Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-09

the name, This child was great comfort
10 him, and the domestic river of life kept
on running smoothly, as it had ever done
Ence the marriage But the year following
his birth troubles and controversies with
the managers kept on multiplying, and Mr..
Booth, becoming disguised with the busl-
ness demands of lie, concluded to try his
fortunes in the new world.
The boy being too young for the voyage,
the great ector left mother and child behind.
Mary Ann Holmes, of the Covent Garden
Theater, accompanied him. His landing at
Norfolk after nearly two months on the sea,
his first appearance at Richmond in "Rich-
ard Ill, and his final settlement in Balti-
more and future iQustrious career is famll-
lar history.
he ALWAYS SUPPORTED HER
But he did not desert his wife on the
other side in the sense of desertion. AS
often as it was convenient he transmitted
money for the support of herself and child,
and continued to do so up to the time she
came to this country. When he returned to
England in 1928 he met his wife as though
nothing had happened, and Mr.. Williams,
to whom he refers in one of his earliest let
tiers given above, painted the portrait of
himself, wife and boy. 1t was during this
first visit of Mr.. Booth to London that be
refused to appear before the curtain when
called out, and his good wife writes him the
following note of advice upon the subject:
Isit not ungracious TO persist in denying
them the indulgence they require. and that
Indulgence, too, but the pleasure o. looking
on you. at the same time paying you what Is
meant always to be a compliment? can
easily understand that after much fatty ue 1t
would be far preferable to drag our weary
limbs and exhausted frame to our dressing
room alone. ard can understand q modest
pride which would make one not too eager
to meet the wishes of 'sonie few followers
at the bottom of the hail." but when il is so
unanimously shown to be the general wish
of the whole audience. and when, let the eI-
hauStion have been ever so great before-lt
is but = words more-Eure1y IL must appear
to every one ungracious- l could almost
say ung1ateful, too. for surely we DO one
gratitude to those who advise and love US.
! should like to hear what you feel AID an
swer to tie disappointment pain or discon-
tent il causes, because l do believe you may
have good reasons for everything you do,
though may not perceive them.
like the people for there is a generous
feeling mixed with their admiration of your
talents. They think you have been ill-used
and they seem Jealous thar YOU should be
so. Now there is friendly feeling toward
you, as well AS that natural selfish incina-
ton to encourage that which is TO afford
themselves delight, which does them honor.
On Saturday the pit tickets arrived too late
to be of use, and only one went on your
tickets into the boxes. To-night-"myself
L
on Saturday felt very sensible to- but feel
no power now to add another word-but
three-God bless you. NJ.
DEFENDING HER ABSENT HUSBAND.
1t is unnecessary to introduce into this
narrative the correspondence which took
place between husband and wife after Mr..
Booth left for his return to America, in
1927. The next letter of interest in show
ing the relations between this good woman
and the mighty man of genius is written
after MI Booths second appearance in
England, in 1633-S7. Here it $, with some
relations TO social matters only stricken
out:
MY DEAR aunt have so many things to
tell and to ask of my dear Mrs. Nichol and of
nv dear cousins that | do not know where
to begin; want TO write you OF Junius, my
husband. You know. witiiout doubt, that
be came TO London in 1851. 1t appears he
had not the prudence to make an engage
ment with the London Theater before leav-
ing America. In consequence he has been
much disappointed: the directors have more
than once taken advantage OF his position.
he has played but two or thI ee times at the |
COvent Garden Theater He has told me |
himself he has not been raid for the nights |
when he has played Well, il seems that |
these men only want TO engage him at their |
theater so as TO make him fail and lose, per- |
l8ps, all his popularity. in a word, they |
shelved him while he was IN Loldon''
However, since many years Mr. Wallack |
has strongly urged him to come TO London, |
that he would make much money in so doing |
! suppose that was the reason he did not |
think necessary to contract engagements |
before leav ng America. lou cannot trust
any one in this world.
I suppose you have seen the rapers We
have read those from Brussels The Courier |
was pretty reR sOnabie: but the Court Journal |
was a piece OF infanly, dare eay, paid by |
his rivals. ] can assure you it gTieves us |
much indeed. He Was in this case to be 1
pitied. However, he had courage enough to |
suTmount it. but he was obliged to engage |
himself to the Surrey Theater. What could ne |
90 else-was he not forced to make money? |
After that came Jane Booth with her seven |
children, appiyin" to her brother for assist |
nnce. She had been in the grea test distress
and poverty. l shall ask you now, my dear
aunt, i it was not enough to make any one |
mad. In truth, he has had trying and vex-
Rtious time on all sides. As 60 his sister,
Notwithstanding what had happened, You
don't doubt but thas he came to her assist
Rnce. We must pity her. l do not know
how she has found means to get along in
JUnius here Is whal ne SAWS to me: "My
sister and all her troop have arrived in
America. She has also tried 20 prejudice
MY father"
MRS. BOOTHS FIRST MIsGIvINGs
During the stay of Junius in London he
promised he would come to see US at Brus-
sells in the month of May; and as it is now
many years he has kept US in that expect
Rncy, l felt certain once in England he
would not miss coming to see his son. I'll
had thought differently l would not have
missed leaving for England with Richard.
! waited then for The month of May with |
when before that time ] received |
g letter by which he announced to US that in |
two days he would sail for America. He |
told his son not to worry because he could |
not come to see us according to his promise, |
but that he had lost so much money in hay-
q he
could moi spare the expenses of coming to !
hut, said lie, "when two years
have passed / shal! come to Europe to look
Riter the success of Richard l am very
angry not to have been in England while ,
Junius was there. / have been uuped once 1
more by too much credulity. l am afraid
that my epistle begins TO fatigue you. and
yet feel that l am far from having said all
! desire you to kUow; 80, my dear friends,
you must have patience.
1 nave received no letter from Junius
Since the last one uattd May l6, lo5S. know
not what to attribute this to. He has been !
In the habit OF writing us three or four times /
year: have no cause TO complain in re-
gard TO his Drompttude in sending money
and more than what he had agreed with me |
10 SEND. Our CORES, ,londence has always
been on the footing Of the greatest friend
ship. Where he can De we cannot imagine.
They never mention him in the papers. l |
have written many times. l hope soon to
nave reply from person in Philadelphia,
who knows JuniuS imtima uelV and to whom
have written.fOr information.
Booth wrote me while in London that Mr..
Henson had returned the will b b!e2) to Mr.
Mentor; doubt il this j. true: i nave much
10 complain Of against Mr.. Henson.
The ship of life ran along on fairly even
keel for the next three years. Mr.. Booth
sending money as his incliuations dictated,
many Of the original drafts for which are in
ny possession. in 1871 Richard was %
Years of age and an industrious, studious
1oy, showing a talent for languages and a
oenchant for religion. He became ambitious