The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-08
BOOTH AND READE.
MEETING OF THE TRAGEDlAN AND
THE NOVELIST IN LONDON.

.,r,oaus and Told of Dickens Mistake
"a Rserets How Booth Felt About
,.v,og-T The Latter's Debt to Bateman.
Mr. Il II. House contributes an article
-, The Century on edwin Booth In Lon
don MIR. House tells of Booth IS visit TO
charles Roade, who was great admirer
- tho American actor. After Reade had
snoLep Of his admiration for Americans
Rooth asked him why he did not visit this
country, assuring him hearty welcome.
Mr. House then records the following con-
yersaton:
"Ab YES. They would treat me we'll
cory well-too we'll l used to think of
yoing. and have laid out many plan with
onr friend here. Lectures No 1t would
have been teaching my children to suck
cygs | might have read them new story
or nut n new play upon the stage It's
roo late now am too old to go through
such a round of hospitality as they would
,,ivo mo | should never come back alive"
"I think you could indicate your wishes
I'm that matter and they would be respect
ed.
"Impossible A guest must not dictate
Tho manner of his entertainments, and 1t
would be ungracious to reject any welcome
Kindly offered. And even If l asked it, l
should probably not he too well pleased to
he 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
nv copscience-to accept what / should
ret 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.
never had. They had shown what they
were madeof when, In spite of their unset
tied grievances, they sent pity and help to
Lancashire.
81 told Dickens his suspicious were IN
worthy of him, and 1 am bound to say
that one of the first things he did when
he came back was to send for me to Gads-
hill and confess how wrong he had been.
He smoke with tears in his eyes, and said
he enyied me-think Of thatl-envied me
for being the first English author to win
the American heart by keeping clear OF
Injustice. He said, too, that from that
time forth no would write for the whole
of his race, which no had never done be-
fore. He meant this, i know, and he
would have proved it II he had lived. !"
eve have no Thackeray or Dickens TO
send YOU" Booth remarked, but II we
had. do you think their claim to gratitude
would be denied2"
81 Judge from what 1 see, " answered
Reade "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 brother-in-
law, Clarke, had to fight tooth and nail
only to get place that was worth moth
ing compared to what no left at home. l
admired his pluck, though / never could
understand why he struggled SO hard to
gain so little. Your own case II 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 herep What have we given your Only
a certain amount of fame, if may call ii
so, and even that is probably grudged you
by high and low in theatrical circles.
81 have no reason TO think that, said
Booth "If Irving had anything but the
best feeling, he would not have made the
opening for me at the Lyceum. had nc
wholly his conception"
He may have many motives, replied
Reade, land they may oil DO good ones
1t is feather in his cap undoubtedly. II
he makes q tour i'm America, and they say
he thinks of it, his courtesy to you Will
turn out one of the luckiest hits OF his
life. Mark my words, his earnings, rs 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 be without any discredit &c
him-but the result is certain. Your
friends will not forget his service or let II
20 unrewarded."
"Not If can help it' Booth exclaimed
Surely, and so 1t should be, i think
also that Irving may be conscious of some
American obligations In the past liz
owed great deal to the industry and de
votion of his American manager, Bate
man We know what he is today, and W.
believe his success Is deserved. But III
might have waited for it many "a Ions
year without Bateman's helping hand.
have watched Irving since he first set foo
In London, and know that for four years
he made scarcely stop ahead. Thoi
under Bateman he went up like rocket
They used to say the manager overdid 1t
but like q man who will fight through
thick and thin for his faith and his friend
Poor Batemani His championship cos
him dear I'm the end. His last tilt In be
half of his leading man brought the strok,
OF heart disease from which he died.
suppose Irving has not forgotten that.
A man who can do good turn Is no
the sort to forget one," said Booth, will
emphasis.
Let us hope So Certainly l shall al
ways think the better of him for what h
Is doing for you"