The Bottineau courant., 1905-04-14

The late Maurice Barrymore, the bril-
liant actor, was man who never slept
20 long as there were entertaining CON-
panions ready to talk and listen,
man who was meyer 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 epi-
gram too brilliant for Barrymore to
have made it. Some were bitter as
gall, and a few had no more sting in
them than a butterfly, but all of them
showed that he possessed a remark
able mind.
He was essentially a combatant and
a chivalrous man. He loved a fight,
Intellectual or physical, for its own
sake. Once when he was livid with
rage over a reflection cast upon a wom-
an he knew friend asked him why he
restrained himself
EVERY blow struck in defense Of
woman Is a dent in her reputation"
was Barrymore's reply.
He was oQce at table with young
woman who wanted to taste absinth.
She wrlnkled her brows for few mo:
ments and then said:
3c h06 7
was child. I mean it's just like pare
Roric."
''You are quite right" remarked Bar
rymore. "Absihth Is the paregoric Of
second childhood"
He once had a dispute with a boast
clared, If had you in Texas I'd blow
your head off," ''Then your courage is
a matter Of longitude" observed Bar
rym0re sweetly. He was once on his
way to the Catskills for holiday when
he fell in with three other men. II am
an actor, broken down by overwork,
seeking health and rest," he said. II
am a business man, going to the noun
tains for the same reason" explained
one of his acquaintance. "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. am not I am
going to the hills for pleasure don't
work. am gentleman" "And plain
iy on vacation" added Barrymore.
When Steele Mackaye told Barry
more, that he would never become q
great actor until he experienced great
sorrow or thrilling experience the re-
tort came in flash. write play for
me, Steele, and shall get BOTH"
In 1873 Barrymore organized a COM
pany to play diplomacy" on the road,
says the New York Times. It included
besides himself Frederick Warde, John
Drew, Benjamin G. Porter, Rees Da-
vies, Mrs. George w-Barrymore,
Miss Ellen Cummens and Signor Maya
roni and his wife. While the company
was at Marshall, Tex, Barrymore had
a very narrow escape from death as
a result OF an affray which cost Ben
Porter his life. While waiting for
their train Barrymore, Miss Cummens
and Porter went into the railway res
taurant and were sitting at the lunch
counter when local bully named Cur
~, who was employed as a. detective
by the railroad company, staggered In
and tried to provoke Porter to fight,
using the most offensive language.
Barrymore tried to persuade him to de-
sist. Curry asked him II he was anx-
1ous to get into fight himself.
"No," said Barrymore. II am not
armed" '"Nor am l." said Curry.
Twill you swear it?" EYES,"
Barrymore sprang from his seat and
pulled of his coat to fight when Curry
drew revolver and fred point blank
at the actor. The bullet hit Barry
more's left shoulder, broke the shoul-
der blade and lodged near the spine,
making six weeks stay in the hos
pital necessary. Curry then walked
up to Porter and shot him in the heart,
1nficting wound from which he died
instantly. John Drew, who was in a
room above the restaurant with the
other members of the company, was
roughly treated by Curry when Drew
went down to ascertain the cause Of
the disturbance. Curry was tried for
the murder of Porter and was acquit-
ted, the district attorney informing
Barrymore, who was witness, that
there were not fewer than eleven mur
derers on the jury that listened to the
testimony.
Maurice Barrymore sometimes used
to perpetrate harmless practical Jokes
OF the Theodore Hook type" said Will
ton Lackaye to New York Times re-
porter. Zone afternoon Barry while
walking down Sixth avenue, in New
York, with friend halted abruptly
and disappeared into ready made
clothing store The friend followed
and found him addressing the store
keeper:
"eWill you please take. that suit Of
clothes out of the Window he asked.
'aThe clothier, thinking he was to
have sale, quickly complied.
Thank you,' said Barrymore, turn
ing on his heel.