New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-13
OBITUARY.
EDWIN FORREST.

soemnity that were mpelled TO choose what words
/ from his should be the last were destined ever 70
hear; and. obyng that impulse, We left the hall Inn
medatey upon bis conclusion OF the hesrbroken utter
Of desoate agony which ends with otheos occu-
pations gone" lie spoke that speech with more than
mournfll beauty Of ntOnation. he spoke from his In
most soul-pointng out In these few great words an
agonzing sense Of utter failure, fororn wretchednes
and irremedabe woe. The memory OF that relentless
trouble and hopeless is still fresh and green az
| We learn-wthout surprise-that Edwin FORREST ~
Dead He expired yesterday morning. 81 ms nouss
In philadelphia. in the 9th year OF his age
The death Of this remarkable man an incident when
seems 10 prompt more Of indefinite emotion than OK
definite thought. The sense that Ia uppernost is tho
sense that great vitality enormous individually Oh
character boundless ambition, tempestuous spirit
life Of warfare and often OF harsh injustice an
embittered mind and age laden with disappointment
and pain all at rest Mr.. Forres-party from nstu
raj bias TO the wrong and partly from the force OF e
cumstances and tho memorable action OF tme,-hao
shipwreck OF his happiness had cast away many
golden opportunities; had outved his fame mad out
lived many of his friends aud alienated others; mad
seen the fabric OF hs popularity begin 10 crumble had
the growth new tastes and the rise OF new idols;
had found his claims actor, II accepted by many
among tho multitude rejected by many among the Jao|
cous and In wintry age broken In health, detected In
spirit and thwared IN ambition, had come 10 the ass
scene OF ALL" with great wealth. indeed, but with very
little Of either love, peace hope Death at almose
all times blessing must, In ending such an experience
as this, DO viewed tender mercy. His nature
which should have been noble for 1t contained elements
OF greatness and beautywas diseased with arrogance
passion and cruelty 1t warred with ITSELF and II made
| him desolate. he has long been wreck. There was
nothing before him here but arid waste OF sunerngi
and since understand hm thus, we cannot but tnk
with q tender gratitude, that at last he 10 beyond too
reach Of all trouble and where neither sorrow, self
rebuke, unreasoning passion, resentment asanst Inc
| 81 an
The life OF Edwin Forrest unusually crowded with
such incidents as naturally attend the of pOpu
actor and ALSO with such incidents as are but TOO aps
to attend the development Of rudeV energetic cnar
acter struggliig-from worldly motives and oy wordy
Of the ohseurty Of poverty into the dis
function OF riches In his bright days. he was the con-
spicuous figure in many popular evations and he was
the originator OF quarres and the center OF
strife. The enumeration OF all these Incidents OK
both classes which formed so largo portion OF his me-
would DO tedious and do not think 1t would De ln-
sructiye Recital Of leading facts in his story how
ever should not be omitted. He has filed great space
in the history of the American stage His name and his
personal presence have been made familiar to the peo-
pie IN many cities; no the founder OF dstincs
school of acting and we have inmated, there were
elements In his rugged aud turbulent Individuality
which made 1t interesting, significant, and usefuy re-
spOnsive TO intelligent study Such details, therefore,
as she'd light upon his character and the value OF his
achievements possess q manifest importance
Edwin Forrest was born in Philadelphia on the 9th OF
March, 1906. His father native Of scotland-his
mother native of Germany. HIS fathers occupation
was that OF commercial traveller in which capacity DO
came TO America In boyhood Edwin's health was dell
cate until no reached the age OF H. when he began
to get strong his relatives doubted whether he would
survive 10 mans estate. At or about the age OF 49,
though he went into the West and from this change OF
residence he derived grsab benefit; his constitution
turned out 20 be hardy and eventually he became one OF
the most athletic OF his generation AS a child no
exhibited taste and aptitude for defamation All
early age OF II he participated III theatrical Tepresen-
tlon-being then member Of private amateur
dramatic club in Philadelphia. Once, In a
performance gvon by this club, 40 played
Harlequin, wearing q pair II nsnkeen trousers
which no had himself marked of in Squares,
and painted, for this Another time he acted .
female part aud being Kissed by young companion
in the auditory, whom ho recognized he came TO the
footghts addressed the sbIant spectator IN these
words: ."D-n YOU Davis, you just wait I'LL 1 ges
through with this part, and I'll lick you like H. Tho
incident is significant. To "llck Ike h-P everybody
who presumed dsapproye eithcr his acting his con-
duct OF LIS character, was during great many years.
the spontaneous and intense desire Of M Forrest LOB
he thought that the disapproval was always nc
titious aud hostile and that the licking accordingly
would be q lust and suitable resentment His
first appearance on the regular stage was
made at the Walnut Street Theater Philadelphia, on the
Nth Of November 1920, when he acted-not I0u Nor
play of that name. This ambitious attempt TO be
made by boy Of IA 1tat,racted little attention, but 10
seems TO have been in so far successful that 1t showed
the actors precocity. both physical and mental HIS
next part, played Ia the same engagement was trede-
iok In Lovers Vows'-the play that Mrs. InchDald
made out OF Kotzebues drama OF the Natural son.
That production entirely shelved OF late years. used to
be popular and Frederick fayorte part with be-
gnners on the stage. sl LATER tor his benefit, tho
Young actor appeared 0ctarfIn in Colman's pay-on
episodes In Don QuxOte'-of "The MOCntaineers|
and this closed the frat chapter In his professional
record.
Then came the removal into the West. Mt. Forrest
went thither under engagement TO Aessrs Collins ard
JONES' actors and well known IN their day oa
the Western and Southwestern theatrical circuit Taey
were then managing the Cincinnati Theaer; and 1t was
here I'm the early part Of 1922 Mr. Forrest made his
first appearance under direction The part that no
acted was YOUNG Melfort in Andrew Cherrys now al
most wholly dsuscd comedy OF "The Soldiers Daugn-
teri and subsequently, for his benefit he made his hrt
atttempt Richard ILL., Mention OF these performances
occurs the Autobiography OF Sol Smith, who was then
editing O paper In Cincinnati. when gave
a very favorable opinion Of Forests acting.
in the comparatively tr1ng character OF AeorI says
that writer my brother editors laughed at me and
ard when he played Richard for his benefit andi
prophesied future greatness, they set me down as
little less mailman. He was cleVer 10y, GER
tainly' they said. but pufing would ruin him. Inc
stock company Of which Mr. Forrest was member COM
nr,sed besides Messrs Collins and Jones and him
self Messrs Scott, Davis Eberle, Henderson, and
Groshou; Mrs Pelby, Mrs. Riddle, Mis- Bid
die Miss Eliza Riddle, then child, ana
Mss Penton 10 the Summer Of Isn they all
vent TO Louisyille but business proved bad. and .
marty of them including Mr. Forrest, presently returned
10 Cincinnati, and appeared at the Globe Theater IL
was here that he first acted 0teo 1t was here, too,
had hefo haau tad on