Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-26
BOOTH AND VALET.
THE TRAcEpIAN WAS A HERO TO HIS
BODY SERVANT Jim" BROWN.
Interesting Anecdotes Told by tho La''e'
who II q Richmond Dsrky' hno""
Also ss James Hopes.
baltimore Ilerald)

In one OF the Hi"Se 60.
beautiful parts Of Maryland hes "es''
| minister. the county-seat OF csrroh '''"'
80 thirty four miles west OF baltimore
9Th which n IL connected by the west
| orn MARYLAND railroad. Here TOT many
wears has been living. and now lives IN
| obstrussvely and quietly James hop-S'
| formerly known as jim Brown "no
wes the late Edwin Booths valet ana
body-servant for many years
| "Jim." as he IL familisrly known. rs an
exceedingly bright and intelligent eoiofed
| man. about 80 years OF age. lie u quite
| n character in his way, and IL nosea oo'h
for his tonsoriai abilities and a. good
! Judge OF whiskey he has an excellent
| tenor voice. is no novice on the guitar Phd
| banjo. and IL somewhat OF an eloculoh'
| ist Some years ago he took the oharac-
ter OF Richelleu at local entertainment.
| and portrayed the shrewd and crafty cor
| dlnal with much power and success
| "Jim has at his fingers ends the names
| OF all the celebrated old-s,ock actors, end
| when warmed Up on the subject one
| secs him at his best. He II quite IN en-
| thusIast. and tells with great zest Of ms
travels with Mr. Booth. whom he be-
| lieves 10 have beer the best and greatest
man that ever lived. and his acduain'-
ances among the old actors.
Jim" frat met Mr. Booth at the Rich
mond (va) Theatre about the year 1851.
| Il was then under the MANAGEMENT OF the
late Mr.. John T Ford. Thomas Moxley.
| and George Kunkei "Jim" was employed
as general-utill,y boy. cal-boy. &c. about
the theatre a. that time. Mr.. 'osepn
Jefferson was the staRe-manager. Edwin
| Adams leading man. Miss Mary Devlin.
afterwards Mr.. Booths first wife, Theo-
dore Hamilton. Mr.. Jack. George Boni-
face. Mrs. Mussey. and Mrs Porter we're
all members Of the stock company Jim
did not gee Mr.. Booth again until nearly
at the close Of the civil war.
THE NEWS STUNNED HIM.
At the time when President Abraham
Lincoln was assassinated by John wilkes
Booth, Edwin was playing an engage
ment at the Boston Theatre In Boston.
Jim" says that every one was afraid
TO inform Mr. Booth OF the circumstance.
Jim himself was at last prevailed upon
to discharge this painful and distressing
duty. II completely stunned Mr.. Booth.
He could not realize that It was the truth.
Mr.. Lincoln. and regarded him as a
brother. He was overwhelmed with grief,
and no ore ever atterward alluded to
Mr.. Lincoln while in his presence.
Among the many anecdotes that Jim"
delights to relate the following is par
ticularly worth mentioning: The event
happened In Fairmount Park. in Phla-
delphia "Jm' was taking Mr.. Booth
out for drive through the park. Mr..
Booth did not notice anything peculiar
at first. but finally observed that every
person he met seemed TO be gazing at
something upon the box OF the carriage.
People would stop and smile. while
others would point up at the box. Mr..
Booth finally decided TO investigate the
matter. There he found Jim sitting
on the box straight as an arrow. and all
unconscious Of the display and furore
he was making, srrayed in brilliant
costume. He had on white vest, across
the bosom OF which were displayed va
rions kinds OF theatrical paraphernalia,
medals, badges. etc, which he had gotten
az the theatre. Mr.. Booth was exceed
ingiy provoked, and brought jim down
from the seat in double-quick time. and
he nsver ventured to adorn himself In d
similar manner again.
A TENOR SINGER.
AS was said before, Jim possessed a
fine tenor voice and was never backward
in letting people know OF AZ, and he would
do anything to be given an opportunity
Of displaying its qualities. II was IN
Philadelphia, also, that on one occasion
MIR. Booth left the theatre as usual after
the performance and walked To his hotel,
supposing. of course that Jim" was fol-
lowing him. However, Jim did not
put In HIS appearance at the hotel that
night. The next morning Mr.. Booth re-
ceived word that his body servant was
locked up at the station house. and IL
his fine was not forthcoming he would
be sent 10 Jail one OF the property men
was sent to get the unfortunate negro
and pay his fine. In the afternoon, just
before Mr.. Booth was about 10 take his
usual nap, in came Jim" looking for
lorn and detected ard qusking with ter
ror. "Oh, Lawd. Mr. Edwin, forgive me
dis time: I'll never do II agin. indeed |
won't" "Jim' pleaded. Where have you
been all this time. you black rascalT
Interrupted Mr. Booth. The Lawd hep
my soul Mr. Edwin. | haven't been doin'
nothin. 1 was just comm behind you
last night when ! hear singin and
saw a crowd serenadin' house and sing
In Come Where My Love Lies Dreamin'.
but there warn't no tenor. SO goes up
to 'em and asks dere leader IL dey wants
a tenor singer and he tole me to jine
right in, which I did. And when we was
In dc very best part OF de song a police
man grabbed me and said. I'll take you
where your love lies dreamin',' and ne
took me to the station-house and locked
me up. Fo' God. Mr.. Edwin. I'll never
sing dat song again" And Jim" says
that he never did. Mr.. Booth always
laughed heartily over this story, and de-
lighted TO tell Of IL.
TOOK HIS COUPE.
Another incident happened in New
York. Mr.. Booth at the time kept q horse
and coupe at Fitzsimmons's livery-stables.
One day Jim" asked Mr.. Booth IL he
would let him have q little money. as
he had been invited 10 a wedding. and
wanted 10 hire carriage. Mr. Booth
gave him $40. with the Injunction that he
should 20 get carriage. and bring back
the change. Jim" went out with q
radiant face. Instead, however, OF hiring
a carriage he goes to Fitzsimmonss
stables. gets Mr.. Booths own horse and
coupe. and hires a man to drive him to
the wedding, which was TO take place on
Sixth avenue. IL 30 happened that Mr..
John b. Murray. the banker. was COM g
down the avenue on his way 10 Mr..
Booths quarters but perceiying his coupe
he at orce concluded that Mr.. Booth was
not at home. At that moment the ye-
hicle arrived at It's destination. AMI y no
should get out but Jim" In all the pomp
and splendor he could command That
evening Mr.. Murray called on Mr. Booth.
and told him OF the Circumstance. hut
could hardly convince his host that Jim
had taken his team. They decided, bow.
ever. to await developments. AS soon as
Jim" arrived home he was Informed by
one Of the servants that Mr.. Booth ished
to see him at once IN the library. MIR.
Murray In the mean time had concealed
himself In closet In the room. Jim"
came In smiling and hat In hand. well
jim did you go 10 the welding"
queried Mr. Booth. Eyes, sir. dld -
We'll, what did you do when Won On,
there?" again asked Mr.. Booth. con \
kst the bride. and den we had refresn-
ments. Did you get the carriage,
where Is my changer Eyes. sir. / Yot de
carriage. and her Is de change" answored
"Jirn," fumbiing IN his pockets In bi,
eirort to get the money. you black rae
CAL" Numbered Mr.. Booth. "ston yanr
iyins and tell me the truth. Why lid you