Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-29
BARRYMORE'S KEEN WIT
Stories That Depict the Actors
 Epigrammatic Power.
wAsALwAYs READYwTHAREPLY

row Escape From Death In a Texas Town-One of His Harmless Prac- tical Jokes Perpetrated on . Cloth- ing Merchant.
 The late Maurice Barrymore, the bril- liant actor, was man who never slept so long as there were entertaining con- panions ready to, talk and listen, a man who was never at loss for an answer, says the Chicago Tribune. If his witticisms were collected they would fill a book and lose half their charm. Probably he never uttered many of the clever things attributed to him, but there never was an cpl gram too brilliant for Barrymore to have made it. Some were bitter as gall., and a few had no more sting in them than butterfly, but all of them showed that he possessed a remark able mind. '
 He was essentially combatant and a chivalrous man. He loved a fight, intellectual or physical, for its own sake. Once when he was livid with rage over reflection cast upon wom- an he knew friend asked him why he restrained himself
 "Every blow struck in defense of a woman is dent in her reputation" ," was Barrymore's reply.
 He was once at 0 table with a young woman who wanted to taste absinth. She wrinkled her brows for few mo- ments and then said:
 Tt is like something had when I was a child I mean it's just like pare goric."
 You are quite right" remarked Bar rymore. "Absinth is the paregoric of second childhood
 He once had a dispute with boast full bully in the St. James cafe. who de- clared. If 1 had you in Texas I'd blow your head off," Then your courage is a matter of longitude" observed Bar rymore sweetly. He was once on his way 10 the Catskills for holiday when he fell in with three other men. q am an actor, broken down by overwork, seeking health and rest" he said. "I am a business man. going to the noun. tains for the same reason" explained one of his acquaintances. And I am an engineer, also broken down by work" said the second. And you, sir are in the same boat with us?" was asked the third. "No. I am not. I am going to the hills for pleasure. I don't work. I am gentleman" And plain ly on vacation." added Barrymore.
 When Steele Mackaye told Barry more that he would never become g great actor until he experienced grea' sorrow or thrilling experience the re tort came in a flash, Write play fol me-. Steele, and shall get both."
 Tn 1878 Barrymore organized a com pany to play Diplomacy" on the road says the New York Times. It included besides himself Frederick Warde, JohI Drew. Benjamin c. Porter, Rees Da vies. Mrs. Georgie Barrymore Miss Ellen Cummens and Signor Maga roni and his wife, While the compan. was at Marshall. Tex, Barrymore hat a very narrow escape from death a! a result of an affray which cost BeI Porter his life. While waiting fol their train Barrymore, Miss Cummen! and Porter went into the railway res taurant and were sitting at the luncl counter when local bully named Cur ", who was employed as detective by the railroad company, swaggered ir and tried to provoke Porter to fight using the most offensive language Barrymore tried to persuade him to de sist. Curry asked him if he was anx ious to get into fight himself.
 "No." said Barrymore. T am nc' armed" "Nor am l." said Curry twill you swear it?" Yes"
 Barrymore sprang from his seat and pulled of his coat to fight when Curry drew a revolver and fired point blanl at the actor. The bullet hit Barry more's left shoulder, broke the shoul der blade and lodged near the spine making a six weeks stay in the hos pital necessary. Curry then walked up to Porter and shot him in the heart inflicting a wound from which he diet instantly. John Drew. who was in room above the restaurant with tht other members of the company, wa: roughly treated by Curry when Drew went down to ascertain tine cause ol the disturbance. Curry was tried fol the murder of Porter and was acquit ted, the district attorney informing Barrymore. who was a witness, that there were not fewer than eleven mur derers on the jury that listened to th' testimony.
 Maurice Barrymore sometimes uset to perpetrate harmless practical joke' of the Theodore Hook type," said Will ton Lackaye to a New York Times re porter. "One afternoon Barry whii' walking down Sixth avenue. in NeN York. with a friend halted abrupt, and disappeared into ready mad clothing store. The friend followed and found him addressing the store keeper:
 "'will you please take that suit o clothes out of the windowE he asked.
 The clothicr. thinking he was t have . sale. quickly complied.
 Thank yoa.' said Barrymore. turn ing on his heel.
 ".But don't you want to look at hi blurted the merchant.
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