New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-17
TuR IrP2 oP EDWIN FORREST BY JAMES RsEs. Emo p
n b24 r. d. Peterson Brothers

THE LrP2 OF EDWIN FORREST. BY JANIS RsHs limo pp
b24. r. D. Peterson Brothers
The interest of this volume consists cnlehy
10 the personal recoectons and anecdotes WIN "neD
IL abounds profusion. Many details are pieso. .
its pages winch though often OF trivial charac'ci'
have ont OF the ntimaces OF private friend SNIP
and viii serve 10 throw light on the pecuariues Oh 'no
famous tragedan which were no less strongly m" NO.
In his character In his style OF acting Inc WIZ
makes no preensions to literary merit ana WI" pos III"
place among elaborate and artistic biographies VI o
nent men, but as fluent record OF theatrical anecdo'e
and gossip. IL will appeal to the curiosity OF many
readers The writer had the advantage OF @ hreions
acquaintance with Mr.. Forrest, beginning WIN MS
early boyhood, extending through the various inoi
dents Of his professional career and rpenne ihto CON
slant companionship the latter years OF his ire he
would have produced better work II he had str1cuy
confined himself to the results OF MS personal eA
perience. Several of the anecdotes when DC in'io
duces are fresh and racy and others which are Dete
known will bear repetition but there are rev reauers
who need TO informed that Thespis was dreek poet
horn in Atca and the Inventor OF tragedy OF .na
IN, library of the Vatican Of the largest aud rc
800 RVS murc germane TO the subject 10 DC
told that Forrest even when yet mere boy, decued
upon the profession Of the stage with view 10 business
His interest the drama assumed that character ana
he devoted all his youthful energies to the attainment
of that end One OF his early engagements was ht'e
ont of the legitimate routine OF IN actor This was with
the manager OF circus company as tumoer anu
rider for the term Of twelve months His friend SOL
Smith found him one day in the ring, surrounded by
riders acrobats, vaulters grooms, and other ART
lists OF that stamp. With difficulty he per-
suaded him 10 return 70 the regular course,
though S. Smith admitted that II he had re-
NAMED with the circus managers he would nave De-
come one Of the bodes riders and vaulters that ever
appeared in the ring Even after his restoration to the
stage the circus still retained ts attractions for the
young athlete He often imagined that he was better
adapted TO the OF the ring than to the intellectual
demands Of the stage drol instance OF this infat'
alton is given by the author ION one occasion, for
wager he appeared In the ring in still vaulting
act, being for the benefit OF Bill Gates wellknown
aache OF the circus Forrest had the privilege In this
wager TO disguise himself not to be recognized II
possible by his theatrical friends His dress consisted
Of an enormous pair Of Turkish trousers,
and fly his feet adorned with pair OF sheepskn
pumps, the kind 10y numerous train OF auxilarles
But few knew him, however. On another occasion he
| rendered his services for the benefit Of Charley
Young on which evenfu night, the last OF his aero
! batc feats he made a flying leap through barrel o
red fire. singing hair and eyebrows terribly To the
last moment Of MI Forests life, however he still exer
csed with dumbbels, dead weights. Indian clubs, etc
and other eats Of physical exercise, too much we fire.
quenty thought for his advanced Others Thought
toe, but the spirit OF the boy OF eighteen only ded
out with the man Of sixty-six"