The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-27
THEY MET
IN LONDON.
Booth. the Tragedian, and
Reade, Novelist.
LATTER LIKED AMERICANS
He Spoke of Charles Dickens Mis-
takes and Regrets.
BOOTHS FEELING ABOUT IRVING

Mr. +. III. House contributes an article
TO Tho Century on Edwin Booth In Lon
don." Mr.. House tells of Booths visit to
Charles Reade who was great admirer
of the American actor. After Reade had
spoken Of his admiration for Americans
Booth asked him why he did not visit this
country, assuring him hearty welcome.
Mr. House then records the following con-
versation:
"Ah, yes. They would treat me we'll
very well-too we'll. used 10 think OF
going, and have laid out many plan with
our friend here. Lectures. No. 1t would
have been teaching my children TO suck
eggs. might have read them a new story
or put a new play upon the stage. It's
too late now. am too old TO go through
such round Of hospitality as they would
give me- i should never come back alive"
II think you could indicate your wishes
IN that matter and they would be respect
ed"
Impossible A guest must not dictate
the manner of his entertainment and it
would be ungracious TO reject any welcome
kindly offered. And even If / asked 1t, /
should probably not be too well pleased to
be left alone. Besides" Reade added,
with more seriousness than he had yet
shown, "there Is another consideration. /
could not be at ease--it would go against
my conscience-to accept what 1 should
get in America, thinking all the time OF
the niggardly way we use your people.
You don't remember perhaps what the
Americans did for Thackeray. / do. And
for Dickens, who had given them little
reason to like him. He had many doubts
about his wisdom in facing them again. L
never had They had shown what they
were mado Of when, in spite Of their unset
tied grievances, they sent pity and help TO
Lancashire.
II told Dickens his suspicious were un-
worthy of him, and / am bound to say
that one of the first things he did when
he came back was 10 send for me to Gads-
hill and confess how wrong he had been.
He spoke with tears in his eyes, and said
he envied me--think of that -envied mo
fer being the first English author 10 win
the American heart by keeping clear Of
injustice. He said, too, that from that
time forth he would write for the whole
of his race. which he had never done be-
fore. He meant this, I know, and he
would have proved it If he had lived"
"Wc have no Thackeray or Dickens to
send you" Booth remarked, but If we
had, do you think their claim To gratitude
would be denicdY"
II Judge from what / see," answered
Rcade. "At least those who come in your
line OF work mostly get the cold shoulder
There was jefferson, whose acting was
the finest OF fine art Small satisfaction
for him in Englandl Your brotherin-
law, Clarke, had to fight tooth and nail
only to get place that was worth moth
ing compared to what he left at home. l
admired his pluck, though l never could
understand why he struggled so hard to
gain so little. Your own case, If you Will
let me speak frankly, is very striking
illustration of the cold blooded Indifference
that irritates me. Is it credible, / ask you,
that the leading actor of England should
visit America and be received there as you
are hereY What have we given you? Only
a certain amount of fame, If 1 may call it
so, and even that is probably grudgcd you
by high and low in theatrical circles.
"I have no reason to think that" said
Booth. If Irving had anything but the
best feeling, he would not have made the
opening for mo at the Lyceum. had no
expectation of it. so far as 1 know, it is
wholly his conception"
He may have many motives, " replied
Reade, land they may all be good ones.
1t Is feather in his cap undoubtedly. If
he makes tour in America, and they say
he thinks of 10, his courtesy 10 you will
turn out one of the luckiest hits Of his
life. Mark my words, his earnings, as he
counts them here, will be doubled, at the
least, in your free handed country.
don't say that this is in his calculations
though it may DO without any discredit TO
him---but the result is certain. Your
friends will not forget his service, or let it
go unrewarded.
"Not If can holpitl" Booth exclaimed.
"Surely, and so IL should be. l think
also that Irving may be conscious OF some
American obligations in tho past. He
owed a great deal TO the industry and de-
votion of his American manager, Bate
man. We know what he Is today, and we
believe his success Is deserved. But he
might have waited for 1t many long
year without Batemans helping hand |
have watched Irving since he first set foot
in London. and / know that for four years
he made scarcely n step ahead. Then
under Bateman he went up like "A rocket.
They used 20 say tho manager overdid IL,
but like man who will fight through
thick and thin for his faith and his friend.
Poor Batcmnnl His championship cost
him dear in the end His last tilt in be-
half of his leading man brought the stroke
OF heart disease from which he died. l
suppose Irving has not forgotten that.
"A man who can do good turn is not
the sort TO forget one, said Booth. with
emphasis
Let us hope So Certainly I shall al
ways think the better of him for what he
a. Anfpr, f,r ,.,,,