A PUSHING MAN.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1722, 27 August 1879, Page 3

A PUSHING MAN.

The recent attempted assinati on of Edwin Booth in America, recalls an incident that occurred while that tragedian was playing his last engagement in San Francisco, and which is the real origin of the rumour that he intends never to visit the Pacific Coast again. It seems that one morning while Mr Booth was making his toilet in his room at the Palace, the door quietly opened, and a wide-a-wake looking individual slid in and cheerfully bid the astonished actor good morning. “ How’s Hamlet to-day,” said the stranger blandly.’ “ ‘ Fraid you wouldn’t see me it I sent my card up, so just dropped in informally, as it were. ” “So I see,” said the only lago. “ How now, knave—unyoke ! I mean, what can I do for you t ” “The fact is, Mr Booth,” said the visitor hurriedly, “ I am the advertising agent for the Bazembees Auction House, on Market street. Cheapest clothing house in the civilised world. Over fifty thousand ulsters at —” “ Han’t want any ulsters. Can’t look , tragic in a coat with fifteen ridiculous pockets. Avaunt! thou—” i “But I don’t want to sell you any, my dear sir,” put in the agent; “I just came to make you a regular business proposition. Coin in it, my dear sir ; coin in it.” i “But zounds, sirrah, I am an actor—not an auctioneer.” 1 “That’s exactly it. You know we agents are always up to some new advertising dodge or other. I attended your performance last night, Mr Booth, and it occurred to me if would only introduce some mention of our establishment into your lines we conld afford to pay very liberally for it,” “Could, eh?” said the hope of the American stage, “Yes. You see, you might gracefully wedge in an allusion to us here and there, where it would seem kind of natural and appropriate-like. For instance there’s ‘Hamlet,’ Instead of giving simply the line, ‘ customary suits of foreign black,’ yon might add, ‘ the kind they sell at Bazembees for 24 dol.’ That would sort of nail the attention of the audience, seems to me.’ “I should think so,” said the star, stealthily edging over towards a Homan sword in the corner. “ I see you catch the idea,” continued the agent. “Now, there’s‘Rome and Juliet.’ There’s dead loads of good chances in that. In the balcony scene you might say, * I would I were one of the Bazembees’ cheap dogskin gloves upon that hand that I might touch that cheek.’ ” “You’d like that, would you?” grimly inquired Mr 8., slowly unsheathing the sword behind the back, and getting in front of the door. “Yes, sir ; we shouldn’t mind 100 dols. a night to have done that in first class style. Just think how it would make trade boom down at our place to have you thunder as ‘ Othello,’ — 1 Hesdemona, where is the elegant kerchief I bought for thee at Bazembees’, at six bits a dozen ? ’ Why, sir, it would fairly—” There was a funeral from the agent’s house the next day, and in to the last wishes of the martyr to advertising, his hearse bore on each side a splendid canvas inscription : “Just arrived—so,ooo more boys’ suits at Bazembees’! Call early ! ”