Details
BOOTH, JOHN WILKES. Autograph letter signed ("J. Wilkes Booth") to an unnamed friend [T. William O'Laughlin], Tudor Hall [Baltimore, Maryland], 18 June 1855. 2½ pages, folio, on blue paper, two small circular discolorations on pages 1 and 2, not seriously affecting text.
"...IT'S ALWAYS BEST TO AGREE WITH A LAWYER...FOR THEY HAVE THE MEANS OF REVENGE"
A long, remarkably early letter from the 17-year old future actor. Writing a friend and classmate, he relates his busy summertime social life of Baltimore, including church fairs, social calls, strawberry-eating contests and picnics. His list assumes almost too rosy a tone, as if Booth is trying to convince his correspondent, and himself, of his own happiness. William O'Laughlin's younger brother, Michael, was later a co-conspirator with Booth and was sentenced to hard labor after the Lincoln assassination.
"My Dear Friend Excuse my neglect in not writing to you before. But indeed I have been so taken up with the pastimes and various amusements that have been going on in this month that I can hardly find time to sleep and you know that that is something new to me. Being a very late riser. And used to long naps. There is nothing that I can put under the heading of news. But I will tell you what has been going on, what is going on and what will be going on...Well the first week in June was taken up by a Fair held in Church Ville for the benefit of the Presbyterian Church they made $600.00. I spent more time than money at it, I promise you, for I was there night and day and you must not think I am blowing when I say I cut quite a dash. I saw pretty girls home from the Fair at ten O'Clock at night some at the distance of four or five miles. After it was over it was very dull for a day or two and then we (meaning the young fellows that was doing the same as I) went visiting all the young ladies that we knew at the fair, asked them how they was, how they enjoyed themselves at the fair. And then I was invited to two tea parties. I have visited the Travelers home, or home sweet home. The place I described on a rainy day in one of my letters to you, yesterday, and today it has been raining like the devil... Think it a good opportunity to write a letter so here goes --- and now we come to what will be going on before the last of June if nothing happens to prevent them. The day after tomorrow I am invited to a strawberry eating and I promise you I will do my duty. And from then untill Tuesday I will do nothing but gun, ride, and sleep and eat, bless me. I nearly forgot the last, but I promise I will do as much of that as the others. Tuesday, then comes the grand affair. A Picknick party to be held on the rocks of Deer Crick. Thirty seven coupples to attend. You better believe that I am invited the week after Tuesday its hard to say what will happen, but I hope and pray that it may be something to correspond with the three preceeding ones. Stenson Archer, a young lawyer from Bel-Air [Booth's birthplace], went to Boston and brought back a wife worth $60,000,00 that's what I call doing the thing up brown. He gave a party but I was one of the Non Visitants. In plain english I was not invited. Ned Webster another of the same profession and from the same place has gone off to get himself a wife, and I hear that he has got a very rich one. It's an old saying that a lawyer can lie like the devil also in making women concent. The devil tempted mother Eve with an apple. I dont know wether [sic] lawyers use apples or no but they all tempt the ladies. It is strange too that ladies like to be connected with the law in any way, but its always best to agree with a lawyer as well as a doctor for they have the means of revenge, hurrah. I have wrote a long letter at last. Try and answer it with one having as many words and I am satisfied. My Dear fellow I would finish this paper but my pen is so d--n bad and by not writing for so long a time, I have forgotten how, but I will try and add, I am your Faithful Friend, J. Wilkes Booth." Published in "Right or Wrong, God Judge Me": The Writings of John Wilkes Booth, ed. J. Rhodehamel and L. Taper, 1997, pp. 41-42.
Booth's letters are rare. In the past 12 years only two letters have been offered at auction, according to American Book Prices Current: one dated 1864, formerly in the Sang Collection (sale, Christie's, 9 December 1993, lot 158, $37,000) and another dated 1861, from the Calvin Bullock Collection (sale, Christie's, 19 December 1986, lot 14, $6,000).
"...IT'S ALWAYS BEST TO AGREE WITH A LAWYER...FOR THEY HAVE THE MEANS OF REVENGE"
A long, remarkably early letter from the 17-year old future actor. Writing a friend and classmate, he relates his busy summertime social life of Baltimore, including church fairs, social calls, strawberry-eating contests and picnics. His list assumes almost too rosy a tone, as if Booth is trying to convince his correspondent, and himself, of his own happiness. William O'Laughlin's younger brother, Michael, was later a co-conspirator with Booth and was sentenced to hard labor after the Lincoln assassination.
"My Dear Friend Excuse my neglect in not writing to you before. But indeed I have been so taken up with the pastimes and various amusements that have been going on in this month that I can hardly find time to sleep and you know that that is something new to me. Being a very late riser. And used to long naps. There is nothing that I can put under the heading of news. But I will tell you what has been going on, what is going on and what will be going on...Well the first week in June was taken up by a Fair held in Church Ville for the benefit of the Presbyterian Church they made $600.00. I spent more time than money at it, I promise you, for I was there night and day and you must not think I am blowing when I say I cut quite a dash. I saw pretty girls home from the Fair at ten O'Clock at night some at the distance of four or five miles. After it was over it was very dull for a day or two and then we (meaning the young fellows that was doing the same as I) went visiting all the young ladies that we knew at the fair, asked them how they was, how they enjoyed themselves at the fair. And then I was invited to two tea parties. I have visited the Travelers home, or home sweet home. The place I described on a rainy day in one of my letters to you, yesterday, and today it has been raining like the devil... Think it a good opportunity to write a letter so here goes --- and now we come to what will be going on before the last of June if nothing happens to prevent them. The day after tomorrow I am invited to a strawberry eating and I promise you I will do my duty. And from then untill Tuesday I will do nothing but gun, ride, and sleep and eat, bless me. I nearly forgot the last, but I promise I will do as much of that as the others. Tuesday, then comes the grand affair. A Picknick party to be held on the rocks of Deer Crick. Thirty seven coupples to attend. You better believe that I am invited the week after Tuesday its hard to say what will happen, but I hope and pray that it may be something to correspond with the three preceeding ones. Stenson Archer, a young lawyer from Bel-Air [Booth's birthplace], went to Boston and brought back a wife worth $60,000,00 that's what I call doing the thing up brown. He gave a party but I was one of the Non Visitants. In plain english I was not invited. Ned Webster another of the same profession and from the same place has gone off to get himself a wife, and I hear that he has got a very rich one. It's an old saying that a lawyer can lie like the devil also in making women concent. The devil tempted mother Eve with an apple. I dont know wether [sic] lawyers use apples or no but they all tempt the ladies. It is strange too that ladies like to be connected with the law in any way, but its always best to agree with a lawyer as well as a doctor for they have the means of revenge, hurrah. I have wrote a long letter at last. Try and answer it with one having as many words and I am satisfied. My Dear fellow I would finish this paper but my pen is so d--n bad and by not writing for so long a time, I have forgotten how, but I will try and add, I am your Faithful Friend, J. Wilkes Booth." Published in "Right or Wrong, God Judge Me": The Writings of John Wilkes Booth, ed. J. Rhodehamel and L. Taper, 1997, pp. 41-42.
Booth's letters are rare. In the past 12 years only two letters have been offered at auction, according to American Book Prices Current: one dated 1864, formerly in the Sang Collection (sale, Christie's, 9 December 1993, lot 158, $37,000) and another dated 1861, from the Calvin Bullock Collection (sale, Christie's, 19 December 1986, lot 14, $6,000).