New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-07
ANECDOTES or EDWIN FORREST

Manager John ELsier W The Fins6uTg LeadT.
received a letter from him TAT Clev-iandl post
marked at St. Louis informing me that he was ready
10 fulfil his promise made two years previous, upon
the conc luson of his ~. Louis engagement. "
course ! was delighted, and immediately replied ;
and as he hadn't stat ed now many nlbLJ9 re "ouit
remain with me- 1 asked that question. This. be 10
remembered was in December Of 1857 and a very
cold December at that His answer was character
istc, and was rs follows
MY DEAR ELLsLER: You ask me now long VIII re
main with you. II the weather Is warm ten nghts II
IL Is cord, ten minutes. EDWIN FOHuiLsI'
He came however and after had settled all
the details pertaining 70 business matters be asked
me if | was good pedestrian. l answered that
liked 10 take a walk occasionally. and he then In
formed me that he liked to Ia ke a long Walk every
morning before breakfast, and made IL naDlt, ana
asked me 10 accompany him. consented, ana
the next morning we started al z o'clock 70
walk ont Euchd-aye. wanted TO snow now
there before Well we walked and walked l was
nearly persisted with cold and wondered whether
or not Forrest ever going 10 stop. finalv he
asked me where could get breakfast. Isaid tlat
we were near jimmy Wrlghts place, four miles
from town, and could get IL nice Dreaktast theIe'
TO my disgust he SAID We had not walked far
enough. and asked where we coud get breakfast
further on. ! said the next place was McEiratu s.
seven miles out On well, sad ne, we IL Iu71
walk out there" and did had orr breakfast aHd
walked back again. The same thing occurred lot
the next three or four mornings, ana tnen Orrest
wanted to take new rodte. mat was a terribly
cold morning. and we went up along the lake shore
Forrest wore a big ght-cOlorpd Overcoat, ana nad
only short coat and, comparatively, was thlnly
clad Along the shore there J. point That luts out
into the lake and ont onto the point where the icy
winds were keruest went Forrest. ! Ut course mad
to do likewise. though much against my Inclination
Forrest stood on the eXtleme point looking out over
the dreaTy waste of Water The violence OF me Wthu
had dashed the bosom OF Lake Erie into foam ana
breakers dlshcd 10 continually with a sullen aud
angry roar, the whole making a scene at once desc
late and grand
The sharp wind seemed to 60 through me, but
ForresJs attention seemed TO he uveted on the
lake He stood thus in silence t)r long ume-it
seemed a age TO me-lDd then ne turned suddenly
10 me and SAID:
"Eusler!" " Well, sir
Are there any iufiels in this ID t0wnN
The question was Sudden and unexpected. For
rest serious, and by the expression OF his lace
/ knew 1t. For moment l hardly knew what to
answer. hut finally replied:
" / don't know. Dut suppose there are.
There was another long silence. Forrest with a
grave face, again looking out over the mad
waters and apparently had forgotten he had spoken
10 me. NJ curiosity g. know what was IN MS
| thoughts was aroused, aud after a time asked:
" Why DO YOU want to know
because" said Forrest. slowly and sOemnlE
Il there are any lnIdels let them come
/ here and look upon tins magnificent e.e-
meut and then let them 60 home and pray No
/ more was sa q. and we continued our walk.
remember OF one incident during that engage
menf that will show what Forrest thought OF one OF
! his plays One day he was sitting IN the box Office
and the prevailing question OF those VINO applied Tor
/ tickets was wien II MT. Forrest gong to play
| 'Metamora 2" Forrest heard these questions. and
evsry time he did lie gave vent 10 an expression
OF disgust At lat be said: IL seems 20 ne tLat the
people 40 large have an idea that can PLAY nothing
| but Met-a-mOra itho last word groWled ont
/ eavapeIvl utterly despisc rhe d-n play. - much
| 40 that dis ike has grown mp WITHIN me Tor tle
man Who wrote b. but she people Ike H. lor GOi ,
sake put 10 on and lots get 10 Overt!