Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-11-22

zone night In Louisville number OF
people called on Ted, among them doc
tor OF local celebrity who wanted to
place in his hands valuable relic that
had once belonged TO the elder Booth.
He was shown upstairs by little dar-
key, who carried something wrapped up
in newspaper. II proved to be we'll
preserved skull, thoroughly cleaned,
and the parts Joined by springs and
hooks. The doctor told US this story OF
the skull, which proved romantic and
interesting: Many years before Ted's
visit the elder Booth had played an en-
gagement In Natchez After the closing
performance he was taken down TO the
river with his trunk TO wait for the up
coming steamboat. He found at the saloon
at the wharf a rough looking set Of men
who by their talk he decided were
thieves and cut-throats. Booth had
81, 900 In his money-belt, and from mo-
tives of policy he invited the rufians TO
take several drinks, which only served
TO increase their peculiar looks In his
direction. There was no help near and
escape was out of the Question-he
would probably have been followed and
murdered. Selecting the toughest and
toughest man in the crowd, old Booth
called him outside to say few words.
Look here, said he, my name is Booth;
am an actor; you may have heard OF
me. I've got a thousand dollars here In
belt, and I'm afraid Of being robbed.
l want you to take 1t and keep it safe for
mo until the boat comes along The
fellow looked earnestly at the old man,
and then reached out for the belt.
Booth never expected to see dollar Of
the money again, but was glad 10 insure
his personal safety. He slept on table
In the saloon, and was awakened early
by the custodian of his treasure. Get
up said he; here's you money. The
boats I'm sight Booth was thoroughly
surprised, but of course delighted.
What's your namep he asked; Il always
like TO remem Der an honest mans name. ,
The fellow heSitated, lowered his voice
and answered: It's Morrill,; folks call
me the chief OF the river pirates. You
trusted me and 1 appreciated the trust. :
"a year later Morrill, was sentenced
to the penitentiary for life. When
Booth visited Natchez again he visited
the prison and took Morrill, some money
and delicacies. At the last OF his visits
he found the man dying Of conSump-
ton. Booth said he, I've not long to
live; should die happy II had some
thing TO leave you to remember me by.
You have been good to me and cannot
repay YOU Booth laughed and said:
IF you are set 90 leaving me legacy,
let it be your head He spoke in jest,
but the pirate took il In earnest, and on
his death it was found that he had
willed the tragedian his skull. Booth
gave IL to the doctor in Louis
willie to put 10 order, but dying himself
soon after, never claimed his beQueSt.
The physician gave IL TO Ted. We used
il for YOrick's skull in Hamlet" When
on a visit to his mother In Baltimore,
she unpacked Ted's trunk while he was
out and came across the skull. Not
knowing what it was used for, she de-
cided to get rid Of it with some other
rubbish. So when Ted came in she
told him how she had thrown that nasty
skull out of the window, and that coal
cart, passing by, had crushed 1t into a
hundred pieces.
lone OF the funniest adventures hap
pened at Lees Landing, in Virginia.
The improvised theatre was a tobacco
warehouse, and was crowded by the
planters for miles around. We had ar
ranged to take the weekly steamer eX-
pected to call at night, and between the
acts were busy packing up. The play
was The Merchant OF Venice and
they were just going on for the trial
scene when we heard whistle and the
manager came in to say that the steam
er had arrived and would leave again In
ten minutes.
IF we explain matters said the
manager, they will think they are be-
ing cheated and we will have a free
fight. The only thing is for you fell
lows to get up a natural ending OF the
piece and bring down the curtain. Go
right ahead, ladies and gentlemen, and
take your cue from Ted here. Ted was
'BaSSanio,' and he resolved to rely on
the ignorance Of the Virginians OF those
days TO pull him through all right. So,
when old George Ruggles, who was
doing 'ShylOck,' began to shapen his
knife on his boot, Booth walked up to
him and said: You are bound to have
your pound OF flesh, are you?'
You bet your life,' said Ruggles.
Now, I'll make you one more offer,
continued Booth; in addition to this
bag OF ducats, I'll throw In two kegs OF
terback, and two Of the best coon dogs
in the State I'm blamed II / don't do
it, responded Shylock, much to the APP
probation OF the audience, who were
tobacco raisers and coon hunters to a
man.
land to show that there's no ill-foel-
ing put in "Portia," well wind up
with a Virginny reel
"When they got on board the steamer
the captain, who had witnessed the con-
clusion Of the play, remarked, I'D like
TO see the whole Of that play, some time,
gentlemen. I'm blamed If 1 thought
that fellow Shakespeare had so much
snap in him."
Ii is great satisfaction to know that
Mr.. Booth Is sufficiently well of not TO
need the money which he is still able to
earn upon the boards. An intimate
friend of his who knows all his affairs,
told me last winter that Mr.. Booth had
an income from his investments OF
$50, 600 year. Since the collapse OF
his New York theatre in 1873, he has
made about half million dollars, and
his real estate investments have turned
out excellently. When his gift OF $780,
600 to the Players Club, three years ago,
caused some uneaSiness to his friends,
he assured them that he could afford to
double the gift and still have enough
upOn which TO live in luxury.
PHILIP G. HUBERT, JR.