The record-union., 1893-07-22
ANECDOTES or BOOTH.
Some Pleasing Glimpses Of the
Actor.
He Was Not a Success as a Speech
maker, as Was Amply Proved on
More Than One Occasion-Gener-
osity to Fellow Professionals.

osity to Fellow Professionals.
Although Edwin Booth could sway the
emotions of thousands when uttering the
words of others, he was almost utterly
unable to deliver speech Of his own
composition. On the few recorded occa-
sions when he consented to speak lines
other than'those written by playwrights
he invariably became nervous, even
losing his voice temporarily. Once, when
he was booked to play ''Richelieu" in a
Western town, the costumes went astray
and 1t became necessary 10 tell the audi
ence that under the circumstances, in
stead of Bulwer's play, farce and three
acts of Hamlet would be given. Mr..
Booth went out before the curtain to
make the announcement. 'They listened
to me-" he said afterward, and when I
got through a man in the front of the
orchestra looked up and said: All right;
give US "Hamlet."' l went off, feeling
very proud of my speech. l had done
brilliantly, I thought. Just then l heard
somebody talking In front of the curtain.
WHATS this l said to myself, some
OOdS OlIJGCllLS anu tIlGA low GN-
cessiVely nervous. One of the men
came i'll from the front of the house. L
asked him who was talking. ooh, that's
ali right he answered; he's the proprie-
tor. They didn't hear a word you said,
and he is explaining to them that you've
changed the BILL"
1t was with the greatest difficulty, ac-
cording to a writer in the Philadelphia
Press, that ne was persuaded to make the
address at the unwilling of the actors
monument in Evergreen Cemetery sew
eral years ago. Thousands gathered to
hear him, but his speech was delivered in
low, indistinct voice. When the Play
ers' Club in New York was opened and
it became his duty to present his mag
niticent gift formally to the association,
he was extremely nervous. He read his
brief speech in hating and embarrassed
manner, and became so confused before
its conclusion that he paused and with
almost stammer, said: 81 think [ can
say no MORE" and stepped down from
the low dias upon which he stood with
the awkWardness of schoOlboy.
BROUGHT BERLIN TO HIS FEET.
Edwin Booths remarkable success in
Berlin was achieved in the face of the
greatest obstacles. The theater-goers of
that critical city swore by Luding, their
own tragedian, and were disposed to re-
sent the advent Of the American actor.
Just before Booths debut Luding APP
peared in a very elaborate and adequate
production of Hamlet at the Royal
Theater. After that his followers could
see nothing but failure for Booze" as
they called Mr.. Booth. The American
tragedian's first appearance as the moody
Dane took place in an out-of-the-way
quarter. His support was wretched, but
the manner in which he acted Hamlet"
carried all before it, and the final curtain
fell on great personal triumph.
During the first rehearsal at the Lyceum
Theater, London, of 'Othello," IN which
Mr.. Booth was to appear with Mr.. Irving
and Miss Terry, the latter said to the
American actor: 40 you know, Mr.
Booth, that l just hated you when you
first came to London?"
Indeed Why SOP" asked Mr.. Booth.
Because" replied Miss Terry, point
ing with both hands i'll the direction of
MIR. Irving, and choking with emotion,
because thought you had come to de-
throne my god"
Charles b. Hanford, who was once a
member of the Booth Barrett Company,
relates that Mr.. Booth always dreaded a
solemn audience. Once while playing a
comedy roll before an assemblage that
refused to smile at any OF his points, he
walked to the footlights and, in earnest
tones, said: Ladies and gentlemen,
don't ask you to laugh, but please don't
cry" On another occasion, under sim
| liar circumstances, Mr.. Booth consented
to have one or two good laughers placed
in the audience to tighten the gloom.
Successful actors are not always as con-
siderate as they might be in their treat
ment of those called upon to support
them. In this respect MIR. Booth was a
| happy exception. To his fellow-players
he was ever kind and courteous.
| TRAGEDIANs DANCING A BREAKDOWN.
At one time while Edwin Booth was
travelling with his father his fondness for
! the banjo asserted itself, and he was play
ing for the edificatiOn OF his parent when
| knock came at the door. Come in, -
said the elder Booth, and in strobe Edwin
Forrest. Booth motioned to Edwin to
put the banjo away, but Forrest objected.
and said in thunderous tone, Edwin,
can you play Nellie Bly?'"
Yes, sir"
"Play it, then" Booth played it, and
! then Forrest asked him to play hall
dozen familiar melodies, which he did
with great gusto. Then came the request
for negro jig. AS the air was ''picked''
| out Forrest stood still for awhile and
| then began to shake one foot and then
| the other. The elder Booth followed,
and before the melody was completed tine
| two tragedians were dancing a break
down in true Virginia fashion.
Booth entertained great reverence for
| the traditions laid down by his father.
| Once when rehearsing the graveyard
| scene in Hamlet" at Ben Debar's old
theater in st. Louis, he turned to the
stage manager and said: II want a cal
| cium here"
! The latter replied: Pm sorry, Mr..
| Booth, but you will have to see Mr.. De-
| bar about that. 1 have no authority to
| incur any expenses"
| Mr.. Debar was sent for. "Ben, l want
calcium light on this scene," said Mr..
| Booth.
Edwin" rejoine6 Mr.. Debar, "your
father never needed calcium light when
| he played Hamlet"
This ended the argument, Mr.. Booth
| turning away with the words, Never
mind the light, Ben"
More than twenty years ago, when
| playing Shylock in Boston, Mr.. Booth
drew from countryman in the audience
a spontaneous tribute TO his acting. The
rustic was very much perturbed over the
| trouble into which Antonio had got him.
self. When the tables were turned, how
ever, and Shylock was declared the loser,
he jumped on his seat, and, waving his
! brawny arms, shouted out: Bully for
| you; give it to him; give it to him, the
| darned old skintiint, and sarve him
| rightp'
KIND TO HIS FELLOw-PLAYERS.
! His generous behavior to those he
| played with was shown in many WAYS.
y young actor once playing with him
was disappointed in his costume. Booth
| sent his own TO the dressing-room and
! wOrn another and less bap6SOTpa " bir