The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-08
SATURDAY SKETCHES.


stood out boldly a board on which was
painted in black letters of more or less
irregularity the words, Justice OF the
Peace"
Here was evidently a kindred spirit
and the lawyer elm bed the stairs
The iustice was alone with his dignity.
He was u rather old man with gray
whiskers and a SLOUGH hat which he
wore even in the house He seemed to
be waiting for something.
"5it, pardner," he said There's goin'
to be some court.
The Topeka man sat down by the stove
and in few minutes a young man with
a hat similar to the Justices and with q
revolver in a belt of cartridges came in.
With him was a very we'll dressed man
with look of recent dissipation on his
face aud evidences of having slept in the
hay on his new black overcoat.
He was the prisoner.
Undoubtedly he was not in the habit of
appearing in court as such. He bore
marks of intelligence aud pair of gold
trimmed glasses.
As be sat down he removed his t'der-
by hat, which was of late shape. The
court and the constable did not "uncov-
er."
The court addressed the prisoner and
his tone was almost apologize.
P"ardner," he said, "we'uns found you
last night up alley bout drunk as they
make 'em. You'n was plainly enable to
take care o. yourself so we'un locked We
up. We didn't like to do ii but they
didn't seem to be anything else to do"
That's all right, Judge" said the pris-
oner. "I'm glad you did"
"We'uns lowed you would be-"
said the court, IAN to prove we didn't
charges an l b'lieve the constable'lI
throw off his'n"
''Kerreci," said the constable.
CLOWN that" said the court,
"You'un's fine IL be $3.50"
"All right, Judge" said the prisoner
again. "I've just got So. That'll leave
US so cents. Do you an the constable
mind coming with me and 'wetting' up?"
The court and the constable did not
object
A member of Salvini's company that
was here last week told this story of the
elder Booth aud gave his word that it
had never been printed.
1T was told to me by an old actor" he
said, ''who when he was a young man
play ed in the support of stock compa-
ny in Baltimore. In those good old days
that every actor likes to look back upon,
each town had its stock company and
the stars themselves were passed around.
This happened while Junius Brutus
Booth was yet very young man but his
talent had won for him glimmering of
the fame that afterwards was his so COM
pletely.
ain this company was an old actor who
had seen so many years of service that
he looked with disdain upon any young
er man who outshone his not too radiant
light and Booths reported triumphs
had made. him hate him in advance.
"Booth was to begin an engagement
with the Baltimore company and
the old man was Tuning greatly. The
piece was to be Hamlet
"When the time came for Booths first
rehearsal the old stage manager was
ready to challenge anything and was
looking for such innovations in the part
as the young upstars might make, ready
to jump on them with a savagery and
tear them to pieces.
Booth had his own ideas about the
part and it was not long till they began
to come to the surface.
These were the old actors joy and he
was not sparing in his denunciation of
the new business
Booth stood it meekly for a time but
his not too abundant patience was ebb-
ing fast, He began laying for the old
man and finally spoke most outrageous
Interpretation of the lines beginning,
Alas, poor Yorick,' which made the old
fellow fairly boil.
Stop, stop, STOP he cried, that is
horrible, horrible. A fool could read it
better than that
"'Try it, said Booth quietly.
"'Have you ever seen Hamlet played?'
yelled the old man. disregarding the
laughter Booth had put on him, 'have
you ever read the part. or did yon ever
hear of it?' He was shaking with
anger.
"'See Hamlet played?' repeated Booth
with a rising voice, see Hamlet p and
then with that terrible voice of his he
roared, as he threw the skull against the
wall beside the old mans head, why
man. I created the part of Hamlet
ANY Interpretation Booth put on Ham
let in that Baltimore company after that
went without a protest"