The Redwood gazette., 1891-10-08
LINCOLN AND THE DRAMA
Leonard Growers Recollections Of "OlG
Abe as a Theater-Goer

Leonard Growers Recollections Of "Old
| Abe" as a Theater-Goer.
Mr.. Lincoln was u great lover Of the
drama. He watched the movement on
the stage with absorbing interest re.
member upon one occasion Secretary
Stanton came to my theater, knowing
that Mr.. Lincoln was in a private box.
1t was the only time ever saw the
secretary OF war in a place of amuse-
ment. was the only other occupant
of the box. Mr.. Stanton made an
apology for intruding upon the presi-
dents pleasure, but said that urgent
matters of state made the interruption
necessary. He sat beside Mr.. Lincoln,
and, taking hold of him by the lapel of
the coat, talked with him earnestly.
The president bent his listening
ear, but gradually his head turned
away and again he faced the
footlights, whereupon Mr.. Stanton
almost rudely pulled upon the
lapel of his coat and again commanded
his attention. This happened three or
four times until the conversation was
ended and the secretary left the box.
One night, when witnessing perform
ance by John E. McDonough of "The
Seven Sisters" Mr.. Lincoln, who was
apparently enjoying the performance,
turned to me and said: ''Mr. Grover, I
will make confession to you. dearly
love good play, but after all minstrel
show is hard to beat"
In connection with Mr.. Lincoln's WIS.,
it's to my theater l figured in rather
exciting episode. Immediately after the
emancipation proclamation there was
considerable i'll feeling in Washington
toward the president among men of
pro-slavery views. One night during this
time, while Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln were
seated in private box, some persons,
maliciously inclined, believe, succeed
ed in getting the coachman very drunk
and filling his muddled brain with an
idea that man who had kindly feel
ing for negro was not fit to govern
white people. The result was that af-
ter the president and his wife had taken
seats in their carriage, unaware of the
coachman's condition, the latter at
tempted to mount the box, but was un-
able to do so. During his attempt to
put one foot upon the hub of the for
ward wheel he was loudly muttering
against all 'nigger lovers" His words
and actions drew a crowd, and in few
moments not less than three hundred
people were gathered about the car
riage. Those were times in which men
became easily excited and movement
then from malcontents might have led
to terrible scene. The coachman,
while making another effort to climb,
! fell to the ground. AS he was ATTEMPT
, ing to rise hurried forward, and with
move of the arm threw him upon his
back. l then mounted the box and
without a word, but followed by the
cheers of the crowd, drove the presi-
Dental carriage to the White House. 1
can not describe the warmth of thanks
which Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln showered
upon me after we had reached there.
All this brings to mind a most re-
markable coincidence In the summer
of 1866, more than year after Lin
coins assassination, I was living on
Twenty-frst street, in this city. In a
private Office 1 had large desk, in the
! uId"CIS VI "ulcH GllIcW
! communications and matter that l
thought might have some reminiscent
! tial value. These drawers finally be-
came engorged with their contents, and
one Sunday morning determined upon
a clearing out with a view of pre-
! serving what was of value and com
mitting the rest to the waste-paper
basket. Bear in mind that the papers
had become jumbled together without
regard to the order of their dates.
While I was looking over them picked
up letter, from beneath the leaves of
which Il small piece of paper stuck out.
pulled this from it's hiding place, and
upon it was written these words:
Tad and will occupy the box to might
A. LINCOLN.
I looked upon it fondly, and then
! idly opened the letter whose leaves had
hidden it. My eyes bulged and my
nerves tingled as l discovered that the
missive was dated from Cleveland, O.,
and was an application from an actor
asking for a position in my company.
1t was signed with the name of John
Wilkes Booth. - Leonard Grover, in
Philadelphia Times.