A MARTYR TO DUTY

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3328, 22 August 1879, Page 2

A MARTYR TO DUTY

1 The recent attempted assassination of . Edwin Booth recalls an incident that occurred while that tragedian will playing his last engagement in this city, I and which is the real origin of the rumor | that he intends never to visit < the / Pacific coast again. It seems that one " I morning while Mr Booth was making hit - ! toilet in his room at the Palace, the door ! quietly opened, and a wide-awake looking I individual slid in and cheerfully bid the i astonished actor good morning. " How's,, Hamlet to-day," said the stranger, I blandly. "'Fraid you wouldn't see me ,• if I sent my card up, so I just dropped in % informally as it were." »"So I see," said the only lago. " How now, knar* —unvoice! I mean, what can I do for you ?" " The fact is, Mr Booth," \ said the visitor, hurriedly, "I am the - advertising agent for' the Bazembeea Auction-house, on/Market street.. Chea* i* pest clothing house in the civilised world. Over 50,000 ulsters at—" "Don't want any ulsters. Can't loolc tragic in a ©oat vi with 15 ridiculous pockets. Avauntthou —" "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." " But zounds, sirrah, lam an, actor „ —not an auctioneer.' 1 "That's exactly; \ it. You know we agents are always >J up to some new advertising dodge or other. I attended your performance > last night, Mr Booth, and; it occurred if ' you would only introduce some mention of. ' - our establishment, into ypur lines we. could .. affprd to pay very liberally for it.": " Could, eh ?" said! the hope of the . American stage. "Yes. You see, you might gracefully wedge in an illusion to - us here and there, where it would seem , kinder natural and appropriate like. For . instance, there's 'Hamlet.' Instead of giving. - simply , the line, * customary )-' suits of solemn black,' you might add, 'the kind they sell at Bazembees for 24<i01.' That would, sort f of nail the attention of the audience, f\ seems to me." " I ehouldthink so,";said;- , the. star, stealthily edging over towards a:.. Eoraan sword in the corner. "I see^you catch the idea," continued the agent.- : " Now, there's ' Borneo . and Juliet.' There's dead loads of good chances in 'f that. In the balcony scene you might say,' I would I were one of Bazembees' cheap dog-skin gloves upon that hand ■ \ that I might touch that cheek."' "You'd. like, that, would you P" grimly inquired Mr 8., slowly unsheathing the sword . ■ behind his backhand getting in front of the door. " Yes, sir: we shouldn't mind i lOOdol. a night to have that done in f|rsfv, class style. Just think how it would' .. make trade boom down at our place to have you thunder, as Othello—' Desde> mona, where is the elegant kerohief I bought for thee at BazembeesV at tixbitf

a dozen P Why, sir, it would fairly " . ."■.-. There was a funeral from the agent's house the next day, and in deference to the last wishes of the martyr to advertising, his hearse bore on each side a splendid canvas inscription—" Just arrived, 5O 3 000 more Boy's Suits at Bazembt'es'! Call early!"— Sam Francisco News Letter.