The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-03-06
A STORY or EDWIN BOOTH.
Illustrating Hs Easy Transition from
The Ridteufoa. IN IN. subltme.

Illustrating Hls Easy Transition from
the Ridieuioas 70 the Sublime.
A good many years ago. while Edwin
Booth was playing a successful engage
ment In one OF the leading theaters. !
dropped into his dressing room one
night during the course Of the perform
ance. says Lawrence Hutton In Har-
per's Magazine. He CHANGED TO be In
particularly happy frame OF
mind-and he was often cheer
ful and happy. tradition TO the
contrary Notwithstanding He was
smoking the inevitable pipe and he
was arrayed in the costume OF Richie
lieu. with his feet upon the table sub
hitting patiently to the manipulation
Of his wardrobe man or dresser" AZ
ter few words Of greeting the callboy
knocked at the door and said that Mr.
Booth was wanted at a certain left
lower entrance" The protagonlst
jumped up quickly and asked II would
stay where | was and keep his pipe
alight. or 20 along with him and see
him lunch the cuss OF Rum" quoting
the words Of George l.. Fox. who had
been producing recently a ludicrously
clever burlesque Of Booth In the same
part followed him to the wings and
stood by his side while he waited fof
his cue. II was the fourth act OF thu
drama. remember and the stage was
set as a garden. nothing Of which was
visible from our position but the files
and the back Of the wings aud We
might have been placed In a great bare
barn. so far a. any scenic effect was ap-
parent. Adrian. Baradas and the con-
spirators we're speaking and at an Op.
poslte entrance. waiting for her cue.
was the Julie Of the evening She was
a good woman and an excellent ac-
tress. but unfortunately not a personal
fayorite with the star. who called my
attention 10 the blsmuth with which
she was covered and said that II she
got any Of II onto his new scarlet cloak
he would pinch her black and blue
putting volumes Of smoke into my face
a. be spoke. When the proper time
came he rushed upon the stage Will
a parting Injunction not TO let his pip
10 out. and with the great meerschauu
In my mouth | saw the heroine of the
play cast herself into his arms and no
tlced. 10 my great amusement. that sh'
did smear the robes OF my lord cardi
nal with the greasy white stun he 81
much dlsliked winked back at IN
half.comic hali-angry glance he Iho
toward me over jules snowy shou!
ders. half-expected TO hear the rea
scream he had threatened 10 cause he
to utter thought Of nothing but IN
humorous. absurd side Of the situation
was eager to keep the pipe golng
And lol he raised his hand and spOk
those familiar lines. Around her form
draw the awful circle Of our solemi
church. Place but a foot within tina
hallowed ground and on thy head, yea
though II wore a crown. ia launch III
curse Of Romew Every head upon tn
stage was uncovered and found m
own hat In my hand, forgot all th
tomfoolery we had been INDUCING In
forgot his pipe and my promise 70
garding II. I forgot that had been
habltual theaier-goer all my life. for
got that was a protestant hereto an
that Il was nothing but stage play
forgot everything except the fact wa
standing In the presence Of the greaI
visible head VI the Catholic religion q
France and that I was ready 10 dro
upon my knees with the rest Of thet
At his lmprecatlon. That was Edwi
Booth the actor.