Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-20
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Edwin Booths engagement at the
Washington Theater covered two weeks
fifty years ago, the
Booths house being crowded at
uR,cbard, every performance. The
opening night OF the
second week Mr. Booth rendered Richard
III and The Star of September Il spoke
of his performance as follows:
THE announcement that young Booth
would appear In a character so closely
identified with his family name as Shakes
peare's Richard III attracted last night
an immense audence-the largest perhaps
ever congregated within the walls Of the
new theater. The ordeal through which
young Booth last night passed. with q
success which may well be termed tri-
umph. was one Of the severest a young
actor could be called upon to endure, be-
ing nothing less than a comparison with
the thrillingly perfect performance of the
elder Booth in the same role, perform
ance which throughout the length and
breadth of this land has so impressed the
popular mind that its brilliant excellence
will be forever remembered among the
traditions of the stage in America. In
the entire absence Of anything and every
thing approaching rant. in the grasp and
excellence of his conception OF Richard 8
SuDClo character, ana IN tQe earnest IN
tensity with which the character was en-
bodied. creating with a mere whisper or
colloquiaily expressed sentence the high
est effect, Edwin Booths Richard III, as
last night rendered, was an effort worthy
Of the most brilliant fame; an effort the
positive excellence of which would have
done honor to the genius OF any artist
of any age Or country
x x
There are some government buildings
today in this city of which it may be said
that they are unsafe for
Battle the keeping of precious
E1on. records or relics. Fifty
years ago it was not to be
wondered at that such priceless souvenirs
as battle flags Of the revolution should be
sent away from the War Department be-
cause of the fear of their destruction by
fire. In The Star of September 10. 1853 is
evidence to this effect:
I'VE learn that the Secretary OF War
has dispatched to West Point, under the
custody of William b. Lee, esq, the gen.
tlemanly. attentive librarian Of the War
Department, the two stands OF colorS
taken from the British forces under Lord
CORVALLIS at the capitulation of York
town on the 10th of October. 1881, and pre-
scented to Gen. Washington by order Of
Congress in testimony OF his distinguished
services on that ever memorable occasion.
At the decease of Pater Patriae they
passed into the hands of the late lament
ed George W. p Gusts, by whose dis
interested patriotism they were bestowed
upon the War Department as the most
appropriate repository for these relics of
the browning victory OF that great strug-
gle which achieved our national inde-
pendence and proclaimed liberty to en-
shaved millions of the world. 1t Is in
tended to deposit them at West Point
where most of our national trophies are
collected. and where they will remain
free from the great danger of destruction
by fire, to which they would be exposed
In the department building-mementoes
Of the closing scenes of the dark and
bloody war which delivered us from the
bonds Of colonial servitude to bestow upon
us the blessings that have attended a
prosperous. independent and united peo-
pie. This gentleman also takes with him
for the same purpose the United States
garrison flag which proclaimed the VIC
tories of our gallant little army at Vera
Cruz, Perote and the City of Mexico. from
the citadel of which it was taken down on
the 9TH of June, 1913, under salute from
captured pieces