The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-08-21
Houston and Booth.

Gen. Sam Houston, who had just re-
turned from his first visit 10 Texas, was
walking up Pennsylvania avenue one
evening in the winter of 1884, when he
met his old friend Booth the tragedian.
After mutual eXclamations of surprise
and salutation, the two ascertained that
they were both rooming in Browns In
dian Queen hotel, and going there they
went to Booths room. Sitting down.
they recounted the adventures of their
past lives, and, as they industriously
| circulated the bottle, many loud shout
echoed through that hall and startled
| the Watchmen on the street as they
| went their silent rounds. AS the night
wore on their excitement increased, un-
| til, at the close of thrilling story re-
| latMg to his strange career, Houston
exclaimed:
| Nov, Booth let's have a speech to
| liberty, one of those apostrophes to old
Roman freedom with which you startle
| audiencesr'
Had Booth been inclined to refuse,
| he know that his friend when the mood
| was on him, would not be denied any
request, however absurd or difficult of
performance. But the tragedian had
| himself entered into the spirit of his
companion, and, nothing 10th, he re-
| hearSed with magic power many of
| those electric passages in defense of
liberty with which the English drama
| abounds. Houston. whose memory as
| well as habits partook of the Indian
| character, caught up the words, and
with equal force, clearness, and accu-
| racy went through each speech in reg
ular succession. Thus they proceeded
for time, and then again sat down to
| renew their potations and the story of
their personal adventure Booth drank
and listened, while the other told of
his own elevation in his native state,
and his disgust with civic honors, of his
home in the distant forest, of the un-
comfortable freedom of the red men, of
their stole fortitude and matchless he
roism. Warmed by the recollection of
those thrilling scenes, he sprang to his
feet, and, in the tone of one amid the
battles din. fighting against the most
fearful odds, exclaimed: Now, Booth,
once more for libertyn' The tragedian
dared not disobey. He ran through
with all his usual energy the tale of
Mexican thralldom, of the Spanish con-
quest OF that land, the dangers incur
red by that army, their commanders
exhortation before the battle. and the
stubborn bravery of the native chiefs.
Before him stood at that lone hour, lis
tening with an intensity of thought and
feeling that shone through his eyes,
lighted his face, strained every muscle,
and started the sweat in great drops
from his lofty brow, one who had in
him all the fiery spirit of Cortez and
ambition of Pizarro Quick as
thought he took up the tale and repeat
ed the words just uttered by Booth,
with the most critical precision of tone
and manner. AS he became excited in
the recitation, his spirit seemed to take
fire, and with au air SO determined, so
frightful, that it seemed the voice of
one inspired, he exclaimed at the close
sody:
"Yes! yes! am made to revel yet
in the halls of the Montezumas!"
Coming events cast their shadows
before" and although Houston did not
revel in the halls of the Montezumas,
his determination and energy of char
acter conquered the occupant of those
halls, and wrested from Mexico her
fairest state.-Ben: Perley Poore.