Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-11-29
A NEW STORY OF EDWIN BOOTH
How the Dark Gentleman" Helped
the Little Hunchbac&.

How the Dark Gentleman" Helped
the Little Hunchback.
Il Is no secret among those who
knew him closely in his later days,
says the Boston Globe, that Edwin
Booth, living a comparatively solitary
live at the Players club, occasionally
wandered OF for an afternoon or an
evening, and found a little relaxation
In out-of-the-way places, where novel
or unusual surroundings diverted his
mind. The tragedian was not in any
sense sociable man, indeed, he pre-
ferred to be alone with his own
thoughts. But the quiet atmosphere of
his clubhouse home bored him at
times, and he craved for some relief
fron IT, In me odd fashion he
found out Il place ON the east side
of the town, which one would imagine
to be the least likely for such man
to chance upon. II is little ale
house on cross street not very far
from the Players club.
The proprietor OF this place is an
old Englishman who once followed the
sea. He conducts his house on the
same plan as is observed with the
cheaper order of public houses In Lon
don. There Is a public room, with a
queer little bar, like Il hole In the
wall, In one corner, and behind the
public room what Is known as the
nnTlnF Wha1sA nunnatatIxy ra
guests may regale themselves. The
menu of the establishment comprises
ale, spirits pipes and tobacco and
crackers and old cheese.
Booth drifted into this place enc
evening and sat down to mug of
old ale In the public room. The whole
appearance of his moody guest APP
prised the landlord that he was no
ordinary man. but who he was he did
not know Night after night he came,
sitting In a corner of the saw-dusted
room, and slipping his ale among
workingmcn whose toilsome lives
found little rest there at the quiet
hour when the days labor was done.
He spoke to no one. His manner was
not morosc or gloomy, but so reserved
that nobody ventnred to intrude upon
him. He was left 70 the company Of
his pewter mug and his cigar, and
was known In the nelghborhood rs
THE dark gentleman.
One evening, scarcely a month he.
fore his fatal illness, Booth came In
and took his accustomed place. short.
~ after policeman brought in a poor
little hunchback. The child was
killed an hour before by having a
cask of salt meat fall on him in the
hold of ship which he was employ
cd 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, I'll
take care OF this kiddy, but play In
for nest egg for him, II you're men.
Step lively, nowr The poor fellows
forsook their pots of ale aud their tun.
blcrs OF spirits, aud ratified down upon
the bar silver pieces which they could
III spare. But 1.-THE dark gentleman"
in the corner did not stir. They won.
dered that he should not contribute
but he made no move. When the
landlord had counted up the poor or.
phan's money and announced the
amount, Booth rose, paid his score,
and went out without word. Half
an hour later he came In again and
said to the landlord. you say you
are going to take care Of the poor
childT AYE, sir" replied the land
lord. 'fhen," said the actor, put this
In the bank for him. This was a
banknote for 800. Booth had gone
over to his club to get the money.
Booth never visited the tavern again.
He died a few days later The land
lord learned who he was from seeing
n photograph Of him, and the memory
Of the dark gentleman" IL green over
In that dingy street. where he stroked
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.