Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-12-18

TAs Death oS Ed,ctn Forrest.
In tho death of Edwin Forrest tho
American stage has lost It's highest
ornament and dramatic art its proudest
interpreter. For fifty years he had
made tho mimic life more real and
more tragic even than his own. lie
was one Of tho few men who could say
when his days were in the sero aud
yellow leaf
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Which should be worn now In their newest gioss
Not cast aside so SOON
for though the world had known hin,
for half century he was not old, ac-
cording to the measure OF mems years
and he had only begun to outlive his
faults. His triumphs were great, but
his life was not happy in its prime.
The plaudits Of the world could not
recompense him for what he suffered
but tho earth which fills his grave will
hide all except the greatness and sub.
Unity OF his genius. lie was a man
such as we shall not sec again in this
generation, and, among Shakspeare's
interpreters, his name will ever bo as
sociatod with that OF Edmund Kean.
The two actors were so great and so
wonderfully like in their greatness
that !. now seems impossible to decide
which was greatest. And it is cred
liable to both that each recognized
the genius of the other. When For
rest, young man unknown to fame,
and without any great master to teach
him his art, appeared ut Charleston TO
play the parts be had learned to act
in the rude theatres Of tho West and
South, Kcan mot him aud heraldcd
his talents in the cities whore hc was
soon 10 appear and ask for popular
favor Soon he camc 10 New York,
and ho came to conquer, not for an
hour, but for years Of enduring fame.
Yet when he first appeared behind the
Of the Bowery Theatre six
md forty years ago he showed upon
what frail threads tho success of life
time often hangs. In the first scenes
Of "0thello" on that great night of
his trial and his triumph ho was tame
and spirillcss as tho poor actor who
struts and frets his hour upon the
stage; but his genius at last asserted
itself, and he electrified his audience
by the intensity Of his passion and
bis Jealousy. 1t was, as we often say
)f performances less noble, thing to
DO remembered, and il is still treasur-
ID rs one of tho grccn and fragrant
Of the stage. Great was
.he career which followed it, and last
ng as it was great. Every city in
he Union courtcd Forrest to come
md come again. London saw him
With wonder and when seeking to
condemn approved him in the end. -
II was easy enough to put poor Dr..
Birds play out of sight, but not so
Easy 10 disown the spell of Forests
Moor. When London has seen his
)thcllo it was easy to say his old-time
,ower had disappeared; but loyal
England could not but sympathizu
With the forlorn, iorsaken Lear, into
nto whom his gehius Infused new life
10 personated kings and heroes moved
~ strong, deep passions, ard made
hemgr and as Shakespeare made them.
The sovcreigns of the time were mere
puppets compared with the puppet
ovcreigns OF his mighty braih. His
Ierocs lived and breathcd while the |
wing kings and warriors seemed as
cad. In one respect the Astor place |
lot is creditabe TO him. There are
ew men whose intellectual power,
Welded only in tho domain Of art,
ould induce the multitude TO say, at |
he risk of life, and, as il turned out, |
n the very jaws Of death, that anolh.
= whom IL was conceived had done |
i'm wrong should not speak in the
ity where he had spoken so fitly and
o well 1t was IN this sense a tribute
o his art as hotly urged as he had |
laycd his partsj but II was an event
which never should have occurred. II
We can best regret it by forgcitingit
n the future Edwin Forrest will be
ssociated only with his art, as Kcan
nd Kcmblc now live only in the glory
I their artistic achievements. Even
he carping criticism that followed
im to the end will not long be re-
rendered now that ho is gone. II
lazlitt had lived in his day TO tell the
tory Of his passion and Lamb TO por-
ray bis portrayals of tenderness, pos
Gritty might know him better; but
ven these could not have mado his
ime moro lasting or compelled his
enius to be treated more rcyercn.iy
D the generations which arc 10 come
ftor Ii rn NJ Y TsroIJ