The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-04

Jesse W. Weik in the Century Magazine
A FTER the news Of the fall of Rich
~ mond and the surrender at APP
4 \ pomattox reached Washington,
the people manifested their thankfulness
and exultation by decorating their homes
and illuminating their windows with llght-
ed candles after nightfall. In the morn
ing of the day3brior to the assassination
happened to meet Mr.. Booth on Penn
sylvania avenue. My objective point was
little shop farther down the street,
where | intended to buy some candy.
Booth understood me to say candles,
they being in great demand at that time
for illuminating purposes. 1t was rather
early in the morning, and the man had ev-
identity not been out of bed very long.
what do you want with more can
dles2" he exclaimed. THE windows are
full of them now, and when they are
lighted | wish they would burn every
house to the ground. l would rejoice at
the sight I guess I'm a little desperate
this morning" he continued, "and, do you
know. feel like mounting my horse and
tearing up and down the streets, waving
a rebel flag in each hand, till have driven
the poor animal to death
Il felt that something was wrong with
the man. he was so deeply wrought up.
Fortunately for him. however, no one
happened to be near enough to hear. His
excited and vehement speech startled me,
and | was on the point of demonstrating
with him for his violent and incorporate
rtterance when he interrupted me with
the rather blunt inquiry:
Don't you study Latin at SCHOOL,
II answered in the Affirmative, where
upon he continued:
Then tell me this: Is tyrannis spelled
with two MS or two r's?'
II don't remember now just how I an
swered--of course | gave him the benefit
of my recollection and judgment-but
do remember that the question, coming so
abruptly and unsuggested by anything
either Of us had been saying, was most
singular and unusual. Meanwhile I ven
tured to inquire the reason for such a vio-
lent display of feeling. Thereupon he ex-
planned that his irritation was due to hav-
ing been rudely awakened from sleep that
morning by a mani think he called him
i Surfatt--who wanted to borrow his horse
to ride to Georgetown; that waking him
early always made him cross and refrac-
tory. His horse being in the livery sta
ble it required an order for another to
use him, and rather than take the trou-
BILE to write the order, he had thrown the
man a bill, telling him to take the money
and hire horse.
"The day following this incident 1t was
decided by my mother and the Stewards,
| the family we were Visiting, TO attend
Ford's theatre again. The play was Our
American Cousin then very POPULAR but
1 am not sure but as great an attraction
was the opportunity to see General Gra ut
and his wife, who, along with the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Lincoln it was announced,
would be present. We We're seated in the
parquet, not Ear from the orchestra !
remember that at one time that evening
1 saw Booth in the auditorium of the
theatre, standing near the wall, the sweep
of his gaze indicating that he was look
ing for some face in the audience.
Some time later we heard the report
of pistol shot, followed almost immedi-
ately by Booths dramatic leap from the
Presidents box. l remember vividly the
CLEAN of his dagger as he descended tc
the stage. l heard him shout something
but, as his face was first directed toward
the stage, l could not clearly distinguish
his words. OF course, the latter werS
Sic semper tyrannis,' followed instantly
by the exclamation, The south il
avenged, As the last expression was lit
tered as he arose, this time with his eye:
toward the audience, / had no difficulty
in distinguishing it. For an instant, be
fore anyone either in the audience or or
the stage could comprehend what has
= happened, everybody stood as thougl
transnxed; but when the awful announce