Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-14
E0RRESTANIA
The Philadelphia Press gives the following
nattic nlars of the death Of Edwin Eorrest:


in Boston last April was OF nature calculated |
TO shake his constitution severely; further, he |
had well nigh lived out his allotted span OF |
three score and ten years. He was, however, |
quite competent to attend 10 his usual avoc.- |
tons up 10 the very morning OF his death. On |
Meonesday evening me sppesaeu 70 , os IN ms
X ate, his old and faithful housekeeper, about
ne WORK 10 be done In the picture gallery,
giving her several letters to put in the iron
post-box at the corner. But he did not retire
till about IL. His breakfast was ready at the
usual hsur $500 on Thursday morning, and the
bell was rung; there was no reply. His heavy
tread descending the broad stairs was unheard,
and the bell was rung second time without
library, and proceeded toward Mr.. Forests
bedroom, adjoining 1t, she heard strong
breathing, and on entering found him
stretched across his bed, apparently in
swoon, and livid streak on his right temple.
He could not answer her call, and when she
called in his friend and neighbor, Mr.. James
neighborng physician, DR.. COrbet, the great
actor was dead. Word was Immediately sent 20
James Cakes, of Boston, an associate Of Mr..
Forrest; to Daniel Dougherty, his lawyer, and
TO Colonel Forney, of the Press, and last even
ing the two latter, with MIR. Rees, Mr.. Parkin-
son, Mr.. McMahan, MIR. Elvins, and a few
chamber, his face As quiet as if in sleep, and
his broad forehead recalling the magnificent
brow of Shakespeare. Indeed, all about the
dead man was Shskspearian. His dressing
case was literally covered with pocket volumes
of the plays of the immortal bard, and in the
library at the west end the broad pages Of Hal
liwell's magnificent edition were open at
I" Hamlet with notes in Mr.. Rhees' hand
writing, showing that he and Mr.. Forrest were,
on Tuesday, comparing some of the criticisms
New York Tribune and Herald. His intel
lect was clear till struck by the fatal blow.
After his death letter, addressed to Henry
Building, Yonkers, westchester county, New
York" was found on his table in the library
postage paid, with some change, evidently to
compensate the person who might take it to
the pest box or post office. The Press OF We'd
nesday lay at his bedside, and directly over his
right hung striking picture oil his mother, be-
low which was fne photograph OF his friend,
James Oakes, OF Boston. On his bed Law his
blue neckcloth, which he was doubtless tying
| "a he fell. No arrangements have Yet been
made for the funeral. He was attached to no
religious sect, though reared in the Pretesrant
faith. He had great admiration for the Cath
Ole creed and practice, mainly perhaps on ac
count OF the differences between the various
Protestant denominations; but in all his con-
veTsations he showed a firm belief in a saving
and forgiving Providence He will be buried
without Ostcntation. Though public charac-
ter, he was private man in all IL n related to
himself; and when he Is borne to his last past i.
will be without parade.
| OF Mr.. Forests affairs nothing is positively
known. He dies possessed of considerable reaj
estate. His property at Broad and Master Is
| valuable; his fsrm near FraDkford, which he
bought from Mr.. George II. Stuart, ten years
ago, for some S15 600; his lots at the old Fort
| Hill farm on the Hudson: his Covington KY
| property, ought TO foot up cOnsiderab total,
outside OF his personal property. He was a fine
business man, Of careful money habits, and vet
| capable OF generous actions. He kept his coun-
,el always; Dying suddenly, perhaps without
erty, and dying also without any known rela-
| tons, much interest will attach to the facts
when his affairs come to be legally examined"
Col. FOrney, always staunch friend of For
| rests, says editorialy of him:
"Forrest fought bravely in his sphere till
| le,2, passing from the stage OF life one of the
| noblest characters that ever bore its bullets
| passing, let US say, down to his 9Th year, and
| dying literally with harness on his back. To
the last he was worker He loved his art, its
| studies, its excitements, its activities, the
| changes OF scene il afforded. its pleasures of
| travel and acquaintance, its rescue from the
rust Of idleness and the rack Of private troubles
In many respects most reserved, he was at times
| fascinating Ialker, and withal q rare listener
| Never eager to thrust himself Onward in social
lie, he was never an unIeady guest. He
| so conscious of his superiority that he never
| allowed anybody to ask his support at a CON
| vivial party As An actor; and il mattered not
| whether he talked politics, or religion, OF po-
etry, he y as the peer Of his associates of what
ever rank or station. More than once in day.
gone by, when statesmen in Congress or both
| parties visited the editor of the Washington
Chronicle and the P hiladephiA Press at his Old
rooms on Capitol Hill, Forrest would come to
| US after he had acted Macbeth, or OttsIo. or
Richelien, or Jack Cade, or COriolaHus, and at a
word forget the fatiSues of the night and stArte
the dlgnities by appearing as French critic on
| Shakespeare, a Yankee in the south, q slave
holder on q steamboat, negro in the pulpit, or
an Interpreter OF some old ballad of the fresde
| affections. And all this till Pitt Fessendsn OF
Maine, or grim Thaddeas Stevens of Penusyl-
vania, or reticent Joseph Holt OF Kentucky
would be convulsed with laughter or drowned
in tears
The World has an interview with an old ac-
quaintance OF Forrest, from which We take the
| following:
Va ha Iva hta rala
actors?"
"Just rs he vas with everybody whom he met.
if not, it WAS uncomf ,rtable for them if thew
came in contact tn him. To use q slang
word, he was extremely apt to bully all in the
theater, from the manager down. But he once
met his match. 1t was when he was PLAYING AT
the Broadway theater, near Pearl street His
pieces were followed by an exhibition of lion,
rest was one day ing that be had never been
afraid in all his life-cOuld not imagine the mo
tioD. Driesbach made no remark at the time,
| but In the evening, when the curtain had fallen,
invited Forrest home with him. Forrest as
sehted, and the two, entering q house, walked a
long distance through many devious passages
Snor das TX finally Dries6aeh. opening
entered and Immediately heard the door
slammed, and he then looked behind him
ae a. an no. ,me 70 espfess any surprise at this
rubbing against his leg, and putting ont his
hand touched what felt like a cats back. A
ioSplDS siOWi odlutcu tue mOtOn, and he
two fiery, glazing eyeballs looking up at him
ARE you afraid, Mr.. Forest asked Dries
bach, invisible in the darkness Not a bit
Driesbach said something; the growl deepened
and became hOarser, the back began to arch
and the ewes to shine more fercey. Forrest
held out two or three minutes; but the symptoms
became 50 terrifying that he owned up in so
many words that he was afraid. Now let me
out, you Internal scoundrel,' he said to the lion
tanner; and III break every bone in your body
he was imprudent there, for Driesbach kept
MIN, not daring to move a finger with the lion
rubbing against his leg all the time, until For
rest promised not only immunity but a cham
payne supper into the bargain"
believe"
eyes; full if not over 81 900 900 His library
IS, with the exception OF that in the British MI
scum, the finest and richest extant in Shake
speariana. You probably rec0llect that he
bought the greater part Of Burton's superb col
lection, and should his books come to the ham
mer they win furnish q magnificent feast for
photographers"
Have you any idea as to the di sposition OF
HE money!"
81 think that the greater part OF it is be-
queathed TO establish . school for actors such AT
least was his intention, though whether his will
carries 1t out OF course cannot tell. As he hss
no family and no near relatives the remaindar