New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-09
PERSONALITIES.
A STORY OF EDWIN BOOTH.
ILLUSTRATING HIS EASY TRANSITION FROM THE

ILLUSTRATING HIS EASY TRANSITION FROM THE
RIDICULOUS TO THE SUBLIME
Laurence Hutton. in Harpers Magazine.
good many years ago. while Edwin Booth
was playing a successful engagement in one or
the leading theatres, dropped into his dressing
room one night during the course OF the per
Torrance. He CHANGED to be in particularly
happy frame OF midland he was often cheerful
and happy. tradition to the contrary nOtwith-
standing. He was smoking the inevitable pipe
and he was arrayed in the costume Of Richelieu
with his feet upon the table. submitting pa
tiently to the manipulatons OF his wardrobe
man, or dresser" After a few words or greet
ing the callboy knocked at the door and sald
that Mr. Booth was wanted at certain ieit
lower entrance" The protaSonist jumped up
quickly. and asked II | would stay where
was and keep his pipe alight, or go along with
him and see him lunch the cuSS OF Rum. quot
ing the words Of George l. Fox. who had been
producing recently a ludicrously clever buriesque
Of Booth in the same part followed MN TO
the wings, and stood by his side while he
waited for his cue
1t was the fourth act Of the drama, remen-
ber and the stage was set IS garden. nothing
Of which was visible from position but the
flies and the back OF the wings. and we might
have been placed in great bare barn. so far as
any scenic effect apparent Adrian. Ba-
radas and the conspirators were speaking. ana
at an opposite entrance, waiting for her cue. was
the Julie Of the evening. She was good woman
and an excellent actress. but. unfortunately, not
a personal favorite with the star. VINO called my
covered and said that II she got any or 1t onto
his new scarlet cloak he would pinch her black
and blue, pulling volumes Of smoke into my face
he spoke.
When the proper time came he rushed upon
the stage, with a parting injunction not to let
his pipe go out: and with the great meerscnaum
in my own mouth | saw the heroine Of the play
cast herself into his arms. and noticed. to my
great amusement that she did smear the robes
OF My Lord Cardinal with the greasy white
stuff he much disliked. / winked back at
the haf-comic half-angry glance he shot toward
me over jules snowy shoulders. | haf-eXpect-
ed To hear the real scream he had threatened TO
cause her to utter. | thought Of nothing but
the humorous absurd side Of the situation; was
eager to keep the pipe going.
And 10. he raised his hand and spoke those
familiar lines: around her form ] draw the
awful circle Of our solemn Church Place but
a foot within that hal.owed ground. and on thy
head yea. though il wear a crown. I'll launch
the curse Of Rome. Every head upon the
stage was uncovered. and found my own hat
in my hand, | forgot all the tomfOOlery we
had been indulsing in; ! forgot his pipe. ana
my promise regarding it; ! forgot that ! had
been habitual thcatregOcr all my life; forgot
that / was a Protestant hereto, and that 1t was
nothing but stage play; forgot everything eX-
cept the fact that standing in the presence
Of the great. visible head If the Catholic re-
igion in France. and that ! was ready to drop
upon my knees with the, rest Cf them at his in
vocation.
That was Edwin Booth the Actor.