The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-24
EDWIN BOOTH.
stories Told by Otis skinner About
Idol of American stage.


company. and Mrs Bowers was the lead
ing woman. We were playing Richie
leu in Boston, and LongfeIlow had
come over from Cambridge TO see the
performance.
After the second act he came behind
to call on Booth, and the two retired
to the stars dressing room. The call
came for the third act; but Booth had
not reappeared. We were all waiting
rather impatiently in the wings. The au-
dience was doubtless waiting with equal
impotence on the other side Of the
curtain.
Mrs. Bowers swept up and down in
robes Of rustling magnihcence. StiI
Booth did not appear Then she asked
ne what had become Of him. told her
Longfenow was with him in his dress
ing room She drew herself up with all
the wrath and majesty Of a tragedy
queen. "Longfellow. LongfellOwT'' she
said. with a scorn that printed words can
not reproduce nor the question mark con-
vey. "LOngfellOws make long waits. II
seems
How many times has it been said Of
Booth. I wonder. that he was q gentle
man in the true sense-a gentle man?
have seen him bullyrag a stagehand foi
some piece OF laundering stupidity-aS
who OF US have not dOne7 But IN the
next FIVE minutes I have seen him IN e.
feet penltentiy beg this mans pardon
as how few Of US ever do? When
was first with him, a special performance
Of ''Otheilo" was 20 be given for sOms
medical association. and Frederic Robin
son was TO play the name part TO bis
Iago. Robinson was a rather important
sort Of person; but the rehearsal went
smoothly enough for e time. till sudden
~ he stopped. looked around him. and
said cuthOritatively:
Mr.. Booth. when I have played Othel-
10. I've always had my Iago on the other
side-here"
There was a deadly hush We al ex-
pected an outburst Of magnificent rage
from the great star-a towering blank
verse passion that would sweep this Rob
inson person away. But in the hush
Booth moved quietly 20 the other side
There was not even a twinkle in hi,
eyes. Here. sir?7 he asked humbIy
quite contended. sir. Thank YOU"
The hush was slowly dissolved IN mUr-
murs. then in speech. The rehearsa
went on. And Robinson never knew.
Ten years later I was playing with
Booth once more. He was an invalid
then. nervous and unable 70 eat. He wa:
on tour with Modjeska. and was en-
gagged to play the parts Barrett had for
merly taken. Booth. his manager. and
travelled and slept In a private car.
AS on all private cars. the food wal
raH IL, III e.
digestible. Booth could eat nothing. He
used 10 sit al day. smoking long black
cigars and trying 10 sip beef tea. grow
ing more and more respondent over his
digestion
We reached Cleveland n the course o.
time. side-tTacked the car at the station
and went 10 the theater. The house that
night was bad. and We drove gi0omily
back 20 the internal railroad depot-at
least It was an Internal station then. 8
hole in the ground, dark. dingy, depress-
ing
That midnight it was abysmaL Il was
shrouded in sort Of gaseous gloom. and
the only light came from & deserted
lunch room. where. through a dirty win
dow. We looked IL on a most melancholy
picture. the Ehostiy setting for the horrid
drama Of indigestion. Pale. s0EEy dough
NUS were stacked up in wire cages. cheek
by jowl with cages OF yet more sogU
pie. Sad flies crawled over the nicke
surface Of the cold coffee Urn. The de-
serted stools before the counter sug-
gested occupants dead and gone. slain by
the food We wished 20 hasten by. The
manager and 7, but Booth paused fas-
cinated. III go n there and eat sons
lunch" he finally said.
We were hoTror-struck. and tried Z
dissuade him. but IN vain. He entered
with 4 determined stride. climbed I'D on q
stool. and devoured several hard-boflet
eggs, a number Of doughnuts. and large
piece Of pie. Having finished this ghsstly
repast. he went 20 the car and climbed
cheerfully into bed
But We were anything but cheerful
We sat IN mOmentary dread Of a run e
the Doctors We had visions OF II
performance the following evening. per.
haps IN several evenings. We crept
frequently to his bedside; but ne Stun.
bered peacefully. so finally We. too. wen'
10 bed The next morning he got Ut
more CHEEKY than he had been in weeks
and announced that he had slept Ike 3
top and was feeling better than he had
since the tour began