The times., 1897-07-05


President Lincoln, has been written Of
every week liz some portion OF the coun-
try, but next to nothing has been told Of
ri- life when at school.
Prof Charles b Young, Of the Emerson
Institute, was one oI hls eacly Instructors.
de se:re.ab bers the boy ana knew the man,
anG according to his story, Booth is an
ouner Illustration oil the tneory that our
alter Ime Is invariably shaped III soutn.
Ine elder Booth owned d tarn III Mary
land, not far from Baltimore, ana II was
nls custom TO reside There when not fIh-
ing IN engagement dis children were sent
to a famous boarding-school near 10y, run
10y qua aker.
As IL. instructors in such institutions
arr, not Oily thrown IN contact with the
boys Ia tht CLASSROOM, but during alter
hours ae wen, Inere was ample oppor-
tunity for the teachers OF this school To
learn uue character and habits OF all Their
pupils.
It Was ulSlIAeu iIon me week Ul his
entrance. While possessed OF splenGid
.uina, ne was eat shirk and ms lnilu-
encc Vas instrumental in bringing about
the same neglect among those Win whon
he associated. lie WAS tie ilng leader IN
every Gisg raceful prank, but III some way
he was SelaoH punished, always managing
TO get out of his scrapes.
lie mad eyes OF tie most intense lackness,
but as d rule could never look his teachers
in theface. Repnmands had no effect. He
would listen in sUllen silence 10 everything
told him. but that was all.
lie was the heIo OF certain set al the
school among the younger Logs, whom he
could lead moue easily thau those of his
own age.
Booth and some of these companions eS-
tabIshed headquarters in the woods and
secured the lumber for tier hut by dc
spoilmg RAILS from the nearest farmers
fence Then parties would toe sent cat
in search Of provisions They would cct
it honestly sometimes, and sometimes not.
Poultry yards. orchards and fields We're
raNared and many a farmer found Ein'-
self a loser by their being in his vicinity
| More stolen fence rails were used fOr d
file
| On ono occasion Booth was caught
| r0hbing the apple tree OF a milk woman.
| He was conducted TO the spot, bundle
/ OF switches broken from the same tree and
! GOO. &C fashioned thTashiug heartily dd-
/ u5niSJurrd
The same night, smarting under the
/ stlll painful blows, he stole from the dor
/ mitoTy and creeping q the udlkwomau's
! place, tied stones around tie necks OF all
| her ducks ana drowned them.
WHEN about TO leave he chanccd to cast
/ his glance toward tire pig sty ia which
/ wcIe seven little pigs but a few weeks
! old He climbed into the pen and broke
the legs OF every one or them.
At that tim.c Booth had hobby for
negro min>1Ielsy. The Quaker principal
or tie school was not IN favor Of this kind
| OF entertainment and mad Iepea tedIy
stupprG al attempts at performa nces.
| one day delegation OF the boys came
TO ask 10. the use of an outbuhdiu. foI
| theaIr,aiS Permission was readily grant
| ed, as IL was thought that The boys in
tended TO present something classic. TIE
| nature OF the entertainment was kept A
| profound secret, however, 2nd surprise
| was promised to all. Among the most as
S S!uous workers in the undertaking was
| Wilkes Booth, but be always seemed es-
peyialiy anxious TO avoid any Of the teach.
ers.
| No especial notice was taken Of this, : ht
was in bad Tepute with all Of them. Or
the night Of the performance the impromptt
theateT was filled to the walls. Their,
was a little delay in raising the curtain
tat wien 1t ascended the surprise prove,
to be a minstrel show with John WiIke
Booth as end man.
However, he was possessed OF a great Gea
Of talent for tragedy naturally, more $
1t is said, than his illustriOus brother
Edwin. He lacked application, howeveI
and shrked study. At the commencement
Of the school he sho wed to every one that b
was his fathers son.
As ErUtus iE the famous tent quarre
FROM ",!uEus Caesar he drew great an
pla-se fIoIa even those who disliked min
His bearing, lntonation and delivery wer
superb.
, HIS afn-alaror al this period was de
cid ,fly IfcposSes sing. He was Of ne,lnr
height and splendidly developed. Hi
, head was perfect in shape and was covere
10y masses Of raven black curls His ewes
however, " ere the most attractive part 4
the boy.
Booth represented a distinct type of d,
generacy. Senslaliuhis tastes, choosing tn
TOrs5 boysinthe schoolfor his associates. h
displayed there the same inclination as i
after lite The great curse OF his life wa
his love f0r notoriety and his inability :
, distinguish it from fame