Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-06
wish he could be general He'd finish up
this old war p


A Great Theatrical Idea.
The beautiful summer nights generally
found the Lincoln cottage full Of visitors,
friends, and busy people. The separate
members of the Cabinet, officers, and men
with ''plans," came to sit on the quiet, cool
piazzas, and often spent hours walking and
talking over things under the shady
trees
Mr.. Lincoln was frequently to be seen
alone, leaning heavily against the pillars OF
the porch, with his deep. sad eyes turned
toward the great city, no doubt thinking
upon the battlefelds beyond, with heart.
ache that probably no other President will
ever know.
Taking the crowds of evening visitors
into his reckonings, Tad made known
another of his ''happy thoughts to his
mother.
Why couldn't he organize splendid the
atrical company out Of the soldiers! The
biggest tent could be the theaterl One hos
pital tent was empty! The guard, corpor-
ais, drummers, cooks-they all had given
their solemn promise to learn their parts
right away.
Mrs. Lincoln not replying, the boys took
her consent for granted, and Tad was over
Joyed-"Jamie, (" he said, run over to your
mother and get her Shakespeare; father has
L
Seward for his! It takes good many to go
round; know lots out of some plays, for
father and I recite it together nights.
The President Was Patient.
"Now, Tad, you are not to get up another
thing! Your poor father is tired out with
you" exclaimed Mrs. Lincoln, suddenly.
II know, mother, this won't tire him
he's awfully Interested in plays"
ToI iaI &. Eo&h %ko vnSo
just getting home from a long, tiresome day.
With his small face against the Presidents
shoulder, he began: ''Father, if youth help
us-Jamie and I-get up frst-elass the.
ater in camp, you and all the Cabinet shall
come in every night for Is cents! And it'll
be % for all the others. even mother!''
MI. Lincoln stroked Tad's head and an
swered slowly: ."Well-that is quite an OBJ
ject What plays do you give, my son?'
"Well," said Tad, eff they get the parts
frstrate, Well give Hamlet first"
'Now that fair price for 'Hamlet'-15
cents! Yes-I think Chase and Seward will
be glad to give that!" said Mr.. Lincoln.
'But father-don't laugh! 1t would cost
them more than that to 60 to common
circusi''
A week afterward Mrs. Lincoln said to
some friends: 'This theater business of
Tad's beats his Company D fever. am
countermanding orders all the time. The
servants leave their work to take parts!' I
met Isaac just now decked out in costume
And who should see this minute, as I sent
for the carriage, but John, the coachman, in
long robes, trailing behind jamie and Tad.
going to rehearsep There never was such
boy J. He screams out, Wait minute,
mother! John won't be long! this is the
very last rehearsal before tonight"
The best camp chairs were taken off the
piazzas, the best table cloth was for the
ghost! the guard changed off an hour earlier
to practice, while kind of high art color
was painted on the back Of the tent to
make it more effective by candle light.
Tad in the Role Of Hamlet.
Tad was sorely tried. 'Father was so
busy! and no two of the Cabinet ever came
out at once!'
At last it proved success! Tad as Ham
let, Jamie as the ghost. -
The proud father and MI. Stanton and
Mr.. Seward occupied front seats The tent
failed to hold half. The sides were turned
up that the crowds outside might enjoy the
scene s. :
Eagerly, clearly, and in tragic voice
Tad said, as he mounted the box, close to
the row of candles: al. ,,-,e..-
IL ~ AcSuAC NY uOUlo IdtHCT . fpCISUu,
while his eyes rolled nervousIy in the di-
rection OF the side entrance. "Would the
night were come" another glance at the
crack in the yellow cloth, then exit. $50
fare you weil!'' ~. -
A large Horatio enters: "Look! my lord,
it comes"
A flourish of trumpets outside the tent,
A long blast from all the bugles in camp!
The Ghost in TablecIoth.
Tad reappears: CANCELS and ministers
defend us!' A smothered sound from the
front Seats The long damask tablecloth,
the large bath towels with dragging fringe,
and the ghost marches in Tad again: "Oh,
my prophetic soul"
Human nature could stand no more, and
the front seats were vacated! Secretary
Seward told his family it was worth $1O0,
but defeated and mortified he laughed aloud.
So, choking and gasping, he and the Presi-
dent were obliged to go at an early hour.
One of the sick soldiers, Old One-legged
Hans, was SO grieved that he couldn't see
his Presidents son as Hamlet that Tad and
Jamie repeated their parts at his bedside;
when weeks afterward the good old man
died. Tad told his father that 'Hans had.
gone now where he had two legs, and could
join another Revolutionary War"