The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-07


strangest romances and some of the grand
est achievements Of the stage. Were 1t in
the United States people could not be in
duced to visit it. but here traditions count
for so much that although it holds some
1900. it is the home of grand opera, the
swell concerts and large audiences. It Is
handsome after you get inside and that
is all, but Covent Garden has q
great past and may have q great
future I seek here only TO use its tradi-
tons to show how in the long ago, even the
greatest actors received very small COM
pensation for their work. and their road
was as rough as some OF those OF
whom have been writing. Among some
old manuscripts in the possession Of a
friend found this letter:
No 4 QUEEN STREET,
BLOOMSBURY. May 30, 1873
Madame and Friend: l nave had the pleas
ure to receive your letter OF the 18th instant.
and am charmed, a. 10 also my wife. to hear
that you are we'll. My engagement at Convent
Garden was signed on the Atm Of this mouth.
Ire are the terms: For the first year, 40 francs
tss) week; the second. 50 the third, 60: the
fourth. 70, and the fifth 10. Thus you will see
that the terms have been changed, and instead
OF 60 francs per week, and for three years, my
engagement Is for Eve years. with an increase
of 10 francs per week each year sfter septem-
Der.
We have told you that my Minnie would be
placed In Q clearinghouse during my vsca-
ton, but have had the happiness to obtain an
engagement ct the Royal tneater, Brighton,
beginning In June. and as ny salary will be
good, Minnie will accompany me. have also
written 70 Mr. Williams offering my best
thanks
Brighton Is a city somewhat like Bru ssells
and also gay. The afr il the purest TO be found
I'm all England, AID as q sedentary lie viii not
be healthy for Minnie at present, she being
encsinte. Brighton will give her fine opportuni-
ties To amuse herself.
Send me some news from France. and of that
monster Bonaparte, who has, fear, too many
friends in your city.
Meat here is 10 to IL cents . pound, and every
thing Is extremely dear.
You have by this time undoubtedly received
my letter Of the Sth inst. with written copy Of
our marriage, which started before your letter
WAS received.
Say TO my uncle and my sweet sisters that 1
embrace them. as does my wife also. As she
will not have time TO write yon her long his
tory today. as the gentleman who will mail this
is about to leave, she will have TO wait some
days for your reply. which hope In now on the
road.
Tell Mr.. Williams that have bought two OF
his lectures, one small and the other large.
who inquire for US. and am. meantime. your
affectionate son. j. B. BOOTH.
The letter was addressed to Mr.. Booths
mother-in-law, who lives IN Brussels, Bel
GUM, and represents the harsh conditions
of his life. even after he had obtained
good position on the stage. Beginning at
IS week he was to creep up by such slow
degrees that after five years of effort he
was to get only $16. When this contract
was made the great actor had just come
from Brussels, where he had been playing
with an English speaking company for the
officers OF the allied armies that fought The
battle of Waterloo. It was while
he was fulfilling this contract that
he became famous, but it would
seem from his own words that his struggle
was so hard that he was constantly desir-
ing to get out of the profession. He finally
concluded to be a soldier, and doubtless
had some vague impression that he would
win distinction more rapidly in the army
than behind the footights. Some two
years later from the date of the letter al
ready quoted be wrote to his young wife,
then in Brussels, telling her OF his strange
ambition. Her reply illustrates her temper
as well as his:
My Dear Junitts: At all times when I do not
hear from you. almost to the very day expect,
have a thousand anxieties, but now most par
ticularly So / can be reconciied to your
silence when can hope your time 10 wholly
taken up by pleasurable occupation. but every
day and moment feel a wish TO hear from you
when you have vexauons. Dearest Junius,
how mnch unAappiness has your last letter
caused (2nd OF February, what . wounded
spirit breathes in it Why cannot be near you
to hear and understand every thought and
feeling as they rise In your bosom. word o
look will often open the heart, and by word o
look we often receive consolation, or advice
more grateful and more exactly answerable to
our feelings than perhaps . hundred cod I'm
animate letters necessarily ponder on the
subj CT of that letter-do not then entertain a
thought that it is possible for you to occasion In
my heart one thought of dispiessure toward
you-eyery pursuit You have must
be lauiable, and can never
have so cruel q wish as that you should
pass a whole life in profession that you caunot
be happy in, only because had once placed my
whole sun OF happiness for you In that profes-
sion. am o. one of these prejudiced people
have often heard said "a young man should
never change" and mo good can come of IL"
ali that would ask you is that ii should be well
considered, and there should be reasonable
grounds for Think g the one TO be will be pro-
ouetive of more satisfaction than the one that
is. How often do people say they have
considered IL, only because they have in
dUlged their thoughts constantly in the
wish or plan how to compass such thing l
have so much of military lite in these DAYS
that once acquainted with the prospects you
have formed in your own mind, / eau deter.
mine whether you will be happy in 1t. - CON-
pletely miserable. Ponder well, dear, on all the
reasons which cause you to hate the profession
you are in-is it neglect, Injustice? Do yoa
feel moro poignantly than Others in the same
situation dor Above all, what is the grand aim
you had in that-and what 1t will be in that
you have decided on, or are meditating 70 de-
ci lie on. Is 1t an ambition 10 be distinguished.
AT present canuot but feel sorry. perhaps with
over truth, should say grieved at the bent of
your inclination, nor can do less, when never
creature was more ardent for fame than am
for yours, nor felt more assured than have
done a. being in the right road. for genius
pointed out the path, thought and opportunity
Was at least partially afforded 10 display these
tale ts, which not myself alone, but every one
whose Judgment or feeling l can prize, discern
anu value equally with myself. / thought
though all we desired HAD not yet been
attained, there was enough to cheer
aud enliven the way toward it feel that
in the army you will have nothing to encour.
age you on but your own consciousness that q
time shsil come wnen you will be known or do
you really prefer the simple military life? Ohl
how little do you know of yourself il you think
you do. However, dear, only make yourself
sure that you do prefer 1t to the one you are in.
and shall be content WHAT most prefer is
that feeling unhappy N one place we fancy any
change must be for the better.
S w5 these ana the yoa times con1 Si BIZ
ad lress MIN. there might be lame ana honor
fast as sucn an impatient spirit could desire, and
feeling that eou.d at least be silent NowI
can neither be that nor We, can say half what
These old relics of q vnnderful roe, IN