The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-10-10
Edwin Forrest.
SKETCH OF THE GREAT TRAGEDrAN BY
LAWRENCE BARRETT.

SKETCH OF THE GREAT TRAGED1AN By
LAWRENCE BARRETT.
An article on Edwin Forrest in the
forthcoming number of the Galaxy,
from the pen of Lawrence Barrett,
commands attention as the opinion
ofan intelligent actor and friend OF
the famous tragedian. Mr.. Bar
rett's article is in a measure a re.
view of Mr.. Alger's "Life of For
rest" with which he expresses him.
self as disappointed. "The most
that may be claimed for this work, {"
says Mr.. Barrett, sis the endeavor OF
the biographer to maintain his hero
upon the highest of human stan
dards." In this magazine article
writer does not attempt to review
even the leading incidents of For
rests life, but simply "to pay a tri-
butte of reverent affection for great
man and lost friend" After some
general remarks on the drama, and
Mr.. Forrest as one of its best expo
nents, Mr.. Barrett says:
My own acquaintance with the
great man began one summers even
ing twenty years ago. Coming to
New York a stranger and a youth.
saw Mr.. Forrest announced as Lear
at the old Broadway theater. The
impression of that performance has
never been effaced by any subse
queDt effort of his, and has certainly
never been disturbed by that of any
other actor. His greatest Shakes
perian parts were Lear, Othello and
Coriolanus. The former grew mel
low as age came on, while it still
maintained much of its earlier force.
His Othello suffered from the same
causes, although his grand intellect
was apparent to the last in all his
work. Coriolanus died with him
"the last of all the Romans" He
was greatest, however, in such parts
as Virginius, William Tell and Spar
tacus. Here the mannerisms of the
man we're less apparent than in his
ohakesperian performances, and
were overlooked in the rugged mas
siveness of the whole creation. Ham
let. Richard and Macbeth were out
of his temperament, and his perfor-
mances Of these were unworthy of
his fame. 4
| can testify to the warm interest
which Mr.. Forrest took in all young
actors who seemed earnestly to de-
sire advancement and were willing to
labor for that end. While was
fulfilling an engagement at the
Chestnut Street theater in Philadel.
phia many years ago Mr.. Forrest,
then at home for his vacation occu-
pied box nearly every evening du-
ring my performances, and between
the acts be would send me in few
lines upon card of an encouraging
character, or point out some error
which he had detected. I was only
too happy to be thus instructed, and
felt deeply the compliment paid to
me in this way. In all his sugges-
tions and corrections found him to
be In the right. / never rebelled but
once, and he kindly referred me to
the authorities upon the subject,
when I was taught humility, and my
apology and thanks covered the
shame of my rebellion. During this
engagement saw much of him soci-
ally, and rarely discovered any Of
those harsh features of.character for
which he was noted among men. He
spoke invariably Of his fellow. actors.
with tenderness, and when 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
change from his earlier habit. Sue
cess had made him egotistical, GER
tainly, and this egotism showed it.
self sometimes in humorous way,
sometimes in q serious one.
My last days with him were passed
in New Orleans, where he was act
ing, and l was remaining to assist in
the opening Of the new theater there.
His health Haa moor and he raralu