The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-11
STORIES OF EDWIN BOOTH.
How He Saved The Life Of Abraham
LilCOlnS Son.

His First Appearance as a star.-The
Elder Booths Comment on lis sons
First Effort Booth a Poor Speech
maker - Some Characteristic Incl
dents.
The New York Evening Post published
the following as having been related by
MIR Booth:
lis the summer of 1877 Mr.. Booth was
standing on a railroad platform waiting
for train. He noticed gentleman near
him, apparently with the same object,
and saw that he seemed engrossed in his
own meditations. Presently the gentle
man stepped from the platform to a track
and began walking upon it, entirely obliv-
ious of his surroundings. just at this
moment an engine which had been getting
water from a tank near at hand began
backing up the track. Mr. Booth, turning
round, saw it only when it was within a
few feet of his absent-minded companion.
On the impulse of the moment, without
attempting to rouse the man TO
sense of his danger-there Was not
time for this-Mr. Booth stepped
forward, and, clutching MIN by the.
platform. So near was the engine that it
struck the mans heels as they left the
track. The rescued gentleman was so
overcome when he realized his danger
that he could only bow his thanks and
give his hand to his preserver. IL hap
pened that Mr.. Ford, in whose theater at
Washington President Lincoln was aSsas-
Sinated by Mr.. Booths brother, witnessed
the scene described above. Stepping for
ward, he said eXcitedly: Mr.. Booth, do
you know who that man wasl No was
the reply. 1t was, said Mr. FOrd, Rob
ert Lincoln, President LinColn's SON Mr.
Booth afterward said that this act of his
gave him more satisfaction than could be
represented in any other way. In relating
this Mr.. Booth mentioned the fact that
the only vote which he ever cast was for
Mr.. Lincoln when he ran for President
the second time"
PLAYS STAR FOR HIS FATHER.
Tradition says that the elder Booth
gave his son the first chance to play a
star part. He declared positively that he
could not go to the theater; that he was
too i'll.
but what will they do without you?"
asked the boy. ''WhO can they substi-
tute at the last minute2n
go on and play it yourself" curtly re-
piled his father.
Edwin could not believe that.his father
was in earnest but the old man insisted
So he dressed for the part in his fathers
clothes, though they were far too big for
him. The excited and trembling youth
was fairly pushed on at his first entrance
The burst of applause with which the
audience thought to welcome the elder
Booth died out when it was found that a
tyro had been substituted even without
an apology. But the young man had so
thoroughly absorbed every word, look
and tone of his father that he soon earned
for himself the interest of his audience.
When Edwin returned to the hotel he
was questioned coldly by his father as to
what success he had had Apparently
the elder Booth had not stirred from the
room but it is generally accepted fact
that the elder Booth sat in the audience
and witnessed the performance.
EDWIN AND HIS FATHER.
Booth entertained a 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: Il want q cal
cium light here"
The latter replied: Il am sorry, Mr..
Booth, but you will have to see Mr. Debar
about that. l have no authority to incur
any expenses"
Mr. Debar was sent for. "Ben, 1 want
calcium light on this scene, - said Booth.
edwin" rejoined Mr.. Debar, ''your
father never needed a calcium light when
he played Hamlet"
This ended the argument, Mr. Booth
turning away with the words, "Never
mind the light, Ben"
At one time, while Edwin Booth was
travelling with his father, his fondncss for
the banjo asserted itself, and he was play
ing for the edifcation of his parent, when
a 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 a thunderous tone, Edwin, can
you play Nellie Bly,"
Eyes, sir"
''Play it, then" Booth played it, and
then Forrest asked him to play half
dozen familiar melodies, which he did
with great gusto. Then came a request
for a 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 be-
fore the melody was completed the two
tragedians were dancing breakdown in
true Virginia fashion.
Mr.. BOOTH AS sPEECH-MAKER.
AS a speech-maker Edwin Booth was
not a success. The man who could sway
thousands In delivering the words of
others became nervous and almost inaudi-
BILE when he depended upon himself Once
when he was booked to play "Richelieu"
in western town the costumes went
astray and it became necessary to tell the
audience that under the circumstances
instead 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 list
ened to me-" he said afterward, sand
when | got through q man in the front of
the orchestra looked up and said: All
right; give US Hamlet" l went off, feel
ing very proud of my speech. had done
brilliantly, thought. just then l heard
somebody talking in front of the curtaR.
What's thisl' l said To myself, somebody
objecting2' and grew excessively nerv-
Gus. One of the men came in from the
front of the house. | asked him who was
talking. %. That's all right, he answered;
he's the proprietor They didn't hear a
word you said and he is explaining to
them that yOu'ye changed the bill. ~
II was with the greatest difficulty that
he was persuaded to make the address at
the unveiling of the actors monument in
Evergreen cemetery several years ago.
Thousands gathered to hear him, but his
speech was delivered in low, indistinct
voice. When the Players Club was