The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-10-26
Forrest as virsin,us.

great actor mere power or imitation, as
though man were but q superior sortof
monkey. The limitations Of children are
perhaps something of this sort, but the
least reflection will teach us that true acting
is far beyond this. Imitation serves for the
common place, or for wllat.bas been actually
witnessed or experienced, but beyond that
it is powerless. The essence of Christianity
is self abnegation; the essence of politeness
is also forgetfulness of self Each of these
pre-supposes certain greatness of soul. In
the one it is divine gift, in the other it is
the result of ages o: progress. 10 both
alike, it is the highest type Of manhood.
He who goes out of himself through sense
is an imitator; he who goes out through
sympathy is human; he who goes out
through love is Christian; he who goes not
out, but finds the whole circle of thought
and emotion within he is the man of per-
feet and symmetrical gifts His is genius !;
and in becoming an actor, he isbut exhibit
ing his many sided SELF He is cosmcpoli-
tan and immortal man, to xhom all eras and
nationalities are present at will. '
Such man is Forrest; man to whom
torepresent human feeling is not so much
second nature, as his primal and proper ma
ture. The 'Virginius of Forrest is not an
q other which he Stimulates; it is the Virgin
ius which be for the time Being is. i -
This is the secret of that great power by
which he is able to steal the keys of history,
to enter the chambers of the past, and to
awaken the sleeping Romans from their
ashes. --.---s-.s.---r.'-,--- 90
The story of Virginius is story which
could not belong to our era. We have
passed the period when the will of theruler
is sole law. Even il war we look back
ward to constitutions, and forward to the
renewal of law. A few hints will recall to
our readers to entire story. ''A3
Virginia, daughter Of Roman centurion
Virginius, and the only child Of her dead
mother, is betrothed 20 Lucius Icilius, 8
tribune. Her singular beauty inaames the
passions of Appius Ciaudius, = decomvir
To get possession 6fthe person of the dam
sci, he lays plot whereby Marcus Claudius
one Of his clients, is to seize Virginia as 1
slave, with the purpose of passing her ovel
to Appius. This is attempted in the alb
sence of ViFginius. He, Fastening to Rome
claims his child The case is brought t.
trial before Appius himself, who, blinded
by passion, adjudges the maiden to Clan
dius. Upon this Virginius snatches up
"butchers whittle." and plungesit into he
heart. Fleeing to the army, lie tells hi
| maddening tale. The soldiers march OF
Rome, and Claudius is thrown into prison
Virginius, driven toll insanity through TIN
loss OF his daughter' q enters the PRISON nnt
strangles Appius with hisnaked hands. Hi
mighty heart bursting with conflicting pas
sions. he expires upon the dead body of hi
enemy ii .,e...i'..,..; n, r..Ig-.4f q
I'VE can only touch upon lew points il
Mr.. FORESTS extraordinary presentation, ant
upon one or two of the remarkable touche
of nature in the action OF Miss Lille. =
At the bretrothal, Virginius takes tn
hand of his daughter and places it in that q
her lover, and then withdraws. Her love
asks whether she takes away her hand. Wit
| girlish coquettishncss she siiatclrs it ava!
saying Il tlo,n then suddenly turning reach
es out her hand, saying, so sive.it bac
again. Here Miss Lilies action was ad