Evening star., 1936-04-12

floating over its plain red-brick front,
Is easy. At first glance 1t Is q little
disappointing The Ford Theater, In
Lincoln's day, was like most of the
theater buildings Of the period, with
its elaborate painted representations
of curtains and Grecian urns thanking
the stage setting, and its tiers Of
boxes, gay with rose wall paper and
heavy draperies looped above and over
white lace curtains. But if the visitor
has these details too vividly in mind,
his first view of the present interior
comes as a shock. Here is nothing
of a theater: there is Just another
long room, one story high, containing
the usual museum array Of glass cases
and framed items on the walls.
The explanation for this change Is
simple. Immediately after the Presi-
dents death, the theater was closed,
and in 1866 this playhouse, where
such actors as Edwin Forrest, John
Mccullough. James Hackett and many
others performed, became the property
of the United States Government and
was used for offices by the War De-
partment.
Suddenly, in June, 1898, three floors
collapsed, killing % persons and in
juring 68. Repairs were made, and
it again was used as an office building.
When the Peterson house across the
street could not accommodate the
numbers of visitors to the Oldroyd
collection Of Lincolniana, the idea OF
moving it across into the Ford Thea
ter Building was suggested, and after
five years Of planning and work the
present museum opened in February,
1882.
THERE are some who wish that the
building might have been recon-
structed as the theater Of 1865, but
the first shock of finding "theater," :"
which is not a theater at all, soon
passes in the interest Of the exhibits.
Not only is the extensive Oldroyd
collection displayed to advantage, but
variety of Lincoln items has been
assembled from all parts Of the United
States, from donors whose addresses
rouse q wonder as to how they could
possibly have obtained these articles
which they have given or loaned.
The visitor finds groups of letters,
pictures, papers and all sorts Of articles
connected with the youth Of Lincoln,
his law career, his nomination for the
presidency, slavery, the Civil War, and
other events, as well as personal
mementos.
Interest in the habiliments Of the
statesman is evident. There is
blsck-and-white checkered woolen
shawl, worn by Lincoln; a white linen
kerchief or mufiler, worn by him and
presented by "a White House laun-
dress; white kid gloves, which he
wore at White House reception.
One black satin vest carries with
it the story that it was once the
property Of a woman who cried when
| her newborn son was thought to re-
Semble the President. The Chief
Executive sent this vest to the family,
with the request that when the son
grew up he should wear it and say
that a President had given 1t.
Although the surroundings are COM
pletely changed, the events Of that
April night in 1855 become vivid as
the collection is examined. Here is the
plum -colored ticket Of admission to
the play. "Our American Cousin" to
be given as the benefit Of Miss Laura
Keen. The program Is proclaiming
that tom Taylor's Celebrated Eccen-
trio Company" will play it. The old
photographs, showing the stage setting
arranged for the performance, and the
Presidents box, especially decorated
with flags and a picture Of Washing
ton, give most adequately the back
ground for the evenings tragedy.
| Possibly the little inch or less Of once
white wool fringe which hung over
his head at the theater," along with q
bit of rose wall paper and sample OF
lace curtain. help some to visualize 1t
more distinctly. Whether the index
gas meter FUSED in this building on
the night Of the assassination" helps
to reconstruct the picture may be q
question, but there It is.
r INCoLN's last written message.
- assuring q gentleman that, mo
pass is necessary now to authorize any
one to go to and return from Peters
burg and Richmond; people 60 and
return just as they did before the
war;" brings it all into direct relation
ship with his ofiicial duties, Just as the
key to his private box reminds one of
the precautions to be taken on such
occasions as this announced on the
program: "This evening this per-
formance will be honored by the pres
ence OF President Lincoln"
The story unfolds rapidly now. Here
Is q picture Of Booths pistol (now in
the possession Of the War Department.. i.