Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-04-09
The Forrest Case.


Forrest, the American Histrlone, and his
wife. Catherine Forrest, a daughter oil
Sinclair, the English Vocalist. We gave
place week or two since to her defence
before the Pennsylvania Legislature a
gains, the attempt of her husband to pro-
cure divorce. Since then portions oil
the testimony sent before the Legislature
have been published, which, upon their
face, it would be false to deny, are OF We
ry serious character.
The lady is charged, upon the evidence
Of domestics, with not indlscretIons, but
with courses of conduct not only wholly
incompatible with the duty of wife, but
inconsistent with the character OF any
chaste woman. A letter from Jameson
an actor, TO Mrs. Forrest has met the
light, that we cannot allow TO be JuStllla-
bic under any circumstances Whatever
and which demands for lis writer, condigh
punishment of some sort. We have no
notion of admitting Mr.. Jameson or Mr.
Anvbodyese 10 excuse for such compost
tons on the ground Of imaginativeneSs' or
professional influences. If he entertalnS
such imagina,ions, that fact makes him
criminal; if his profession begets SUCH
dispositions and tendencies as the letter
discloses, the profession is bad one ana
ought TO be abandoned. We think that
Mrs. Forrest should have returned jamie
sons letter 10 him Immediately on lis pc
rusal, and given expression to pure wo-
mans strong and indignant sense OF the
wrong meditated. "MiId rebuke " was
not applicable to the occasion by any
means, and surely it was composition IN
which no friend, much less relative OF
Mrs. Forests, ought to be expected IL
be able 10 find any interest, so as to induce
Mrs. F. to retain it in her own possession
In permitting hetself to find pleasure II
this letter in any way, Mrs. Forrest be
came the victim of her own vanity, and
undoubtedly compromised her duty TO hel
| husband.
Among those more or less implicated
in too familiar Intercourse with the lady
are the Messrs. Willis; N. P. Willis anc
his brother. The former is one OF the
Editors of the Home Journal, and in his
last paper presents defence of Mrs. For
resi-, which we have perused.
1t offers the world Mr.. Willis's testi'
mony to the purity Of Mrs. Forrest, and
his brother Richard. Very well, we will
not question either, but only remark that
it would be we'll if " fashionable life .
would submit itself to a course of Reform,
and right soon gather convention TO re-
wise and amend lis Constitution. The
conrivance wherebythe stern aud irrepeal-
able claims of morality are sought 10 be
evaded by the adoption OF - high-fown >
lranscenden,al lingo, under cover Of an in
ierpretation very commonplace, if reduced
TO the language of real-llle, is but contrl
vance after all, and is much more readily
seen through than lis subjects might sup
pose. None are so completely cheated
bv it as themselves. The truth is,we have
had some opportunity of knowing how
these things are, and, from our iiumovea-
bic faith in retributive sequences, feel no
surprise whatever at the Forrest develop
ments, and indeed expect others yet to
follow. Human intellect, no matter how
sublime, and human polish, no matter how
brilliant, cannot ouiwll that Intellect, nor
su-pass that Perfection which built the
Universe, and imposed laws upon lis in
habitants, that to their peril they will un-
der any preiext disregard. Society can
not any way be constituted, nor can man
take upon him any manner of life or en-
ployment, so as 10 make it safe 10 adopt
any course but that of moral Obedience.
The end Of all law, life and being, is ODE
DIENCE.
We make room for the following extract
from Mr.. Willis's article. 1t agrees in the
main with our own conceptions Of Forrest,
and goes TO shew that the stage is very
lame school Of morality, Notwithstanding
the pretences made for its beneficial effects
upon ''the welfare and progress of men"
"Mr. FORESTS ruling ambition Is IN lord