Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-05

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ton and drove him to the Mt. Vernon
Hotel He played at the Lyceu1n Thea
tire. and I drove him and Mr.. Chase, his
partner. from the hotel to the theatre
and back every night.
"One night, I think It was Wednes-
day. as I was leaving him at the stage
door, he said to me: Go to Union sta
ton and meet the train from New York
which gets in at o'clock. A friend OF
mine will be on that train. Drive him
to the hotel, and then come for me-
II drove to Union Station and waited
for the train. An elderly man got or,
came up to me and said: is this MT.
Booths carriage? told him that it
| was, and he got in
1.-THE man was about Ned's height,
had a close-cropped grey beard wore
q silk hat, and long overcoat carried
grip and cane.
'All the way down Charles street to-
the hotel I was trying to remember
where I'd seen that face; but I couldn't
| When we reached the Mt. Vernon he got
out. gave me 81 and walked inside with
| out a word
Then 1 drove to the theatre, got Ned
and took him to the hotel. AS he got
| in he said: Did my friend come?
|
said he did.
1.-The next evening. just as came out
| into Charles street from the stage alley
on Preston street, after taking Ned to
the performance, the same gentleman was
standing on Charles street, opposite the
! theatre watching the crowd go in He
| was dressed just as he was the night
| before I walked my horses and took
a good look at him.
eff I didn't know John Booth, then I
didn't see him. And if he wasn't John
Booth. then I never did see him"
AN EXCITED BEL AIR FARMER.
At the very time the cabman speaks
of a well-to-do farmer OF Bel Air, Md,
which is an agricultural town few miles
| north of Baltimore, and was once the
country home Of the Booth family. came
| into the city and dropped into saloon
popular with his neighbors.
II had a hi of a scare yesterday"
he remarked, as he picked up his glass
| from the bar
''IIow was that?" queried the bar
keeper.
The farmer glanced about the room,
| and, seeing that they were alone, he
| said in low voice:
II met Wilkes Booth in the road yes
| terday!''
The bar-keeper laughed at the asser-
IT tell you I saw him! Met him face
| to face! Don't you s'pose I know John
| Booth? Him and me went to school to-
gether herein Baltimorei"
did you speak to him.
"He didn't give me no chance. He was
| in hurry like. Walking back from the
| old homestead. He had on a high hat a
| big overcoat and carried cane. He's
! got gray whiskers cut close to his face
| which is fatter nor it used to be-"
| Neither libations nor argument could
| shake this old farmers belief in his
| eyesight.
THE OLD GERMAN AND Els LET
TIERS.
| Among Wilkes Booths early friends in
| Baltimore was a German named Max,
| who subsequently became a runner for
| one McPhail, a detective Max was a
man whose personality appealed to
! Booths sense of humor, and they became
! intimates. When Max made detective
associations he grew conservative and
secretive.
The last time that Edwin Booth played
an enga cement at Fords Opera-House
in BaItimore-sonne twenty years ago
now-Max came into the lobby one eve
ming and asked Mr. Ford if he might
go back on the stage and see Mr.. Booth?
Mr.. Ford asked him what he wanted
to see Mr.. Booth for?
Max grew wroth, being thus interro-
gated, and declined to state his business;
so Mr.. Ford refused to permit his pas
sage back to the stage.
He carried in his hand a bundle Of let
tiers.
Turning to an attache Of the theatre,
whom he knew, he said:
II wanted to show Ned these letters
what are they?"
Letters from his brother john
what do you suppose he cares about
| them?"
'rCares-' hoarsely whispered the excited
and offended Max. Every one of them
| I've got from John in the last five
| years!''
Somehow Max got word to Edwin. for
when the latter left the theatre he took
| the German away with him In his car
| riage.
AT THE cLARKEs' COUNTRY SEAT.
John Sleeper Clarke's country seat was
| not far from London.
Mr.. Clarke died there about two years
| ago.
To limited extent the Clarkes en-
| tertained both at this country seat and
in London. But their hospitality was
! less ample than when they lived In
| America.
A gentleman about Clarke's own age
was always apparently a permanent, es-
| tablished guest at the country place.
| He, too, bore the name Of Clarke. and
was introduced as a cousin to visitors
Some people found him taciturn. He
mingled little with other guests.
It is worth remembering that the fanf-
lily name of Clarke was Sleeper-John
Clarke Sleeper.
The cousin" is described as Slender
man, not tall. with gray hair and beard
usually wearing tall silk, hat.
CLARKE's COMPANION.
slender gent eman. with closely-cut
pra1, haa ri and ha win . m nnars NJ 5.,,oJ,4