The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-10

Incidents in the Life Of the Great Tragedian
Behind the Scenes and at His Homeside.

The first time my attention was called
towards Edwin Booths prediction for
smoking was during the period of his man.
agement of the theater which bore his
name. / was a frequent visitor behind the
scenes, and there was not a cozier or more
charmlngly restful place IN town than I'd
win Booths d-ressing-rOom between the
acts. Just before the actor came Oh the
stage his dresser would always ill for him
a pipe of tobacco, and it was a pleasant
sight to see the blue clouds floating over
the head and around the sable garments of
Hamlet. as they mingled with the smoke
from your cigar, for there were always
cigars and other creature comforts on the
sldebOard for the favored guests who were
always welcome. If the time of his absence
from the stage were of the shortest dura-
tiOn the big meerchaum pipe would be
lighted and the tragedian would take sold
comfort In 1t.
There was a little trick in this dressing
room, too, which showed Edwin Booths
playful nature and entrapped many an I'M
wary person. On the floor there was a foot
stool upon which was a handsomely en-
broldered representation OF the bust OF
Shakespeare. After you had entered and
lighted your cigar, this footstoOl was in
willingly pushed toward you. Ii you
CHANGED to place your foot upon 1T there
was an imitation cyclone. The ~tragedian
lowered in mimic wrath and inveighed
against you for the Dissertation you had
committed in so degrading the memory of
the immortal bard, and by the time you had
become thoroughly ashamed of yourself
and felt small enough to creep through a
knOt-hOle and pull the hole in after you.
mot and all, there would be a merry laugh
and you would realize how you had been
fooled.
There was always an air of pleasantly to
those who were fortunate enough to get
within the charmed circle that was hidden
from the outer world by the green curtain.
There was one very funny incident on the
first night of the revival of Hamlet. 1t
was about the time that Fechter was play
ing the character of the melancholy Dane
in a blonde wig and Booth conceived the
idea of putting all the characters, except
his own, in the same style of headgear.
Blanche De Bar, who was Ophella, had
tresses of raven hue. ALI the accessories
were of the most elaborate description and
among them was a lay figure of the luck
the graveyard scene. For some mex
plicable reason the property man, in
making this figure, had given it a head
covering of black. 1t was not until the
night of the first performance. when it was
too late to rectify the mistake, that it was
discovered. There was general cOnsterna-
ton, but it was dispelled by Will Chap
man, then the call-boy of the theater and
now one of the most successful Stage-man-
ayers in the country, who, looking sorrow
fully at the PROSTATE figure, exclaimed In
dOleful tones: "She was o blonde, but,
heaven rest her soul, she's dyed!"
The same pleasant feeling that always
permeated his theatre extends into the
home life of Edwin Booth. He is essential
ly a domestic man, and attached to his do
mestic lares and penateS. At the time when
Long Branch was more of a theatrical colo
ny h it is now there was no cottage
nor more of the actual feeling of home than
at that of Edwin Booth. His good nature
was sOrely taxed, however, for strangers
would come and picnic on his grounds, and
1T was no thing for some. of
them to come to the door and ask for him,
for the purpose of looking at the popular
tragedian. His daughter, Edwina, then as
now, the very apple of his eye came into
the Library one evening while l was calling
tim Edwina was the happy possessor of a
pony. which she road with fearless grace.
Like her father. she had been greatly pest
cred by the strangers within the gates. and
that day one of them had engaged her in
conversation as she was cantering out of
the grounds N asked her the name of her
pet. She was somewhat flushed as she
came into the room, and after bestowing a
caress upon her father she related the Incl
dent. and concluding with a pretty little
mOue, said:
S h wanted to know whether / called
him Hamlet. OF Romeo, or Richelieu. Now,
papa. what shall I call him' Give me some
nice. romantic NAME"
The actor pulled TRANQUILITY at his pipe
for a moment or two, and then with q quiz
zical glance at Launt Thompson. the
sculptor, who was his guest at the time, and
myself, replied:
mantle name for him. Well call him
Buster"
And Buster the pony remained from that
time onward.
or on the street are apt to regard him as a
cold N interpretive man. but, on the
contrary, there are few men in the profess
sion who possess a kindlier heart or more
gentle temperament. At the time of the
memorable one hundred nights run of
Hamlet" at the Winter Garden, he was
the idol of every young woman of the town.
He was the Montague of the hour, and
Kyrle Bellew. in the widest flights of his
imagination. never had SO many admirers.
Now let me show o the manliness of
the man..
He had frequently observed as he came
from the theater after the performance a
young girl, richly dressed, who stood by
him as he stepped into his carriage. One
night he stopped and spoke to her.
Her story was this. She had seen and
fallen in love with him. Her parents were
wealthy, and she had come to the theater
was going out to visit friends. She wanted
to become an actress, so that she might act
with him. What did Booth dot He learned
from her the name of her parents and their
address, and then inviting her to step into
his carriage gave the driver Instructions
where to drive. The girl was in a trans
port of delight. By n by, the carriage
stopped. The actor opened the door and
assisted his companion to alight. She was
at her own home!
Booth mounted the steps, rang the bell.
and, calling up the parents of the girl, told
them her story and advised them to keep a
close eye on her in the future.
These are not the methods of the modern
theater Washers" but it must be remem-
bered that Edwin Booth is, and always has
been, intuitively and emphatically, a man.
There is a wide distinction between the
two.
Some day, when the story of the inner
life of Edwin Booth is written, it will be
found to be sprinkled over with incidents
of kindness, g%entleness and generosity.
The public recognize him as the master of
his art. There are some who know him as
the master of goodness.