Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-01
EVENING STAR
sPsfCH OF MR. EDwIN FORREST.

| tfsECa Of Elk. EDWIN fu6hEST.
| On the occasion of Mr.. Forests bene
fit at the Boston Theatre, on Friday
evening, he was called before the cur.
tain, and addressed the audience as fol.
lows:
Ladies and gentlemen-I thank you
for the welcome perfume of these flowers.
[ thank you for this hearty manifesto.
ton of your regard. I thank you for the
kind manner in which you have received
me during my present engagement.
Cardinal Richelieu commend d De
Mauprat for his discriminating taste in
applauding in the proper place. Now, il
De Mauprat really possessed this rare
quality, he we'll deserved the commenda-
ton of the old Cardinal. Applause al
ways insp res the actor to higher de-
gree of excellence, (applause,) and con-
sequently gives the beholder more pol
ished effort Of art. (Renewed cheering.
Thus applause, in this connection, some
what resembles the quality of mercy,
which is
''Twice blessed:
1t blesses him that gives and him that takes
Applause is Just as necessary 10 the
actor as food is to the hungry. 1t gives
to him what wine can ill suppIy-it gives
to him not only physical, but an intel.
lectual energy; and, besides all this, it
gives hin-time to breathe. daughter
and applause.) And no one needs this
more than he who concentrates the pas.
sions Of whole life time into few brief
hours-and this the tragic actor is often
cllled upon to do.
l have heard it said that the most fat
tering applause was that Of silence. Now
| consider that just no applause at all.
CHEERS, and cries Of "good, good. "
Why, misplaced applause remember,
remember, do not say i'll judged ap.
plause-but misplaced applause is al
ways better than this silent admiration
cloud cheers } for the true actor is sup.
posed never to see his audience, and how
is he to Judge by silence alone whether
that silence be the silence of appreciation
or indifference? (Renewed applause.
There are some persons in every audi
ence who have fancy to hush down a
well merited round Of applause. Now,
| have no hesitation in saying that such
men would interfere to prevent the pay
nent of a just and honest debt. (Great
cheering.) No, All actor always performs
best where he is most applauded. Zap.
plause.)
A voice" You always have it.
daughter and loud applause
Mr.. Forrest.-I myself have nothing
to complain of. (Vociferous plaudits.
! said an actor always performs best
where he is most applauded for who
would not exert ali hio powers to please
those who were ready and willing to give
a round Of applause to every honest ef-
fort s! (Cheers.
p.lkslAahs-g lkslAahs gIIe ! ap an advocate for ap-
be applaud i, so am ] an advocate for
kissing an actor when he merits cond am.
nation. (Applause.) Not to hiss from
any personal malice, not from any private
pique, but with the sole view to uphold
the honor and dignity Of the stage, (great
cheering THE STAGE, which presents
the highest intellectual entertainment
which the loftiest genius can produce.
(Applause.)
Now, ladies and gentlemen, l have
thus far spoken something of lecture,
yet am no lecturer But before leave
you, permit ME to return to you nv most
sincere and grateful thanks for the hearty
welcome you have given me, beneath the
dome of this majestic temple; this tenn
pie reared bv Taste, and dedicated not
to Amusement only, but to the moral
and men al elevation of mankind. Loud
cheers.) For the Theatre, rightly under
stood and rightly conducted, is the acad.
emy of virtue. Cheers And, ladies
and gentlemen, it teaches as no other
public institution teaches-for it teaches
by example, as well as BY precept. Re.
newed cheers. l sincerely hope and
trust. that no example will here be given,
that no precept will here be enforced, but
that shall serve to refine the taste, to
mend the morals, and to inspire loftier
aud nobler humanity. Mr.. Forrest re.
tired amid tumultuous applause