Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1886-08-08
ALAS, POOR YORICK !"
How the Elder Booth Became a Horse.
Thiefs Friend.


Some years ago in Louisville, Florence
found the elder Booths son Edwin in
profound contemplation of a human skull,
says the Philadelphia Nems. "There is
remarkable history connected with that
head, said Booth. "ltproperly belonged
to my father, but he never came in pos
session of it, and few hours ago DR..
Morris, of this city, handed it to me as
my property by the right of inheritance"
The story connected with it, as he then
related it, ran about as follows:
Upon one occasion in Louisville the
elder Booth engaged in what would be
called in these degenerate days, a pro-
longed howl. In fact, he INDUCED in one
of those lapses that the great tragedian
was prone to- While in most mellow
mood he started ona journey afoot out on
the old Bargetown pike. Passing field
in which horse was grazing he entered
it, securing the animal, mounted and rode
away. At that time DEMONSTRATING in
Kentucky was considered an even more
fragrant offence than it is to-day, and
was ranked as capital crime, the pun
ishment for which was death. The great
est horse-thef in all that section, and one
upon whose head a heavy price was fixed,
was n med Fontaine. Well, Booth
logged along on the horse that did not
belong to him, and was in a supremacy
happy condition until he met two farm
ers, who inquired of him where he had
obtained the animal.
81 captured him in a field back here"
said the tragedan, with jovial frankness.
'Indeedw said one of the farmers;
"and what might your name be?"
"My name is Fontaine," said Booth,
without a smile.
"Fontaine y calculated both men SIM
ultaneously. Then you are the very
man we want. Come back to town with
u.s."
Certainly" said Booth, in the most
good-natured manner, and wheeling his
horse, he rode back to Louisville with his
captors.
The city Jail was then in charge of
Col. Thomas, who knew Booth well.
1--WE have brought you Fontaine, the
horse-thief, and claim the reward" said
the farmers, proudly addressing the
jailer.
"Where is he?" they were asked.
Booth was produced. "Why, what does
this mean, Mr.. BOOTH asked Thomas.
Il haven't the slightest idea,' said the
great tragedian with the utmost simplici-
ty. 81 met these two men with this
horse, and they insisted upon giving it
to me. guess they stole it. think one
of them is Fontaine' The Mortified and
now alarmed rustics were about to be
locked up pending an investigation of
their suspicious conduct, when, by the
most singular coincidence, man rushed
to the prison door ON horseback and
shouted out the information that the real
Fontaine had been taken i'm custody.
When he was brought to Louisville Booth
expressed desire to see him, and paid
him visit in his cell. Strange to say a
strong sentimental friendship sprang up
between the two men. Night after night
the kind hearted jailer took Fontaine to
the theatre where Booth was playing, and
there, secreted in the flies, he looked
down upon the acting of his queerly-
found friend. .- - -- - - or -- - -- s.-
In the confidence that this communion
begot Booth once spoke of the difficulty
ne experienced in aiway having human
skull! at hand when he played Hamlet"
4, III L.. "a
quietly, and he then and there made his
will, devising his head to Junius Brutus
Booth after he had been hanged. Booth
left Louisville before Fontaine was exc
cuted, and the incident passed from his
mind. Years afterward when he was
dead and his son was playing in Louis
vile, DIR. Morris called upon Edwin
Booth. told him the story have related,
and presented him with Fontaine's skull,
which he subsequently used in Hamlet"