Evening star., 1897-03-27

scrrtion Booth" on one side, and on the
other the family motto. DUN spiro spiro."
! have known him in every relation of
life: with his fellow players he was ever
consioerate. courteous and kind. AS a
son, in his household showing Difference
and affection to his amiabie mother and
cultured sisters. He was chivalric and true,
both as lover and husband. Once only can
l remember having seen him reused to
anger, giving vent in strong terms TO his
outraged sense of justice. 1t was after the
death of his second wife, Mary Mcvicker.
or rather. Mary Runnion. for she was not
James McVicker's child. He had been
easily managed through his affectionate.
diffident nature, while this extraordinarily
gifted being lived; but when death severed
the tie that neld his loyal soul, their greed
of gain became too manifest: they crowded
him too far. and he asserted his manhood.
There never was s"eeter. gentler nature
than that which inhabited the mortal tene-
ment called Edwin Booth. His charities
were many. but secret. Few knew that
within short time Of his death he
bought an annuity for the aged actor Ed
mon 5. Connor. His reverence for his
noble art and his high view of the actors
calling is giorlously exemplifed by the
munificent endowment of the Players
Club in Grammercy Park, SO lovingly ac-
complished under the intelligent guidance
of those active spirits and constant friends
and companions. William Bispham Chas
p. Carryl Lawrence Hutton. E. c. Bene-
dict and Thomas Bailey Aldrich.
John Wilkes Booth.
John Wilkes Booth first met in the sum-
mer OF 1893. 1t was in a billiard room next
to Grace Church. managed by Michael
Phelan, then the champion Of the cue. We
played several games; he was expert.
Indeed, he excelled in all athletic sports.
Like his brother June he was master
of fence. l was struck with his easy
movements of alluring, springy grace. The
classic Booth head sat above broad should
ers and deep chest. Taller than any Of the
other Booths. his frame was compactly
| knit and instilled with life In every fiber
| He was then engaged to Matt Canning to
| go to Montgomery, Ala. to take his initia-
| ton In the great roles that made his father
famous, and In which Edwin now forg-
| ing ahead for first place in the drama tic
arena.
| l did not see him again until the winte,
| of 1865. He was then a full-hedged star
| in some Of his fathers parts. and had made
| his mark in the south and west. But sud
| denly his voice failed. He was compelled
| to remain idle, his time being passed main
! ly In Washington. From there he could
easily run over to Bel Air. the home of the
| family in Maryland. He was a great ia
| vorite In Washington society; his talent a.
! an actor, beauty of person and engaging
| manners made him welcome guest in any
| company. The men were charmed and the
women fascinated. 1t was. said that the
| handsome and witty daughter of a GER
tain famous senator was greatly in love
| with him, and 1t was soon rumOred thai
| their engagement was shortly to be an
| nounced, when Booths terrible crime pu
| an end to the romantic episode.
| The peculiar teaching. or rather lack e1
| teaching, of the head of the Booth family
| and the vagaries of that extraordinary
| man., found perhaps greater expression II
| John Wilkes than in any other of the chill
dren. Raised in this wild and free way
! without the restraint of proper parenta
influence in the father. and surrounded by
the atmosphere of a so-called chivalrI
which then had greater expression II
| Maryland than any other southern state,
is perhaps not so surprising after all tina
young Wilkes became imbued with th'
same ideas of our government that i'm
PEELED the great spirits Of tho south t,
rebel AS have said, he had access to al
circles in the capital. The department
were honeycombed with southern sympa
thizers. Everything was ripe for con
spiracy. The loss of his voice made hin
brood. The prospect Of fame as an acto
seemed to be passing from him. HI
brother Edwin had the field. He must d
something to impress himself upon man
kind and leave name. In Richard he ha
often spoken the lines THE aspiring yout
that fred the Ephesian dome outlives /
fame the pious fool that raised it,
Before Lincoln's Death.
That was better than no fame at all.
1t was at this time 1 saw him again 9
the Metropolitan Hotel in New York
was acting In the "Corsican Brothers g
Niblo's. He saw the duel scene and spok
about 1t next day. 1 remembered aftel
ward his eyeing me from head to foot sa,
Ing, You handle a sword pretty WE'LL
replied: Il have had many q bout with bot
of your brothers, and especially with June
who is a master" How long is your er
gagement?" he inquired. "A month longer
; said !. He paused, eyeing me curiousl,
surveying me from head to foot. "Whe
you are through here" said he. take
run down to Washington. have some el
: terprises on hand that may interest yol
. I'll give you good time. and If you fall
: with my ideas, Wen make fortune"
) asked him why he did not act "oh, m