Booth Memorials; Passages, Incidents, and Anecdotes in the Life of Junius Brutus Booth (the Elder.) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1866. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... family. In our childhood everything connected with his profession was carefully avoided, as if he feared, by intercourse or allusion, to throw that glamour over its reality which might delude the senses, and engender romantic desires for excitement. For his two younger sons, he had a workshop erected in the garden, and stored it with lumber and necessary tools; thus blending pleasure with instruction, he strove to excite in their minds a love of mechanical pursuits, quoting ever, " Laborare est orare." Before leaving for California, he placed them under the careful guardianship of those excellent teachers, the Rev. Mr. Van Bokkelen and Prof. Onderdonk, of St. Timothy's Hall, Catonsville, Md. Prior to any anticipation of this voyage, he was erecting a handsome cottage on the farm, where he purposed passing the summer months of every year. The building was a well-selected plan in the Elizabethan style, and interiorly arranged to suit his own peculiar fancy. The site selected is near the* old cabin (which had for many years been in the occupancy of servants), and facing a cherrytree of immense bulk, which my father planted with his own hands. All hope of a family reunion at the old farm was sadly frustrated long ere the completion of the cottage; for the domestic comforts we had pictured for him, had lost their potency. Occasionally we were permitted to visit the theatre, but were never allowed a free indulgence of promiscuous plays. On one occasion, my father took every member of the family to witness Mr. Macready's Werner. I can remember only a sombre man with peculiar brows and guttural voice dragging through what seemed to me a very dismal play; but father pronounced it "a most exquisite performance." He was always a deep student, and would set himself tasks, c...