New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-13
OBITUARY.
Csutinuei from Fret Page.

-oss ,he Ohio to Ncwport-where tho tired Thespans
.oted Douglas" and Miss in her Teens" TO audi
,orv that had paid in only s. at the door, AL this
rhIlo Mr. Forrest enduring the rough weather of
nard fortune and the preliminary drudgery, without
h,ch M some FORM there is no attainable success N
heactor art In the Autumn ofls22 Mr. Forrest and his
companions Joined their old managers, Messrs. Collins
and Jones, 90 Lexington, KY, but these gentlemen
nresently roiuQuished theatrical business and Mr..
FORREST then engaged himself to Mr.. James
u Caldwell Of the American Theater New
orleans. Sol. Smith that the young actor
rroposed to break this New-Orleaus engagement and
ay with him at Lexington and that, because this rash
and indiscreet proposal declined. he went OF, in
nat and procured employment in a circus at SO week.
BY dint OF hard lecturing and strong argument adds
Mr. Smith, Il finally prevailed him to abandon his
new profession" Mr. Forests first appearance in Now
or,eans-Feb. A. Is23-waS made sIoD1cr in Venice
sseryed" and be remained in that city and its neigh
sorhood for about two years. His way of life, while ho
vas there appears 10 have been somewhat loose AID
rioent. He was less remarkable actor than as q
reyeler When he came again to the North he drlfted
into Albany where he got an engagement at the Albany
iAeater under the management OF Mr. Charles Giert
who pad him s. 30 week. 1t was during this engage
et that he was fortunate enough to attract the notice
.od appreciation OF f Edmund Kean, 70 whom no played
,econd in that actors pieces 1t during this
Sarement also that he made his second appearance in
hls native city, This was at the Wanut-st. Theater,
where for the benefit of Mr. C. S. Porter he acted Ja
mr. Three nights later he acted RoEa Both these per-
tonatlous much admired. Then came his first en-
nhatic hit in New-Yorl. friend OF his-Mr Woodruff
Of the Park Theaterwas 70 have benefit. and Mr. For
rest was fortunate enough to get opportunity to
net fOr It, The part that he chose for this first appear
Snee at the leading thea,er in the metropolis was OcO.
was deemed an audacious presumption Mr. Gfert,
eearing the worst of failure, strongly counseled him
AGAINST the undertaking. and even went so far 70
cay that of ensuing nasco the actor would be
N-nv, hNu srHH OFT, Nfw
was not to be dssuaded intnidated On the Esd Of
1896 performance, accordingly, took place. The
house was full and when the curtain dropped over the
hrd act Of the tragedy tho actor had the first
great Of his life.
The tide Of success now began 10 r7se. Mr. Simpson
Immediately offered him engagement on excellent
terms at the Park; bat Mr. Gfer who had just taken
the Bowery Theater. OF which he the first lessee
succeeded in securing him for that theater salary
NJ $780, year. The BOwery, under Mr. GilfertS manage
ent was the of great triumphs for Mr.. Forrest
Among the parts which he there represented with
rraordnary popular success. Damon, Ja6er, VII
tam Tea and MarG Anony. He remained here nearly
three years but, at the death Of Gert, in 1879, he
withdrew and accepted englgemenG at the Park 1t
began OFT IT. in that year when he appeared as Damon
At this thcater Mr. Forrest long enjoyed high popu-
hrity. II Was here that ne first acted Me.Gmord and
sparLa7s in John II stones tragedy Of "Metamora,"
produced 10 1920, and Robert NJ Birds tragedy of
sThe Gladiator" produced Sept &C. 1891, both Of
which plays written with special view to ut hls
talents and pecuaries, and in both Of which his acting
the perfection of physical realism.
Time passed, and the traGedan grew more and moro
the cordial estimation OF hosts of NewYor admirers.
IN the Of 1884 company OF citizens rendered
aim the formal courtesy Of public banquet, and pre-
tented him with gold medal in token Of their homage.
This medal designed by the artist Ingham. and engraved
by Mr. c. c. Durand bore on one side portrait OF the
totor inscribed with the words. HStrioni optiD,o Ed
f,f-n nd he NJ AvJpa
emblematic Of tragedy, with tho words from Shake
Ipeare Great in mouths Of wisest censure" Mr. For
rest was in the prime Of manhood and the first ush
Of popularity, a person remarkable for muscular
beauty, voice of glorious volume and melodous
sweetness and intensely passionate and forci-
bic style Of depicting the emotional experience
turbulent characters. he had, within very brief
time acquired prOdigous vogue and distinction The
iOca stage not then able 10 exut In much tragic talent
distnetvey American, proudly claimed for this Ameri-
can equal rank with the best foreign represen
satives Of tragedy The local newspapers teemed with
his praises All the avorns gales Of fortune, indeed
soncurrcd TO blow in direction. aad thus far the
young actor sailed before the wind When, therefore,
Mr. Forrest went over 10 England-whch he did at this
hme- natural that he should attract attention as
the typical American actor. His reception was such as
might wei have touched the heart and hatered the in
telectual pride Of an ambitious and sensitive man.
Mr. Forrest made pleasure trip through France, italy
and Germany before entering England; but ia process
OF time he reached that country and on the l7th or
October 1896 at Druryane, he appeared as SpaFtacns
In "The Gladiator" This performance stirred the
theatrical public with sensation different from any it
had known before-s.nce 1t offered an unprecedented
onion OF enormous ply steal vigOr with uncommon talent
for tragic acting, Great success and corresponding
popularity ensued. and Forrest became lion OF the
bour II ia worthy OF mention that he received, at this
time especially kind treatment at the hands OF Mr.
Macready, and from other persons eminent
in Ito profession OF the stage. Many and
pleasant tokens of courtesy also eI-
tended 70 him by members Of the literary craft
Fallourd presided at a dinner which the Garrick Club
rendered to tho American actor, and Charles kemDe
ana stelben Price gave him swords which had once
been the property, respectively, OF John Kembe' Ed
nund Kean and Tama. This period was, probably, the
bappest in FORE SITS fe-though, had MS manure Oeen
gentle his ambition really noble and his conduct pure
would have BEEN there Is good reason to think only
the joyful dawn Of long day Of ever increasing happ'
ness.
Aneve,t now occurred which was destined TO shape
and color all the rest Of his career This was his meet
tng with Miss Catherine Norton Sinclair daughter OF
the vocalist John Sinclair, whom no Wooeo anu
won and TO whom he married on the 2Sd OF June,
1851 The meeting and the marriage had been preocteo
before Mr. Forrest left America There was every rea-
so 70 sfppose that the union would prove happy one
INIT txelve wears later it ended in separation, IN
misery TO both parties bitter strife between their
friends and adherents and In that dtresSim series Oh
eounteruits at law betwlxt husband ana wire Whion
were the fruitful OF scandaous gossip aud winch
ara st In public recollection. The course pnreueu py
Mr. Forrest. in portion OF Ills Hairieu me- me-
IA satd-and we fully believe Is said with
tr,th-.o have been a course OF cruelty ana
ueeptio1sness The line OF conduct that ne iolio"e@ IN
the matter OF the open TO all the world ana
WAS 10 an astonishing degree ignoDle, ruthless ana
ieted ma not an exaggeration to say that 1t alien
NV