Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-01-15
A STORY OF EDWIN B00rn.
Illustrating His Easy Transition from the
Ridiculous to the Sublime.

a good many years ago, while Ed
win Booth was playing successful
engagement in one of the leading
theatres. l dropped into his dressing
room one night during the course of
The performance. He CHANGED to be in
II particularly happy frame of mind
and he was often cheerful and happy,
tradition to the contrary notwith-
standing. He was smoking the ineyi-
table pipe, and he was arrayed IN the
costume of Rchelieu. with his feet
upon the table, submitting patiently
TO the manipulatons of his wardrobe
man, or dresser" After q few words
of greeting the callboy knocked at the
door and said that Mr. Booth wa3
wanted at a certain left lower en- d.
trance" The protagonist 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 quoting til"
words of George l.. Fox. who had been
producing recently ludicrously cleV-
er burlesque of Booth in the same
part. ! followed him To the wings. and
stood by his side while he waited for
his cue.
1t was the fourth act of the drama,
! remember, and the stage was set as a
garden, nothing of Which was visible
from our position but the flies and thu
back of the wings. and we might have
been placed in a great bare barn, 50
far as any scenic effect was apparent.
Adrian, Barabas and the conspiratols
were speaking, and AT an opposite en-
= hg1 -
Julie of the evening She was good
woman and an excellent actress, hut,
unfortunately not personal faVol1t-
with the star, who called my attcn-
ton to the bismuth with which sh.
was covered. and said that if she gnC
any Of it onto his new scarlet cloak
he would pinch her black and blue.
putting volumes of smoke into my fac
as he spoke.
When the proper time came he
rushed upon the stage, With parting
injunction not Ia let his pipe so out:
and with the great meorSchaum in NY
own mouth | saw the heroine Of tuc
play cast herself into his arms. and
noticed. 10 my great amusement. that
she did smear the robes OF NJ Lord
Cardinal with the greasy white stun
he 50 much dsliked. l winked back
at the half-comic half-angry glance
he shot toward me over jules snow
shoulders halt-cXpected TO heaI
the real scream he had threatened IL
cause her to utter | thought of moth
ing but the humorous. absurd side at
the situation. | was eager 10 keep tao
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 hut a foot within that
hallowed ground and on thy head
yea. though it 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, l forgot AL
the tomfoolery we had been INDUCING
in: | forgot his pipe. and my promi5-
regarding it: | forgot that | had been
a habitual theutrrgocr all my life;
forgot that was 4 Protestant hereto
and that it WAS nothing but stage
play. | forgot everything, except tn
fact that ! was standing in the pres
rnce If the great visible head of In,
Catholic religion in France. and thai
| was ready to drop upon my knee
with the rest Of them at his inYoca-
ton.
That was Edwin Booth the actor
Laurence Hutton in Harpcrs Maya
zine