Arizona republican., 1910-11-10
TWO STORIES OF EDWIN BOOTH

Edwin Booth, who had been a great friend of the elder Sothern, came one night to the Lyceum al my invitation to see the young actor after he had be- come a full-fledged star. After the performance Mir. Booth, MT. Sothern and I supped together at the Players | club and the great actor tod us of many incidents in the career of Mir. Sothern's father. He informed us that 1t was due to him, Booth. that young Sothern was christened Edward" Tt came about this way said Mir Booth. When ou"-addressing young Sothern-"were born in New Orleans your father telegraphed me to become your godfather. and that you were to be named Edward-after me. Your father was splendid and brilliant man but rather wild in his tendencies at times, and I was a little afraid to as sume the responsibility of godfather to his son; so declined. I am sorry now But that is why you are called Edward instead of Edwin"
 Another amusing story that MT. Booth told us that evening. which I have never seen in print, was one re-
 
 when he made his first trip to Austra- lla He was then young man. With i've members of his company he sailed from San Francisco for Melbourne. where he expected to make up the rest of his support from among the local companies. When they arrived At Honolulu it was found that the steam CT would be required to remain there several days. The presence of the dis tinguished American actor became in stantly known, and a royal command was received from King Kamehameha to give a performance of Richard III" on the following evening. Mir Booth agreed to this. but found difficulty in assembling supporting company. Having been told that he could secure local amateur talent, he soon had a company assembled. The best he could do without jeOpardiZing the other parts. for the role of Queen Elizabeth was to assign that part to a Dutchman, short in stature and rather uncertain from the histrioic point of view Mir Booth thought that any defects in the mans capacity would be more apparent to his own company than to his audience. and Nlit ltlltdi SdlS DIOCttutu lnOuSITlOuSlN. Mir. Booth managed everything from the stage to the business "in front" He sent a number of natives about the streets to stick up posters, fur nishing them with local product called poi to be used as paste. To his engagement. however, the next morning he found that not d poster had been put out. The poi being an article of food, the people had ab- seconded with the concoction and eaten 1t; so that the great actor started out himself and put up his own printing
 On the night of. the performance the little theater was crowded. The king, however. sat in royal state in the first entrance"-on the stage-on a royal chair which had been obtained from his palace. Though the native perform CTS afforded much amusement to MT. Booth. the audience was held in rapt attention through the progress of the play. For the throne scene, MT. Booth was able to borrow the royal chair in which King Kamehameha sat. a cour- tesy that his royal highness readily ac- corded. This lent local color and great effect to the scene. At the conclusion of the performance word was sent to Mir. Booth that the king wished to see him. Mir. Booth, modest and retiring. knowing that he could not speak in the local language. approached his majesty timidly and respectfully. When he reached the kings side his royal high ness slapped him heartily on the shoul- der and said in good English:
 Booth, it was splendid perform ance: I saw your father play the part twenty years ago."-Daniel FrOhman in the Saturday Evening Post.