Edwin Booth.

Mt Benger Mail, Volume V, Issue 261, 13 December 1884, Page 5

Edwin Booth.

A story ts told in the Buffalo Times of the early days of Edwin Booth- A travelling company, or which he formed part, waa play mg "The Merchant of Venice," at Lees' Landing in Virginia, in a large tobacco warehouse which did duty as a theatre on occa3sions. Just as he and George Ruggles, who wan playing Shylock to Booth's Bassanio, were about to go on for the trial scene, the whistle announcing the arrival of-the steamer by which they were to leave was heard. As the stoppage was not to exceed ten minutes, and there was no other beat expected for a week, the manager asked the two actors to improviso an immediate denouement between tli«>ni, and ring the curtain down. Ruggles made his entry, aud proceeded to sharpen hia knife on his boot. Booth walked straight up t> him, and solemnly said, " You are bound to have the flesh, are you ?" " You bet your life;" answered Ruggles. '< In addition to this big bag of ducats, I'll throw in two hugs heads of negrohead, a shot gun, and two of the best coon dogs in the State." "I'm Manned if I don't do it," responded Shylock, much to thu satisfaction of the audience, who were tobacco planters and coon-hunters to a man. And down went the curtain. When the two ctors got onboard, the captain said to them : ---'• I'd like to see the whole of that play, erentlenien ; I'm Harmed if I thought that fellow Shakespeare had so much snap in him."

Anxiety is the poison of human life. It is the parent of many sins and more miseries.— Blair. Look round the habitable world, how few Know their own good, or, knowing it, pursue ! Choose the best kind of life, and custom will soon make it agreeable.—Pythaporas. Vessels large may venture more, Lot little boats should keep near ,«hrire. Of ajl the thieves fools are the worst; they rob you of time and temper. —Goethe,