Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-07

| FneosocnS A1nur'h Aom1nisfrotton-S0me
| Personal Recollections OF the Great Actor.
Edwin Booth has not played in Washington
since the fall Of 1864. At that time he played
an engagement at the National Theater and ap-
peared in some OF his best known characters.
After the tragedy at Ford's Theater on April
IA, 1865. when President Lincoln was assassi-
mated by John Wilkes Booth. Edwin Booth
would never appear in Washington. 1t
Is well known that Mr.. Booth at FIRST resolved
never to act again, but he was compelled by bust
ness engagements to resume his professional
duties. He, however, swore that he would
never act in Washington, and he never did.
During President Arthurs administration an
effort was made 10 induce Mr. Booth to break
that resolution and act in this civ. Letters
! requesting him to once again play here and
assuring him Of the most hearty reception were
sent by the President members OF the cabinet.
justices Of the Supreme Court, Senators and Rep
resentatlves in Congress, were sent to him, but
withou. avail. While he appreciated the mo-
tises Of those who had written him, he decided
that he could not break the vow he had
made, and those Washingtonians who
wished to see him play had 20 60
TO Baltimore during his engagement in
thrt city. Mr.. Booth arst appeared in this
city IL 1857 ard at once established himsen .
fsvori'e with thester-goers. He thea played
/ regular engagements here until the tragedy
IN the spring Of 1863
| MR.. TIIzeERALD's RKcoLLRcrIoSs
Mr.. W. II. Fitzgerald, the stage manager Of
the Dickson Opera Company, was q member Of
the Walnut Street Theatsr stock company when
Mr.. Booth plsred there and has sctsd
1 M sn az ?
FRANCHISE in "Richelisu" and other
parts Of this character. His scquaint-
ance with the distinguished tragediau Was
quite intimate. II recall Mr.. Booth very
distinctly" he said this morning. This
i was during the DAYS of the stock COM
psnies. when actors had an opportunity of juds-
ing the characters OF almost all the stars,
| when Edwin Forrest and Charlotte Cushman
were in their prime and Barrett was Just begin
ming to win bis laurels. At that time the
coming OF Mr. Booth was alwaysiooked forward
| to with the greatest pleasure BY all the mem
bers OF the company. He was one Of the most
genial and loving OF men and they all loved
him with sincerity. His engagement was re-
garded as the most enjoyable of the season On
account Of his charming personality. every
one made unusual efforts to do the
best they could. 1 remember one incident
which showed his genial nature. The manage
| ment Of the thea.er considered very penu-
| rious They had an old WORKOUT rtage carpet
that was full Of holes, but they refused to re-
| place it with new one.
Zone night when Booth was playing 'Ham,-t
one Of the boys In the company offered me q
wager that would not dare 10 stumble in one
| of the torn places and fall. thus showing the
condition OF the carpet. I took the
wager While Booth was on the stage
came on, and, pretending to catch nv toe. fell
fun length on the stage. i e1pected Mr.. Booth
to be very angry and scold me, but he turned
| toward the back Of the theater aud said: You
young rascal. you have stolen my thunder.
was just about to do that myself"
HIS TENDER AND LovABLK cRARAcrER.
Mr.. Cornelius Gardiner, who was for a num-
Der Of years the dramatic critic OF the
Chicago Erening Post, and who lie now
their Washington correspondent, In speaking
Of Mr.. Booth, said to q STAR reporter: The
tender aud iovable character of Booth was well
proven to me on one occasion when he Was
playing the part Of Brutus in Julius Cesar " In
the last act one Of the young men OF the com
pany has a small part. in which he appears
to say but few lines. They are
quite important. however, to continue the
thread OF the plot so as to make what follows
ineligible. On this night he failed to appear
Mr.. Booth waited . long time and was then
compelled to skip several lines. At the close
OF the performance young Doud. the
manager. sent for the young man, who ex-
planned that for some unaccountable reason he
=.
The manager scored hum numerically and
was still berating him when Booth happened
by. He appreciated the situation and inter-
rupted to say: Mr.. Doud, do not upbraid this
young fellow. 1t is apparent to me that he
fully appreciates his fault and feels very badly
about it. feel confident that he will not re-
peatit!' The young man was touched by Booths
act and was forever grateful
II know from my own observation that the
recently published statement that Booth was
an incessant smoker between the acts not to be
fact. When not on the stage and in his
dressing room he was generally in the
deepest thought. He said at one time
that he disliked to come from his room uutil he
Was to go right on the stage. as the noise Of the
stage hands and the supers distracted his mind
and prevented him from acting properly.
HE was one Of the kindest Of men and was
sincerely loved by every member Of his COM
psny, who used to crowd in the wings and
watch his every movement When he finally
babe them goodbye there were tears in his
eyes and in the heart OF every one there was:a
big lump Of sorrow.
II remember another incident in the life of
Booth, when he was q very young man. He
was playing one night stands in the south
At one town the steamboat stopped but once
in two days, and II was OF the greatest import
ance that the company should not miss it.
as that would mean the loss Of two days and
considerable money. Booth was playing Shy
lock. and during the trial scene those who were
back in the theater heard the whistle Of the
steamer. The manager knew that the per-
Torrance would have to be stopped at once.
but how they were to inform Booth, who WAS
on the stage, was . perpiexing question.
They could not ring down the curtain. a.
that would be an insult to the audience.
Finally they hit upon plan. At that part Of
the trial where it is said 10 &viock
Three times three I'll give thee. jew &C., Q
member Of the company went on the stage and
said 'OQe hundred niCrers and n Thousand