Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-07-05
Stage ANeoooTes.
sremolr. OF Famou. Actors and the old
nilnstrnla.

Especial Correspondence
BosToS, June io.--Some one has said.
"How often do we hear persons talk of old
wines, old books, old pictures and old
cheese, but how seldom do We hear word
n praise for old pooplcW And it's true
enough. In the hurly burly Of life, where
everybody Is Glowing his way TO the cnsh-
ioued sents and cfowding his nolghbors to
20 the wall, Il Is "the old mani Tagging
mpegfuous behind who Is the last romem.
borod az the one really entitled to the contest
place by the tlresidc, the best armchair, the
privileged room, the brightest curtains and
the freshest flowers, u strong arm to lean
upon, smile to cheer ard a memory IN ev.
cry social group. Few Of us stop TO think
that
Each lettering form which iimps along IN
HES decline
Once bore heart as nurc and warm and full
OF idle thoughts as minu.
Yet It Is these same old people who pre.
serve our "reminiscences and link the prcs.
ent with the past ! was talking with one
of them day or two ago. veteran NJ the
stage, and he told me more IN hali hour
than l could have CLEANED from volume.
The conversation was about his own carly
associates IN the dramatic profession, for
he had played with the elder Booth. For
rest, Hamblin, the placides, James w,
Wallack, Ellen Tree, Charlotte Cushman,
Tyrone Power, MacCready, and coming
nearer TO our own time with John Brough
am, William j. Florence. Mrs. John Hoey,
Lester Wallaok and others whose names
In their day aud generation were as tamil.
lar as household words"
When the name OF Joe jefferson was
mentioned, ho recalled the time when they
were roommates In Philadelphia, one re-.
ceiving q a week and the other playing
second comedy at s. week. The salary OF
John Owens, who afterward became IA
nous as "Solon Shingle." was less than
SIS. Charles X. Thorne, the fnthcr Of a
family Of actors, was content he said,
ito begin with a trlle, but after awhile
was enabled to build new theatcr on the
Bowery aud pay Edwin FORREST $500 a
week. Forrest was then In the zenith Of his
fame-young, strong, athletic voelferous
and magnificent Probably no mau in this
country ever enjoyed for the time being
such unbroken success
Booth, the elder, was one of my dearest
friends, but the worst OF friends to himself.
He was generous 10 u fault and genial,
whole souled fellow While playing Ia
Boston ii was necessary that we should be
continually together, aud et times have
had TO tie string TO him so that might
know when he made break for liquor 1t
was only in this way that could keep him
In sight and know that he would be on
hand for the nights performance
"Onc Of the remarkable characteristics Of
this wonderful man was his ability to I'M
press the preachers When so Inclined he
could read passages from job, David and
Isaiah and the holy men OF old with n depth
Of feeling that amazed hls auditors lie
once repeated the Lords Prayerat dinner
party in Baltimore with such striking of-
feet that one of the guests clergyman,
stepped forward, and Selling the actor Ly
the hand said, in broken accents Sir, you
have afforded mo q pleasure for which |
shall always feel grateful. Although from
boyhood have repeated the ord Is Prayer,
l never have heard il before--neverf Nor
have many others, replied Booth, 'roread
TINT prayera II should be read has required
a study Of 30 years, aud | am still far from
being satisfied with my rendition