Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-11-29
A NEW STORY OF EDWIN BOOTH
~" the Dark Gentleman" Helped
ule Little Hunchback.

II Is no secret among those who
knew MN closely in his later DAYS.
says the Boston Globe, that Edwin
Booth living a comparatively solitary
live at the Players cub. occasionally
"ahuered OH for an afternoon or an
evening, and found a little relaxation
In out-of-the-way places, where novel
Or unusual surroundings diverted ms
mind. The tragedian was not in any
sense sociaDie man, indeed, he pre-
Ierreu TO be alone with his own
thoughts. But the quiet atmosphere OF
his clubhouse home bored him AT
Tunes, ana he crayeu Tor some relief
FROM II. III SOlne ODD fashion he
found out a place on the east SHE
OF tile town, which one would imagine
70 ue Tie least likely Tor such d man
10 chance upon. IL is Il little ale
mouse on cross ,ueel, not very Tar
from The Players cluu.
Inc proprietor OF this place is an
ola EnglShman who once followed the
sea. He conducts his house Oh the
salhe plan as is observed with the
cheaper order OF pubic houses in Lon
uoh. Ihere Is a pubic room, with a
queer little bar, like hole in the
wall, III one corner, and behind the
public room what Is known as the
parlor, where especially favored
| guests may regale themselves. The
menu of the establishment comprises
'le, spirits, pipes ana tobacco and
! crackers and old cheese
/ Booth urlfted 1n,u This place one
evening ana sat down TO ID mug of
old ale in the public room. The whole
| appearance of his moody guest ap-
! priseu the landlord that he was no
ordinary man, but who he was he did
not know. Night after night he came,
si,tlns in a corner OF the saw-dusted
! room, and slipping Ills ale among
Workinsmen whose toilsome lives
/ found d little rest there at the quiet
| hour when the Gays labor was done.
| tie spoke to no one. his manner was
not moroSe or gloomy, but so reserved
that nobody ventureu TO intrude upon
| HIM. He was let TO the company Of
his pewter mug and his cigar, and
was known in the neighborhood as
tile dark gentleman"
One evening, scarcely month be-
fore his fatal illness, Booth CAME III
and took his accustomed place. Short
ly after a policeman brought in poor
| little hunchback. The child was
crazed with grief. His father had been
killed an hour before by having a
o. col t.,l III A.
hold of i ship which he was employ
ed in loading. The kind hearted Off
Ger had brought the orphan to this
place, because he knew that he was
known there. The landlord Sat the
little cripple up on the bar, and raped
on the counter with his horny knuck
les: Now, then, gents he said 'Tll
take care Of this kiddy, but play III
for "a nest egg for him, if you're men.
step lively, now"' The poor fellows
fOrSOOk their pots OF ale and their tum-
blers of spirits, and ratified down upon
the bar silver pieces which they could
ill spare. But the dark gentleman"
in the corner did not stir. They won
dered that he should not contribute,
landlord had counted up the poor Or
! phan'S money and announced the
amount, Booth rose, paid his score
and went out without a word. Half
an hour later he came in again and
said to the landlord: "You say you
are going 20 take care of the poor
child?' AYE, SIR replied the land
lord. ''Tben," said the actor, put this
in the bank for him." This was a
banknote for 500. Booth had gone
over to mis- club to get the money.
Booth never visited the tavern again.
He died few days later. The land
lord learned who he was from seeing
photograph of him, and the memory
Of the clark gentleman" is green over
in that dingy street, where he strolled
the head of the hunch-backed orphan
as he slept his grief away on the
counter, watched by men whose hui
mainly was as great as their poverty.