Sunday Washington globe., 1902-02-09

Charles Keau and Junius Brutus Booth
drove the latter to America Immediately
after his marriage in 1921. He landed in
Norfolk, Va, June 80 of thar year, and six
DAYS later, in Richmond, made his first
appearance on any American stage in
Richard III' at Marshall Theater, corner
Of Seventh and Broad streets, Richmond,
always great friend Of the dramatic pro-
fession and of the drama, received him
with open arms, and gave him the recog-
milton that insured his dramatic career in
this country.
Junius Brutus Booth was the son of a sue
eessful London lawyer of republican prin-
ciples, who in his youth had sailed for
America to volunteer in Washington s army,
but was captured aud returned to England
In politics Junius Brutus was an English
Radical, deeply sympathizing with all pop
ular aspirations for advancement, revolu-
tionary in many Of his ideas, and there is
little doubt that his son, John Wilkes, de-
rived much of his own restless political
spirit and mental radicalism from both
father and grandfather. John Wilkes, in
deed. all of Mr. Booths sons. were born in
Maryland, and educated in st. Mary's Col
lege in that state.
INAu NNAA&Gn DO0An was always an intense
Southerner ia all his feelings and thoughts
On all the questions that were dividing the
North and South. knew him we'll, and
often heard him give expression to these
Southern sympathies and convictions.
When the John Brown raid occurred in
1859, John Wilkes Booth was member Of
the theatrical company then playing at the
Richmond Theatre. He was playing under
the name Of John Wilkes. On the night
that the First Virginia Regiment was or
dered to Harper's Ferry and thence to
Charlestown he left the theatre, procured
uniform and musket, joined the Richmond
Grays, the company of which l was a mem
Der, and accompanied it to Harpers Ferry
and Charlestown, and did duty as a private
soldier until John Brown was executed,
and then came back to Richmond with the
command and returned TO the theatre The
managers, Ford and Kunkel, discharged
him for going to Harper's Ferry and
Charlestowu; and on this becoming known
a large contingent Of the First Virginia
Regiment marched to the theatre and de-
manded that he be reiustated, which the
managers did.
While at Chariestown the Richmond
Grays occupied as their quarters an old tin
factory and here John Wilkes Booth slept
every night, when he was not doing duty
as a sentinel with Writ Harrison, on a
straw pallet which was laid next to my own.
Nearly every night before taps Booth would
entertain US with dramatic recitatious from
different plays. He was very fond Of re-
citing. which he did in such a fiery, intense
vigorous, brilliant way as to forecast that
great genius he subsequently, showed on
the stage.
Edwin Booth once said to me "John
Wilkes had the genius Of my father, and
was far more gifted than l." Many old
actors who saw him in his last years before
his terrible and insane deed at Washington
have told me that they never saw so great
a performance as he gave Of Richard III"
and other great parts. In Richmond, as !
have said, he played under the name Of
John Wilkes and never used his own name
until his brother Edwin came TO the city to
play Hamlet" He then played 'HoratiO'
10 his brothers. Hamlet" and his name
was given in the bills as John Wilkes Booth.
AT the close of the play, when the usual
call came for Edwin Booth, the curtain was
run up and he came down the stage leading
John Wilkes by the hand, pointed to him,
and said Il think he has done we'll Don't
your" The response from the audience
was cries Of 'Yes" "Yesw and thunders
Of applause.
When john Wilkes Booth was in the
Richmond Stock Company he was very
young. In his early twenties he weighed
about one hundred and seventy-fve pounds
was a little taller than his brother Edwin,
possessed his marvelously intellectual and
beautiful eyes, with great symmetry Of
feature, an especially fine forehead and
curly black hair. He was as handsome as
Greek god. It is saying great deal, but
he was a much handsomer man than his
brother Edwin. He possessed a voice very
like his brothers., melodious sweet, full
and strong, and was like him, a consum-
mate elocutionist. Until his brother came
to Richmond and he played "Horatio" with
him he was the second juvenile man of the
theatre. and played small parts. ! saw him
in "Sir Benjamin Backbite" Charles
Courtley," Claws" in the Lady Of
Lyons" and in similar small roles. His
ability was unquestionable and his future
assured. IN Richmond, while connected
with the theatre, he was a great social
favorite knowing all the best men and
many Of the finest women. This faculty of
social success was hereditary, having been
possessed by his father and also by his
brother Edwin. With men John Wilkes
was most dignifed in demeanor, bearing
himself with insouciant care aud grace, and
was a brilliant talker. With women he was
man Of irresistible fascination by reason
of his superbly handsome face, converse
tonal brilliancy aud peculiar halo Of TO-
nance with which he invested himself and
which the ardent imagination Of women
amplihed
He was a great admirer Of those Greek
and Roman characters that are deemed ex-
ponents Of popular liberty and heroic
patriotism. In this he went almost to radi.
calism. OF the "Brutuses" he was an
especial admirer, and shall never forget
his recitation Of "Brutus" speech in
Julius Caesar" in defence Of his share in
the assassination, and with what fervor he
rolled cut the liue Ny ancestor that did
from the streets Of Rome the Tarquin
drive" He said 10 me, "Of all Shakes.
peare's characters like "Brutus'" the best
excepting only Lear" There is no doubt
that his study Of and meditation upon those
characters had much to do with shaping
that mental condition which induced his
u ..H De-. U