Lincoln At The Theater

In Scribne for March is tlie second installment of Noah Brooks' "Rerniniscencos of Lincoln," continued from tbe midwinter mimber. After speaking oi the President's great delight in John Brougham's "Pocahontas," Mr. Brooks says: " Lincoln liked to go to the theater. It gave him an honr or two of freedom from care and worry, and, what was better, freedom from the interruption of office-seekers and pohticians. He -was on such terms with the managers of two of the theaters that he could go in privately by the stage door, and slip into the stage boxes without being seen by the'audienee. Concealed by the friendly screen of the drapery, he saw many plays without public observation. Once, I remember, we were alone togetlier at Ford's Theater, ia a box directly under the one in which he af terward was assassinated. He ti as in a remarkable flow of spirits, and made many comical remarks on the progresa of the play. Edwin Booth was playing in ' The Merchant of Venice,' and, as we sat, two or three of the supernurneraries, wlio wore scarlet hose, were constantly in the line of sight. Finally the President said, ' I wonder if those red-legged, pigeontoed chaps don't think that they are playing this play? They are dreadful numerous.' Juet before the act-cirop went up, each time, he consulted his programme and said, ' This is act two eyes,' or, 'Act eye V,' as the case might be;. And as he went home he said, ' It was a good performance, but I had a thousaud times rather read it at home if it were not for Booth's playing. A farce or a comedy is best played; a tragedy is best read at home. ' "On another occasion, at the same theater, Lincoln sa w Forre st play 'Lear.' But he was more impressed by John McCullough's playing of Edgar than by the great trsigedian's acting. With a certain fiimplicity of manner, he asked, ' Do you suppose he would come to the box if we sent word ? ' I replied that the actor would undoubtedly be gratifled to hear a commendation from him. Mr. McCullough, accordingly, was brought to the door of the box, all dresseu in stage rags and straw as he was, and the President thanked him very cordially and with discriminating praise for the pleasure which he had received from the performance. "J. H. Haoketfc, in his part of Falstaff, was another actor who gave Lïncoln great delight. With bis usual desire to signify to others his sense of obligation, he wrote a genial little note to the actor, expressing his pleasure at witnessing his performance. Mr. xiLtcAtitij, ui lepiy, ötnij u uuuji ui boxiie sort; perhaps it was one of his own authorship. He also wrote several notes to the President. One night quite late, when the episode had passed out of ray mind, I went to the White House, m answer to a message. Passing into the President's office, I noticed, to my surprise, Hackett sitting in the ante-room, as if waiting for an audience. The President asked me if any one was outside. On being told, he said, half sadly, ' Oh, I can't see him; I can't see him. I was in hopes he had gone away. ' Then he added, 'Now, this just illustrates the difficulty of having pleasant friends and acquaintances in this place. You know how I liked Hackett as an actor, and how I wrote to teil him so. He sent me that book, and there I thought the matter would end. He is master of his place in the profession, I suppose, and well fixed in it. But jnst as we had a little friendly correspondence, such as any two men might have, he wants something. Wliat do you suppose he wants ? ' I could not guess, and Lincoln added, ' Well, he wants to be Consul to London. Oh, dear ! ' "