The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-12-23
Anecdote Of Edwin Forrest.

L received a letter from him (at Cleye-
land), postmarked st. Louis, informing
me that he was ready to fulfill his
promise, made two years previous, upon
the conclusion of his st. Louis engage
ment. OF course 1 was delighted, and
Immediately replied; and as he had not
stated how many nights he would re-
main with me, 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
VIII remain with you. II 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 I was good
pedestrian. answered that I 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. I
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
where we could get breakfast. said
that we were near Jimmy Wright's place.
four miles from town, and could get a
nice breakfast there. To my disgust, he
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. ooh, well, !"
said he, "well Just walk out there" and
we did, had our breakfast, and walked
back again. The same thing occurred
for the next three OF 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 big hght-colored overcoat,
and had only short coat, and, COM
paratively, 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
I, of course, had to do likewise. For
J 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
| o 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 p
"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, knew it. For 8
moment I hardly knew what to answer,
but finally replied:
81 don't know, but 1 suppose there
are"
There was another long silence. For:
rest, with a 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 time
| asked:
"Why do you want to know?"
Because" said Forrest, slowly anC
solemnly, "if there are any infdels, lei
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.-Naaagey Joha
Eylslcr, in the Pittsbug Leader.
He Had to Attend Funeral.
Old Chief-Justice Bumpus was OBJ.
streperous on the bench. His dignity
was unassailable-hi self-esteem like 6
triple wall of granite, or gates of brass
through which the familiarity Of the
common herd could not make its way. III
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 tx
one more than to another.
On a certain occasion, when an import
ant case was on the docket, which nigh
run through several days, one of thos'
who had been drawn to serve on the
jury asked very modestly and very po
litely, to be excused. He gave as {
reason for his request that his business
was pressing him hard for time. "Shoult
be called from my business during tn
two or three days next to come" he said
''the loss to me and to my partner
would be more than can tell. For my
self I would not care so much; but
ought not to bring loss to Others D
The Judge looked at him tremendously
"a look that might have paralyzed
weaker man. The look was majestic ant
awful-a look of panied surprise and G
, mingled reproof.
"Sir! Manl-How dare you presen
personal business in the balance agains
the demands of the law? Though you
, business were to uphold the arching heaN
, ems it should not excuse you from pei
! forming the solemn duties to which 20
, have been regularly subp@naed and az
! pointed! Sir!-you will remain upo
the jury!'
Shortly after this-when his Honor ha
, recovered his breath, and look of con
placency had crept over his corrugate
, visage, up to him sidled pale-facet
cadaverous looking man, with mournf,
expression of countenance; bend in hi
back; and solemn shade In his garb-
n and he, also had come to beg that /
! might be excused from serving on I'll
8 jury.
r 80 your Excellency! Your Honor,
4 mean!" as he saw the old jurist just upo
i the point of exploding, 81 would not as
a this-indeed, would not, he carrie
his handkerchief to his eyes, and p1
!. back the rising food of emotion
a would not ask it for myself; but a solemn
q sacred duty-a duty, your Honor, whic
: no other calling of earth can transcen'
g 1t is the melancholy duty, your augu
# Honor, of attending funeral! Ah m
~ Those whom we love are dropping fro
us-dropping one by one! and L sha
+ ere long go to join the host upon Il
4 other side"
Il Il The Judge lifted his spectacles nj
"a wiped n mote from his eye.
# "My good man, your feelings do yo
10 credit. Under such circumstances | W
d excuse you. You may go, sir, and after
:, upon the sad ceremonies that await Il
- stricken mourner"
The man went out in hurry. I