The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-11-21
The Egis 4 Intelligencer
Bel Air. Nd. November ". 1890.
THE BOOTH PORTRAIT.
ITS FORMAL RECEPTION BY THE CITI-
ZENS OF BEL AIR.
Speeches and RESOLUTIONS.

The efforts of Mr.. Edward NJ. Allen to procure
portraits in oil OF distinguished sons OF Hariora
already borne fruit Last Friday Judge WATERS
received splendid oil painting OF Edwin Bootn
which ha been placed on the northwestern wall Oh
On Tuesday evening a meeting was held in the
Court House for the purpose OF formally receNins
the portrait and expressing the thanks OF the peo-
pie OF Hartford to the distinguished actor Ior ms
gift. The meeting, which included many ladies',
whose motion Judge James d. Walters was chosen
as chairman, MIR. w. 7. L. Tallaierro being APP
Upon taking the chair Judge Waters said the
occasion would b memerable as long as IS the build
One OF our most enterprising fellow citizens has
conceived the idea of filling these blank walls with
portraits OF some OF Harf0rd's sons who either at
home or abroad have distinguished themselves.
In to his earnest solicitation this portrait
has been furnished OF gentleman whose birth
whose first public appearance was on this very
ground, whose genius is known and honored wher-
the English language is spoken. and above all,
whose modeSty and worth are recognized in every
landed win Booth.
In imag nation we may see these walls already
filled From that spot (pointng to the wall above
the bench.) the genial features of one OF the most
distinguished Chief Judges Of Maryland beam
upon u.s. Not far off is seen the face of that
Judges father. of the Revolutionary period Then
we will have William Paca, signer OF the Deciara
grsat nn p6a ade the SETS and Strioes re
spected on every sea-Commodore Rodgers AS
representative of old Maryland Line. which
Ramsay. Ii you want representative OF the men
who fought their country's battles in the war OF
1872 you have Captain John A. Webster, who COM
manded the Six Gun Battery and saved the city OF
Baltimore from destruction by the British. II you
look for forensic ability equal to any In the State
These portraits will Illustrate the fact that men
may serve their fellow men eminently and success
fully without regard to their profession.
The past is fun of worthy material and we can
hope find in the future worthy successors of those
great men, 1t is the lot of few people to be great,
but all may serve their fellow men in some capaci-
ty. Each panel in this court room may be made an
object lesson, from generation to generation met,
Col. E. H. Webster read the following letter from
Mr.. Booth toJudge Waters, which accompanied
the portrait
MT VERNON HOTEL.
BALTIMORE, Md, Nov. 10, 1890.
Judge James d. Waters:
on behalf of my fellow-townsmen, have had
portrait of myself painted token of my fond re,
collection of and affection for my native county, and
and am advised by the same gentleman to send it to
the care of your Honor, as the chief ofiica o.
nversary of my birth, hoping that it may not cause
YOU any Inconvenience. As an humble ackn0w- |
ledgment of the honor conferred on me- by my Bel
Air friends. trust that the portrait will be aecep
table. As work of art feel sure 1t VIII be-
Respectfully yours. EDWIN BOOTH.
Col. Webster. E. NJ. Allen and J. M. STREET. were
appointed committee resolutions They re- |
ported the following, which were adopted:
WHEREAS. we desire to preserve the personal
and 10 recall their virtues and successes as exam
pies for children, and with this view 1t has been
suggested and desired that we secure and have |
placed in the Court room, in Bel Air the portraits
of William Paea, Col Nathaniel Ramsay. Commo- |
dore John Rodgers, DIR. John Archer, Chief Justice
Stevenson Archer, Admiral Rodgers. Capt. John A. |
Webster, Ex-Governor Kirkwood. Edwin Booth,
0tho Scott Henry w. Archer. Hugh j. Jewett, |
Judge John Fl. Price and others;
And Whereas. Edwin Booth, ESQ.,, in compliance |
with this WISH expressed to him through Mr.. (. NJ.
Alien, has promptly and most pleasingly complied |
h h.ac cnnfrrc nInh Iuhn
James ID. Waters a life size portrait OF himself,
which we have now met to receive therefore,
warmest thanks for this portrait, presented on his
57th birthday, and we further tender him our
warmest regards and congratulations upon his
great and deserved success in his profession,
coupled with the earnest wish that many years of
health and happiness may be in store for him.
Mr.. Allen being called upon, said it gave him
great pleasure to have had small part in secur-
ing so handsome and desirable a picture OF our dis
tinguished fellow citizen, Edwin Booth The first
hundred years of our county's history produced
few great men. but in the course OF time, cities
were built. men of culture and education arose,
and when our fathers reyolted against Great Bri-
tain Hartford offered to that great cause VIM. Paca,
signer of our Declaration Of Independence
Archer. who commanded military force. aided in
framing the first Constitution of the State and
10 IN WAYS linen a%
bosom friend in Col. Nathaniel Ramsay. In the
war OF 1872 we had great man to offer The country
day Hartford has furnished more than her share
of great men to the State of Maryland men great
in law, in peace and in war He was glad to see so
hearty response to his efforts. In years to come
these portraits, which he hoped to see upon these
walls, will incite the youth of Hartford county to
emulate the virtues and the grand success which
these men have achieved
Col. E. H. Webster paid compliment to Mr..
Allen, in whose fertile brain, he said, the PROPOSE
tion originated. 1t is right continued Col. Web
ster that we should have here the portrait of
began his career in the old Court House, which
stood on this very spot. He is entitled to our re-
spect not only for his distinguished achievements
in his profession-forh he is the most distinguished
actor this country has ever produced-but for his
character as a man. He is remarkable for his
modesty.. Although accustomed to face thousands
when on the stage have no doubt he would be more
scared than am if called upon to face this audi
ence Besides, he is an exceedingly genial, gener-
GUS and big-hearted man. He has established at
his own expense. a home for superannuated actors, |
his love for the human race. His portrait is there
tore entitled to grace these walls among the great,
distinguished and noble sons of Hartford. 1t is re-
in how many lines men OF Hartford have
become distinguished-in the army, in the navy,
at the bar. on the bench, as physicians and as
men should look down from these walls as incen-
tives TO us and our children? These portraits
will elevate the tone and standard of our people and
l hope. concluded Col. Webster, that Mr.iAllen will
live to see the full fruits of his efforts.
Mr.. W. 7. L. Taliaferro. as representative of
Guards, said he would add word in acknowledge
ment of the generosity. of Mr.. Booth, who had
given $500 towards erecting building for these
organizations.
The following gentlemen were appointed COM
mittee TO aid Mr.. Allen in the good work he has
initiated:
Edward M. Allen. Chairman, Henry D. Farnan-
dis, Edwin II. Webster Henry w. Archer d. G.
Wharton Smith, Hugh j. Jewett. Stevenson A.
Williams, Robert s. Rodgers, Herman Stump and
VIM. w. Ramsay.
The portrait, which is not only an admirable
work of art but splendid likeness of the great
actor, has been placed in favorable light on the
Court House wall 1t was ordered several months
ago from the studio of Mr.. James s. Cummins, |
Baltimore, and was painted by Mr.. l.. Dieterich.
Mr.. Booth himself pronounces it the best likeness
he has ever had painted of himself and one which