The Harry Watkins Diary, Volume 11 [July 22, 1853–June 12, 1854]

09 October 1853

Sund. (Sunday) 9th Quite warm A.M.. some rain P.M. rain is much needed here, the want of it is severely felt by the business community—the river is exceedingly low for this season of the year—The company started this morning for St Louis on steamer “Sam Gaty”—There was quite a number of us on board to see them off, and a happy time we had of it—. I should have preferred going to St Louis to remaining here, but it would have been bad policy to have continued playing such parts as Tilton was obliged to cast for—obliged from the want of another person to do them. When this present engagement is terminated I shall,

thenceforth, eschew all tragedy—and if I cannot find an oppertunity [sic opportunity] removeto play of combinremovegadding the light and eccentric comedy I shall take entirely to low comedy—This will give meexpand_less an infinite deal of trouble but will, undoubtedly, prove removethe to my ultimate advantage, for, however much persons may have differed in their ideas of my removetragic merit as a tragedian there has been but one universal opinion in regard to my talent as a comedian