The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-12-24

weekly paper. At the time to which |
alude he announced 'Claude Mclnotte.
[ told him very frankly that he was not
as young as be once was that the char
acter was a very youthful one-in sh orr,
that he was too old He did not take
the hint very gracefully, and acted the
part The next day gave him six lines.
referring merely to the elocution and
rcading. He did not notice the absence
of other comments, but when he saw my
extended caiticism in the weekly paper
he was slightly irritated, and with good
reason, for had told the truth--thai
his stage presence was bad and that it
was a character which he could never
perform. We did not quarrel, for he
knew | was as outspoken as he, and the
matter dropped until sometime later
Then | went to see a new celebrated ac-
tor play Clande Melnotte at Winter Gar.
den. The next morning l told Mr.
Forrest: i thought that your Claude
vas about as bad as anything possibly
could be, but since / had witnessed Mr.
IS performance | must say that he
has the advantage of you Dubious as
the compliment was Mr.. Forrest received
it with deep stomachic grunt of salts
faction"
How was he in his relations with
other actors?"
just as he was with everybody whom
he met. If they happened to please
him, well and good if not, it was un-
comfortable for them if they came in
contact with him. To use slang word,
he was extremely apt to bully all in
the theatre, from the manager down.
But he once met his match. 1t was
when he was playing at the old Broad
way theatre, near Pearl street His
pieces we're followed by an exhibition
Of lions by their tanner, a certain Herr
Driesbach. Forrest was one day saying
that he had never been afraid in all his
life-could not imagine the emotion.
Dresbach made no remark at the time,
but in the evening. when the curtain had
fallen, invited Forrest home with him.
Forrest assented and the two, entering a
house. walked long distance through
many devious passages-all dark-untll
finally Driesbach, opening a door, said,
This way Mr.. Forrest Forrest enter
ed and Immediately heard the door
slammed and locked behind him.
He had not time to express any sur
prise at this, for at the same moment he
telt something soft rubbing against his
leg, and putting out his hand touched
what felt like cats back. A rasping
/ growl saluted the motion, and he saw two
fiery, glariug eyeballs looking up at him.
Arc you afraid, Mr.. Forrest ?" asked
Driesbach invisible in the darkness. Not
bit Driesbach said something the
growl deepcned and became hoarser, the
back began to arch and the eyes to shine
more fercely. Forrest held out two oil
three minutes, but the symptoms be
came so terrifying that he ownsd up ii
so many words tnat he was afraid. No"
let me out, you Internal scoundrcl,' he
said to the lion TANNER, and I'll break
every bone in your body. He was i'm
prudent there, for Driesbach kept him
not daring to move Il finger. with the liol
rubbing against his leg all the time. unit
Forrest promised not only immunity bu
champagne supper into the bargain
"IIe leaves quite an amount of proper
ty, believe"
Yes; full if not over Sl,000,00O
His library is, with the exception oil tina
!, tho Rr;,;sh Museum the finest an
richest extaut in Shakc'peariaua. lo
probably recollect tina; he bought tn
+ greater part OF Burton's superb collectio
aud shou his books come to the hamme
they will furnish a magui6cen; feast e
photographers"
"Have you any IDEA as to the dispos
e ton of MS money!
II think that the greater part of it
| beoueathed to establish a school for a.
4 tors; such at least was his intention
o though whether his will carries it out
4 course cannot tell. As he has no fam
ly aud 10 near relatives, the remaind'
= to be devoted to building an asylum i'
old actors. Naturally, | cannot say th
: positively, but | think time will prov
II me correct in my surmises. IT so ust
', it will fitly perpetuatc his memory as oil
d of the greatest, if not the greatest,
J American actors, and as one who soug
r. to found national school of acting al
t by constant liberality to produce natio
J. al drama