Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-26
Death of Edwin Forrest.

The eminent tiagedian, Edwin For
rest, died suddenly at his residence In
Philadelphia, at the age Of slxty-slx
years. The veteran actors half century
of service in his profession has made
his presence and his fame so familiar to
two generations of play-goers that 1t Is
not necessary to recall all the incidents
of his long and successful career. Born
in Philadelphia in 1906, he began, DIT
the early age Of ten years, to reveal his
predictions for the stage, and in 1917
appeared at the Apollo Theatre IN that
city, as Lady Anne, in the play OF
douglas" Three years later, he took
the part of Young Norval at the Tivol
Gardens in the same city; and IN No
vember, 1920, made his appearance on
regular stage at the Walnut Street
Theatre, in the same character. He met
with a cool reception in this bold ven
ture, but was not discouraged. Resolv-
ing to win his way, he devoted himself
to hard study, and in January 1921, took
his first benefit under more promising
circumstances. He was then but fifteen
years old. Determined to strike out
path for himself, he went to Cincinnati
in the Fall of 1922, and appeared at Col
Inns & Jones' Theatre in the character
of Malford, in "The Soldiers Daugn-
ter" Afterward he played Richard.
From Cincinnati he went to Louisville,
where he appeared for the first time as
Othello-thus beginning the long line
of Shakespearian representations for
which he has since become famous. His
early experiences in the West, however,
were not joyful. Reduced at last to the
extreme of necessity, he joined circus
company, as tumbler and rider, at
salary of twelve dollars a week, and un-
derwent various vicissitudes for several
wears. In 1926, fortune began to favor
him, and in July of that year he made
his first appearance as "star" at the
Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia,
in the character of Othel]o. From that
time onward his career was success.
In 1886 he went to England, and in Oc-
tober of that year first appeared on the
London stage at Drury Lane, as Sparta
Gus. During this visit, he was married
TO Miss Gather inc Sinclair, who divorced
from him at her own request many years
ago, has since resided in this city and
on Staten Island. On the return of Mr..
Forrest from England in 1887, he entered
into an engagement at the Park Theatre,
where he received an enthusiastic well
come-the receipts for the first three
nights of his performances amounting
to $4,000. In lS45, after continued and
successful en- ngegements in this country,
he again visited England, and appeared
at the Princess's Theatre in London as
Macbeth. Having been hissed on his
reappearance, he ascribed that indignlty
to the intrigues of Mr.. Macready, and
the ill-feelipg thus engendered between
the eminent tragedians continued with
out abatement until it eliminated in the
outrageous attack upon Mr.. Macready
on his appearance in this city, at the
Astor Place Opera House, in May. l849.
Forests first appearance in New York
after his divorce took place at the Broad
way Theatre, in February, 1852, when
he played Damon-the engagement last
ing for sixty-one mig is. He afterwards
made professional tour of the Unite d
States, playing round of Shakesperian
characters. In 1855, announcing his
intention to retire into private life, he
purchased an elegant mansion on
Broad street, Philadelphia, and did not
again appear upon the stage till the sea,
son of lS60-6l, when tempting offers
were made to him by Mr.. james M.
Nixon, which were accepted. He con-
tinued to appear at intervals until 1856,
when he made his first appearance in
San Francisco in the character of Richie.
lieu. During the past five or six years
he has taken frequent farewells" Of
the stage. only to be re-enticed by pro-
ftable opportunities and at the solicita-
tion of bis friends.