The National tribune., 1900-08-09
FORD'S THEATER.

was laying the foundation where the
greatest tragedy of modern times would
be acted. He had in mind grand operas
high tragedies, wholesome comedies, and
from the artists in these lines he drew his
forces.
Before an audience that overran the
house appeared Edwin Forrest, with q
dignity and majesty almost awful; yet his
King Lear, Othello, Macbeth have never
been surpassed. Young Mccullough was
his support. One of the most memorable
engagements ever played was by Forrest
in Ford's New Theater. All of the stars
of that period were secured by the man
agement.
Mr.. James II. Hackett followed For.
rest, whose Falstaff, it is said, has never
been surpassed.
The following year after the Forrest
engagement Laura Keene, in 1865, ap,
peared in several of her roles at this thea
ter. On the fateful night of April 4, 1865
she was to appear in Our Country Cou,
SIM
The world knows of the tragedy this
night that took the place. of the comedy
advertised. President Lincoln was shot
by Wilkes Booth in his box at the theater.
Every move of every person connected
with that tragic night has now become his
tory
The marble slab on the little building op-
into that house President Lincoln was ten
derly carried, and there he died.
This unpretentious building has become
modest memorial building. The building
is now known as the "Oldroyd Lincoln
Memorial" Mr.. G. ii. Oldroyd being the
man who has made the wonderful collec-
tion of relics.
Mr.. Oldroyd says: 81 was but boy in
the political campaign of 1850, but had
read campaign life of Abe Lincoln, and
became charmed with his remarkable, yet
1imple life, and the possibilities of an
American boy rising from such humble
birth TO the candidacy for the Presidency
Of the United States. i took an active
part IN the campaign, and collected every
thing could pertaining to Mr.. Lincoln,
little dreaming that the small beginning
would amount TO much. But when the
assasSin's bullet took the Presidents life
l determined then to spare no efforts to
extend the collection. | have since ac-
cunulated nearly 5000 Lincoln relies.
lived 10 years in the Lincoln homestead
Springfield, until it became necessary to
remove it from that historic house in 1893
when the Memorial Association of the Dis.
trict of Columbia induced me TO place il
In the house in which the President died
that the two might be preserved together
as n Lincoln Memorial. The house was
leased by the Washington Memorial As
held 1t, with the collection, as a museum
hoping that Congress would purchase the
house and preserve it in perpetuity.'
The Memorial Association at the end
or Two years, feeling that they could no
longer carry the expense of the rental. Mr.
Oldroyd, April /, 1895, assumed the rent
of 500 per month, which he carried until
Nov. l, 1896 Beside what was taken in
IN admissions of % cents and some ad,
Fances from friends, Mr.. Oldroyd made
up the balance out Of his own pocket
amounting TO about S45 per month. How.
ever, in 1896 Congress made an aDpropria.
tion for the purchase Of the house, bu,
made no appropriation for its care.
In 1898 Congress appropriated $4,000
for tie repair OF the house, and again not
dollar for its care.
Mr. Oldroyd did not press the sale OF
the relics upon Congress, and Congress
took the ground that IL the house was
furnished Mr.. OIdroyd could keep the
rest up. But Mr.. Oldroyd's idea is that
the Government should appropriate enough
10 pay the expenses Of keeping the Mu.
scum open without admission charge to
the public.
Unless something is done undoubtedly
the collection will be sold, which SO ap
propriately belongs to this building the
Government now owns.
1t would seem that in 40 years there
had not been sufficient passing and pass
ing OF moons to place this collection In the
atmosphere OF sentiment. But there will
surely come a day when this collection
OF 5000 articles that come into such close
touch with Abraham Lincoln will be ap.
preciated.
II anyone in the days of George Wash.
ington had been SO imbued with love for
him as to have been willing to have given
time' money, strength and devotion to