recognized
1t. There was no hand in the world
like Ar. Lincoln $50 long and bony.
They recognized it and shouted for him.
lie 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 fat tber
and the boy was most delightful. The
plea sure, the affection OF tho father was
so intense, 30 spontaneous, and it was
glorious TO see him. Why, at that time
IT any body had wanted to seize Mr..
Lincoln they could have done it eahily.
lie most always came to the ia eatre
alone He would so to the box office
and then pass on in. Sometimes he
would sand on the stage few minutes.
lie seemed to enjoy everything he saw,
and was a most hearty laugher."
did you have much experience with,
him as story teller ~ inquired tn C
reporter.
"Oh, yes, | heard him tell lots of
stories. cannot remember the storie =
now, OF course. lie had a mack of y
iustrating his points by some compari
son which was always effective. Every
thing he said had a meaning in it, and
was expressed so that it would bring
its full meaning home to the most igno
rant person. lie was-if can use such
an expression-the most illustrative
man | ever met in my life. lie could
illustrate by a jest or a little snecdote,
which would have volume of signifi
cance."
"Puritanical |" exclaimed the gentle.
man, who was now half Mr.. Raymond
and half Major Bob, as he turn cd
around from the mirror at a suggestion |
IF the reporter that some people |
thought Mr. Lincoln Austere and puri
snical. "There was nothing of the
Eind in him. lie loved life and It's in.
locent pleasures. lie was one Of the
most liberal and at the same time most
borough men in every respect. lie
vas splendid company, and always Jolly