The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-12-23
Anecdote Of Edwin Forrest.


stated how many nights he would re-
main with me, 1 asked that question.
This, be it remembered, was in Decem-
Der, 1857, and very cold December at
that. His answer was characteristic, and
was as follows:
"MY DEAR ELLsLER-You ask me how long
will remain with you. If the weather is
warm, ten nights; if it is cold, ten minutes.
"EDwIN FORREST"
He came, however, and after we had
settled all details pertaining to business
matters, he asked me if was good
pedestrian. I answered that liked to
take walk occasionally, and he then in
formed me that he liked to take long
walk every morning before breakfast,
and made it habit, and asked me to
accompany him. I consented, and the
next morning we started at o'clock
to walk out Euclid avenue. /
wanted to show him the town,
as he had never been there
before. Well, we walked and walked; I
was nearly persisted with cold, and won-
dered whether or not Forrest was ever
going to stop. Finally he asked me
whero we could get breakfast. said
that we were near Jimmy Wright's place.
four miles from town, and could get a
II
said we had not walked far enough, and
asked where we could get breakfast fur
ther on. I said the next place was Nc
Elrath's, seven miles out s'Oh, WELL"
said he, "we'n just walk out there. and
we did, had our breakfast, and walked
back again. The same thing occurred
for the next three or four mornings, and
| then Forrest wanted to take new route.
That was terribly cold morning, and
we went up along the lake shore. For
rest wore a big ight-colored overcoat,
and I had only short coat, and, COM
paratfvely, was thinly clad Along the
shore there is point that juts out into
| the lake, and out onto the point where
| the icy winds were keenest went Forrest.
/, of course, had to do likewise. For.
! rest stood on the extreme point looking
| out over the dreary waste of water; the
violence of the wind had lashed the
bosom of Lake Erie into foam, and
breakers dashed in continually with a
sullen and angry roar, the whole making
a scene at once desolate and grand.
! The sharp wind seemed to go through
me, but Forests attention seemed to be
rivited on the lake. He stood thus in
silence for a long time-it seemed an age
to me-and then he turned suddenly to
me and said:
| "Ellsler 70
"Well, sir?"
care there any heretics in this id
town."
The question was sudden and unex-
pected. Forrest was serious, and by the
expression of his face, I knew it. For q
moment hardly knew what to answer,
but finally replied:
'I don't know, but suppose there
are"
There was another long silence. For
rest, with grave face, was again looking
over the mad waters, and apparently had
forgotten he had spoken to me. My
curiosity to know what was in his
thoughts was aroused, and after a time 1
asked:
"Why do you want to know?"
because" said Forrest, slowly and
solemnly, ''if there are any infdels, let
them come here and look upon this mag
nificent element, and let them go home
and pray" No more was said, and we
continued our walk.-Maaager John
Ellsler, in the Pitts6aug Leader.
He Had to Attend O Funeral.
Old Chief-Justice Bumpus was OBJ
streperous on the bench. His dignity
was unassailable-h self-esteem like a
triple wall of granite, or gates of brass,
through which the familiarity of the
common herd could not make its way. In
dispensing justice he knew no friendship;
and in dealing out the duties of those
who served about him, he would sooner
have cut off finger than show favor to
one more than to another.
On certain occasion, when an import
ant case was on the docket, which might
run through several days, one of those
who had been drawn to serve on the
jury asked very modestly and very po-
litely, to be excused. He gave as a
reason for his request that his business
was pressing him hard for time. "Should
be called from my business during the
two or three days next to come, he said,
"the loss to me and to my partners
would be more than can tell. For my
self I would not care so much; but
ought not to bring loss to others"
The Judge looked at him tremendously
"a look that might have paralyzsd 6
weaker man. The look was majestic and
awful-a look Of panied surprise and ot
mingled reproof.
"Sir! Manl-How dare you present
personal business in the balance against
the demands of the law? Though youl
business were to uphold the arching heav
ems it should not excuse you from per
forming the solemn duties to which yor
have been regularly subpenaed and ap.
pointedl Sir!-you will remain upor
the iuryw
Shortly after this-when his Honor had
recovered his breath, and look of com
placency had crept over his corrugated
visage, up to him sidled pale-faced
cadaverous looking man, with mournfu
expression of countenance; bend in hi
back; and a solemn shade In his garb-
and he, also had come to beg that HI
might be excused from serving on tn,
jury:
, meanl'' as he saw the old jurist just upol
, this-indeed, 1 would not, he carried
} his handkerchief to his eyes, and pu
back the rising flood of emotion"
, would not ask it for myself; but solemn
, sacred duty-a duty, your Honor, which
no other calling of earth can transcend
1t is the melancholy duty, your angus
Honor, of attending funeral! All me
Those whom we love are dropping iron
us-dropping one by one! and L shal
ere long go to join the host upon tn
5 other side!"
The Judge lifted his spectacles ant
5 wiped a mote from his eye
"My good man, your feelings do yo
: credit. Under such circumstances wi
r excuse you. You may go, sir, and atten
upon the sad ceremonies that await tn
stricken mourner."
The man went out in hurry. Fl
was careful to drop tear of gratitud
to the Judge, and then he sidled ava
: with the swiftness of shadow.
"Poor mani" muttered the angus