New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1893-06-28
CHARACTERISTICS OF BOOTH
His Avoidance of Strangers and Love for
his Pipe.

500, LIS Z 1pos
Edwin Booth was always conscious
that his appearance imposed upon him
scholarly appearance. This was one Q
the occasions of his avoidance of strang
ers. ''They expect too much OF me-" nj
would say to his intimates, "and hav'
nothing to give them" He used to tel
of the disappointments Of professors ane
learned men, who having appointments
to meet him, could not conceal their dis
appointment at finding he had nothing
of Importance to say. Once in Boston
Booth was invited to dinner by woman
of the illuminate, who exhausted herself
in the endeavor to bring out OF Booth
the words of wit and wisdom she mani
testify expected to find. Having tried
him on number of pressing subjects her
temper gave way. =
.sMr. Booth" she said, Gin one respect
you are unlike my husband. For you
doknow when not to speak and he dom -
This story Booth used to tell on him
self with great glee, accepting the intim-
alton that he did not talk because be had
nothing to say. When among strangers
he admitted to posing because,as he said,
they expected it. Accordingly he de-
signedly avoided the public and hurried
to get away to get his pipe with his coat
off.
This is not to say that Booth had not
the qualities of an intellectual man. He
loved reading, but must be read to; he
loved discussion, but only to listen to.
With his pipe in his mouth, Booth would
listen to who talk that might for hours,
and without uttering word. No gentler
but more resistless bands were ever laid
upon man to bind his limbs and charm
his facilities to inaction than those laid
on Booth by his pipe. When Booth was
contemplating his second marriage a
friend asked: ''But suppose Mary does
not like your pipe?"
81 can't give up my pipe" answered
Booth with smile. He couldff't give
up his pipe which rarely left his mouth.
and his pipe, which cut short his active
career had just finished his work.
No actor ever took more easily his
own part began to beat higher, until !
borne on it's own flood the actor rose to
the heights which so easily we're within
his power.
One who frequently played withBooth
says that gentle indolenee so completely
bound Edwin Booth that it was almost
always necessary to give him the note of
action. Afterwards it was like feeling
the proud spirited animal culver beneath
the bride rein as scene moved to scene,
until both players We're swept beyond all
conscious effort in the fire and action of
their parts. The rare delie hit of playing
with this responsive soul and of drawing
from the depths of emotion which flood
ed his own soul and which Booth so
generously gave forth will always dwell
with those who have experienced it.
No man was more generous to those
who played with him than Edwin Booth.
He claimed nothing consciously for him
self in that distribution of place and i'm
portance behind the footlights that his
part did not demand. At the height Of
his active career he was playing an en- .
gagement with western star and he re-
Enquished his own repertory that he
might include hers. Together they
played such plays as the s'The Stranger"
and Claude Melnotte. No greater test
Of Booths suitability could be offered
than that of Claude Melnotte. He de-
tested the part. He had chronic ina
bility to remember the long speech in
which Claude Melnotte describes his pa
lace on Lake Como.
LET me play it with my back to the
audience he would plead, $50 you can
prompt me when I stick" So exchang
ing the proud position which is the de
light of most actors in the part he would
!, half kneel with his back to the footlight
and wander through the palatlal grounds.
Nor did he disdain little humor on the
stage. In the old discussion as to the
propriety Of its feeling ..r its stimulation
on the stage in the dressing room the
supporting actress said: Tonight I am
going to make Mr.. Booth cry.
Mr.. Booth quickly took up the gage.
Theplay was s.The Stranger and Mrs,
Hallcr gave to her part all the pathos
that was in it, knowing that she could
d r.