Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-05-17
.sFrank Forrester,..A Reminiscepee.


In the Newark Courier. Ne lind the
following pleasant Renaissance of
Henry William Herbert" Frank For
roster. "
In company with several friends, |
one Sunday afternoon paid visit to the
"Cedars odd Herbert's romantic hut.
The visit was one of impulse, possibly
cheek. We haa done one side of the
beautiful Passaic, and were on our way
home after crossing at Belleville. We
neared the "Cedarsn and one of the
party, ColonelS., now of Elizabeth, pro-
posed calling on the "old sportsman. :"
[ had said that [ had been introduced
to him some weeks before That in
PRODUCTION took place in Stringer &
Townsend's book store, corner of
Broadway and Ann street, Under the
old Museum. Herbert was S. T. S
reader of NJ IS, | did't for a moment
suppose he would recollect me. We
walked up the little gravel path lead
ing to his rustic cottage; short walk,
but disagreeable one, as twe S4aga
were barking and snarline at us very
inhospitably. Some one knocked, and
then after 8 pause knocked louder
The door opened and Herbert stood be-
fore us.
He was dressed in shooting suit,
and his linen was clean. but rather the
worse for starch His long hair was
pushed cack over his fine brow a
short black pipe peeped out from under
his huge monstsohe. There was a dark
scowl ON his forehead, and his bush
eyebrows were gathered together in a
knot. The "cheek that had led Us
so far was not to be abashed on the
threshold without one effort to get
within his castle I claimed his ae-
quaintance, and located the place Of
my introducticn SO as to help him re-
call it, IL he chose. [ rather doubted
that he would. In an instant smile
came upon his face, and he grasred my
hand as if I had been az old friend
He asked us in. He seated us, and
then begged to be excused for one sec
ond. He disappeared into the next
room, leaving the door aiar. Colonel
S., who was seated near this door, per
ceived that the other room was oeeu-
pied by small party of gentlemen. He
also heard one of that party ask Her
pCIu WIZ VIC hCN dI5iNdlS were. Her
bert answered, gruffly, "some d-n
fools; don't know who they are, I am
sure
When Herbert returned to us he
brought in his hands a claret Jug and
gobblets. The Colonel Immediately
got up and told Herbert that we didn't
wish to intrude, we only wanted to
have the pleasure of shaking hands
with an author whose hand books on
sporting they were all indebted to him
for. Herbert answered, "Sit down.
don't hurry up your visit, for the par
ty IN the other room are a set of d--n
fools who Z never saw before; let them
wait. :" And they did wait, for the old
writer, after filing our glasses, sat
down and talked to us as if we were
his best friends. He no doubt relished
the JOKE he was playing on the inside
party as much as the Colonel, who felt
quite at home now that Herbert had
placed both parties on the same foot
ing.
The only thing in all that dreary
house that I coveted was an album he
displayed. 1t was filed with the draw
lnGs and impromptu verses of several of
the famous wits, actors, and authors of
the day. I recall two burlesque sketch
es by John Brougham, the celebrated
actor One was of Charlotte 'Cushman.
the other a cartoon representing a
drunken trio-England, Scotland, and
ireland. They were all tipsy from
their crown to their toes-Gavarni
could have done that sketch but the
least bit better. After some twenty
minutes thus enjoyed we left and releas-
ed our host toreturn to the discomftted
other party. I wish that could recall
the literal words of poor Herbert that
he spoke that sunny afternoon. He
talked necessarily, moderately, and po-
litely, sitting there at the head of that
table in the full light of the sunshine
pouring in at that big curtainless win
dow, turning over slowly the leaves of
that treasured album, recalling remem-
ORANGES of the companions of his better
days; that picture of him | would rath-
er hold IN my memory now than it's
harsher reverse which his neighbors
styled ''Old Herbert"