The New York herald., 1877-09-15
EDWIN FORREST.

sKRTcH OF THE GREAT TRAaEDIAN BY A
BROTHER ACTOR.
An article on Edwin Forrest in the forthcoming
number OF the Gatary from the pen Of Lawrence
Barrett commands attention as the opinion OF an in
tclligent actor and friend the famous tragedian.
Mr. Barrett's article is in a review Of Mr..
Algers ellie of Forrest with which he expresses
himself as disappointed. "The most that may DO
claimed for this work." says Mr.. Barrett ''ls the
ebieavor of the biographer TO maintain his hero upon
the highest OF human standards" In this magazine
article the writer does attempt to review even the
leading incidents Forests life. but simply "to pay
a tribute OF reverent affection for great man aud
lost iriend" After some general remarks on The
drama and Mr. Forrest o! its best exponents,
Mr. Barrett says
My own acquaintance with the great man began one
winters evening twenty years Sgu Coming 10 New
York, stranger and youth, saw Mr.. Forrest an
nnunced as LIE r at the old Broadway Theatre. The
impression OF that performance has been efaced
Dy any subsequent effort oi his, and has certainly
peen disturbed by that OF any other actor His
greatest Snakesperian parts were Lear, Othelo und
Corioanus. The former grew mellow and rich as aRe
on while It still retained much OF It's earlier
force. His Othelo suffered from the causes,
although his grand intellect was apparent TO the
last In all his work. Corioanns died with him.
.lhe last oil all The Romans" He was great.
est, however. in such parts virg,nius,
William Tell and Srartacus Here the mannerisms
OF the man were less apparent than IN his shake
spearan performances, and wero overlooked the
rugged massiveness oi the whole creation. Hamlet,
Richard and Macbeth, were out of his temperament,
and his performances OF these orthy OF his
fame. can testify to the warm interest
which Mr. Forrest took IN all young actors who
seemed earnestly to desire advancement and were
wiling to labor ior tnat end. While fulfilling
an engagement at the Chestnut Street Theatre in
Philadelphia many years ago Ar. Forrest, then at
home Tor his vacation, occupied box nearly every
evening during my performances, and between the
nets he would send me in few lines upon card OF
an encouraging character. or point out some
which he had detected. 1 only
too happy to be thus instructed. and felt
deeply the compliment paid to me in this
way. In all his suggestions and corrections
him to be In the right never rebeed but once,
and he kindly referred ne to the uthores upon the
subject, when ght humility and apology and
thanks covered the Shame of my rebellion During this
engagement saw much of him socially and rarely dis.
any OF those harsh features o character for
when ne Was noted among mon. lie spoke Invariably
OF his fellow actors with tenderness. and wnen he had
been deceived or his confidence had been abused he
silently passed the offender by In this respect, pre-
sumo, his conduct had undergone a change from his
earlier habit. Success had made him cgotsticai
tainly and this eeotsm showed itself sometimes IN
humorous way, sometimes IN "a serious one. Il
My last days with him were passed in New Orleans
wherc he acting and remaining ssis in the
opening Of the new theatre there. HIS health
poor aud he rarely left MS room TIL evening. lie
would sent, .or me IN the morning for breakfast, and
IL was pleasure 10 me TO know that could HIM
III mitigating the ennUi o sick ROOM Here learned
how extensive had been his reading and how much
OF his education he owed to his professional training
He often declared that 10 be successful
have acquired liberal education in the progress
OF his professional work. Hc certainly was an excel
lent illustration OF his own theory He loved books
keeny. ana knew them too He gong through
Texas ON his way home, after finishing hs engage
mont In Sew OreaDs and sent MIN Tor his reading
en- route q copy Of leckys ''R,uonaisln, y which he
had met lie wrote most fatterIng letter of
thanks from Galveston, the last ever had from MS
hands, and particularly dwelt upon the iavor had
done him IN calling TO his Knowledge an author VINO
paid such a tribute 10 our profession fact winch
alone would have made him admrer of LeCkv The
Impression he LETT upon me have tried TO tell in tins
brief sketch, and am only paying debt to a friend
when ask that when tho faults OF Mr. Forrest are re-
hearscd justice may be done TO his virtues, whirh
would more than trim the balance.
In summing up lie like this, where strength aud
weakness are ia forcibic contrast IL is Impossible 10
deny that man had appeared before hi- time who
20 exercise great an influence upon the
drama as he did Je loved his with all the fond
ness OF woman, and he gave liio and fortune it,
Possessing the grandest qualifications for actor. he
omitted labor TO improve himself, scornng alike
the evasons OF the susgard and the trckery Of the
cnurlaLan.