The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-10-06
A GREAT RECEPTION.

So many people had expressed 8 de- sire to meet personally Edwin Booth and Lawrence Barrett, during their Chicago engagement, that these great actors decided to hold sort of infor- maj reception at the Hotel Richelieu. "We do not intend, ," said MT. Booth, addressing Mir. Bemis, proprietor of the hotel, "to hold reception, but have decided that we shall, this after noon, grant to any one who calls, the privilege of coming In and seeing us; to keep, as it were, sort of open house."
 Mr. Bemis said that he thought 1t would be a good idea, and, calling a slim fellow dressed in uniform, added "Henry, during this afternoon, guests and visitors are at perfect liberty to visit the Booth and Barrett parlors."
 The first man who called was an old fellow from the country. He did not speak, but after inspecting the acc tors as if they were figures in the Eden Musee, shook his head know ingly and withdrew. The next man was an enthusiast. He walked in as if he were conferring favor rather than If he were the recipient of 8 courtesy.
 "Is this MT. Booth2"
 "Yes. And this is Mir. Barrett"
 "Hello, Barrett. Well, Mir. Booth, Pve got scheme"
 "Not play, l hope"
 "Well, should say not. l don't fool away my time with plays. Now my scheme IS not exactly an invention but an original application--the ap- plying of an idea to a most wonderful machine. Regardless of the fact that Henry Irving has made the stage blos- som with realism, there yet remains one great defect"
 "What Is that?" MT. Booth asked.
 Thunder"
 "Thunder p MT. Booth repeated.
 "Tes, sir, thunder. You've got the lightning but you haven't got the thunder. Oh, of course you've got 6 lot of iron balls and trough, but the imitation of thunder is, to a man who admires realism, simply laughable. Now I've got remedy. You must do away with artificial thunder"
 "But what can take its placer"
 "Real thunder. Listen. Take large photograph, an immense one, the largest of its species, and, during a storm, catch a supply of thunder. Then keep your machine in the proper place, and when you want thunder turn the crank. Is it not 6 good idea?"
 "Yes, if it can be worked"
 "You think, then, that 1t is worth something5"
 "Undoubtedly," replied Booth, winking at Barrett.
 "Worth five dsllars2"
 "I don't know" Booth replied. He was beg inning to understand his vis- itor.
 "Well, say it's worth four"
 "I am not prepared to place any value upon it,"
 "Give me three dollars and take the idea"
 al don't care to buy It."
 "Tell you what I'll do. Give me two dollars sDd half and I'll sign pa- pers transferring to you my right and title to the idea"
 .'Go and ses the manager ef some theatre"
 "That means that l am not to ex- pect anything from you." | .That is about what 1t means"
 "Then, sir, you force De-much isgainst my will-to say that you are not . progressive man. Some day, when you see how charmiDgly this idea works for Henry Irving, you will regret your lack of enterprise. Good day"
 l The next visitor was tall, fquint- eyed fellow from Cleveland, O. He was delighted to zee tho two actors and warmly shook hands with them. l "I saw you gentlemen in 'Julius Gear the other night" aid he, land