, 1872-12-22

anQ one OF TWO o1nelH, foTTesI TaIseu ueedless
contest between himself aud the English actor,
and no biographer who truly writes his history
can approach this point without feeling that he
acted the part, both abroad md ut home. Of 9
loud, intrusive, and inhospitable man, who had
not been governed by tie comities OF the
dramatic profession. There was no more rea-
sou for hIr. Forrest to have melted or counte-
naaced the Astor place riots and the yio-
lence to 11acready, than for Mr. Macready
to have first come to this country and
then at homo had him pelted with rotten eggs
and turnips. Yet, to the eud Of his days, For
rest delighted in keeping around him great toad
les and shoulder-hitters, who boosted that they
had fred the first cabbage-head on the uno1fend-
| ing Macready. Let this be forgotten if it can
be, but there arc persons living who will not
have it so, but will attempt to write laborious
books to show that the greatest American actor
est actor upon the other side of the ocean.
t INTERVIEWS WITH FORREST.
am wandering from the subject OF Forests
.'Richeheu-" Ho replied to my letter that he
| would be- very happy to give me any information,
aud desired me to call at the Academy OF Music
at la1f-past o'clock in the day. He described
my notices Of him with some compliment, and
particularly referred to g an ingenious delicacy
of expression" No wonder. The circumstances
| required great deal OF ingenuity.
At the appointed time went to the Academy
OF Music, the same building where the late Phil
adelphia Convention WAS held /; and. in short
time, the great actor appeared, looked at mo
minute or two, and Immediately fell to the vast
er theme OF himself, which never knew him to
abandon from that time forward. He had copy
OF large pamphlet which he had published
against Macready. had not much sense Of JUS
tice at that day; but I remem9er' when I
to ne that an American actor should claim tie
right to hiss an English actor in an English the
atre. because he had introduced a ballet into
6. Macbeth" Yet, Forrest claimed that, as o
patron Of the drama, he had right to protest in
that manner against any innovation upon the
play. Macready, as you remember, had attempt
cd to revise the plays Of Shakespeare upon scale
OF spIendor commensurate with the text; but
Forrest was then in the height Of his renown as
the great young American tragedlan, and he
wanted to come home with the reputation OF
having had some professional and personal COM
bat with Macready. The latter's conduct, 80 far
best; and tho pamphlet which read was, in
fact, an irrelevant and foolish production, not.
consonant with just mans idea Of what the
conduct of the greatest actor OF America in his
period should have been. I observed at that
time that Forrest had an enormous desire to find
out who Ind written any derogatory criticisms
to himself, and he behaved as il he meant to
bring libel-suits against any persons SO offend
ing in opinion or to have them bludgeoned, or
to cover them With the enormous mantle OF his
disapprobation. He did play, however, in a way
that fully satisfied my notions; and I must cay
that have never seen him in any piece when he
OF histrionic parts, noble reader, and great
physical being.
4 SIDE SHOW.
After this introduction, used to go with him
to the Academy; and once, remember, st por-
formance. when the ladies and men we're assem-
bled in the green-room, and Forests dressing
room was at the opposite side Of the STAGE there
WAS such piercing yell, followed by the running
Of woman across the boards, that got the
idea that the curtain wa8 up, and that might
ha 1fnnf3fnV with hat baf0ra the pt1IfAOra
There ere SO many flaps, and flies, and queer
| things around the stage Of theatre that novice
hardly knows whether the audience is before
him or behind him. I said to an actor there:
"What is the matter? Do they exercise their
parts with that sort Of yehemence 2" s'No," said
the actor, sit is only the Governor in one of his
exhibitions Of temper"
BETTER FEELINGS.
Within the sphere of perfect self-satisfactfon,
undisturbed by any adverse opinion or remark
of Ills friends Forrest sometimes seemed to be
large and benignant nature. But he would
not have any enemy treated with Difference, and
in fact he seemed to live in the unhealthy and
narrow arena OF peoples admiration. I have
heard that, before lie died, he fell to some self
comparisons which made him gentler man;
meridian Of ifo, and full Of Lis own vast
ness. Politics hns many tyrannica1 men,
but T think I never saw any Con-
gressman with the sen-conceit and despot-
ism Of this actor. He would not play with
an artist who had awakened 3 particle Of his
Jealousy, or against whom eono secret enemy
Much Of his % later fans fane vii be- i lost to him be-.
cause he vent around tho country with set Of
inferior folks who would cater to his self-love.
and sometimes putposely play badly in order
that the newspapers would not compare them
with Forrest I have had persons come to me-
and say: aFor Gods eake don't nut in mora
than fonr or Ave lines abo1t ma for1 If von do
the old man will get down on me-"
LESSON OF Els LIFE. ...
Forrest is. that bis lie was tenn
perate ono and 3 business one A.
ffhone1, Middle State man he knew tho
va1ne of money from ear1y y2onth and The
te1rors uT of Iouor to men o} genius in Lis pro- @
fessjon. He smoke to me once of :Tohn scott
na;d tbem this gentle comnI;nent@and renen- en-
her it vet. heeanse- from his creat 1ina nra;sa
aven IN ia dend oava nayr I;r5t r. ha cbarace
ter1of sav;n@ i Tbosa nen had ~ eraat ahIi4v
and nse3 to think that ti9ev won1d hat ma he,
fore the nnblic. Int th;s lionor temntation
oTercsne them md thev died vnnnc y
ms MIND.