New-York tribune., 1881-09-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
BARRETTs LIFE OF FORREST.

With this volume begins series of pu blicatons,
projected by Mr.. Laurence Hutton and executed by
several writers relative to the American stage. Inc
first book is appropriately devoted 10 Edwin
Forrest, who, though not the greatest tragic ACTOR
that America has PRODUCED, was certainly, In DIS
time, the most prominent, and In a popular sense'
the most representative of our tragediars MI. !.
Lawrence Barrett himself an eminent actor has
written this account of the life of Forrest and has
psrforIned difficult task with quiet dignity of
manner delicacy of feeling an evident purpose to
s be impartial in Judgment aud almost faultless
discretion 10 his choice OF materials aud in hls
cleGr. sustained, fair-mnded and interesting com
mentary upon them His text fills l57 pages and
states the principa facts in Forests public lfe,
dive ling. incidentally, on acts and traits that to the
authors mind. illustrate his personal character
and giving gmpses of the nature of his acting 1t is
not minute and thorough biography-such work
would require "a larger volume, and different treat
ment of the subject-but it is happy, useful and
suggestive epitome of impressions derived by cap
able and apprecIative mind from the reading o.
many chronicles of Forests life and from personal
observation of the man himself; and it is, for the
general rcader sufficient record of famous actor
This being true, the book is serviceable conribu-
flon to dramatic literature and it will be ca sery
sought, and carefully read and preserved by that
large class of the public that is interested in the
stage.
The actors coffin lid inscribed: " Born March
8, 1906 Died December IL 1872" He lived sixty
six years The city of Philadelphia, which was his
blrthpiace holds his grave. He grew up in poverty,
anu with but little education He was a rough boy
pugnacions and profaue. He went on the stage as
an amateur at the age of eleven and made his first
regular appearance at the age of fourteen. After
that he went into the West and South, and for sew
eral years he lei gypsy life, still pursuing his art
no
from hunger. He was in Newt Orleans in 1924. and
there he consorted with Colonel Bowie and other
roughs and with Indian in wlgwam and
thought, no doubt. that he acting in a manly,
large, and original way. BY and by heH came
back to the East, and for a while was engaged at
Gilferts Theatre in Albany. In 1926 he made a
hit at the Bowery, in York. and from that time
he steadily rose in public favor and advanced in
fortune. He made journey of pleasure in Europe
IL 1884, and professional trip to England in 1886
and again in lS45 He married i'll 1887. at St.
PauPs Cathedral, London by the Rev. George Croy
the author of Salathie" and his wife procured d.
vorce from him in lS50'52 He was as Socated with
the Macready-ForreSt riot. in Astor Place in IS49
and from that period till the end of his days he lived
IN strife, trouble. and cautankerous belligerency
lie had many friends and many foes He was wor-
shipped for many years. by class of play-goe
and disliked and avoided by another He filed
several memorable engagements in different parts
lisa
last years were passed in gloomy misanthropy and
much of the time in solitude Toward the end of his
lonely and sorrowful life he gave public readings
Tor the sake OF occupation. His home was in Phila-
delphia, where he had collected large and goo
library, and where he died-suddenly and aloue By
his will refuge for Old and destitute actors has
been founded and endowed, near Philadelphia but
this institution appears to be already blighted and
useless Such Is the outline of the story that Mr.
Barrett has reold but Mr. Barrett has given to its
incidents color of his own, and his view of them is
different from the view of them that is implied here
In Mr. Barretts eyes Forrest is both a greater man
and greater actor than he is in ours The preva-
lent mood of the biographer indeed one of tender
reverence; and upon younger actor. celebrating
veteran it sits with grace. TO us such feeing in
such case seems unwarranted and misplaced.
Actors" however, says Mr.. Barrett, care usually
dreamers"
Both Nature and Fortune were kind to Edwin
Forrest. He had splendid physical constitution
rare qualities of temperament and mental faculties
OF a more than common worth. His lot was cast in /
country where it is possible for the poor to rise
The hardships that befel him came in YOU H. at a !
time of life when hardships can best be borne and
When they are OF the most service; nor were thev 7
more severe than such as have been met and ove /
come, by hundreds of other men, often less Fl ted
than he was to conquer them. He had scarcely
reached early manhood before he attracted the adj
was congenia to him, and for which he was fitted
and after that he speedily acquired both fame and
wealth. The honors that he coveted were not with
hed. Although there were always some persons
who neither admired. liked nor praised him. vet
no man in this country ever attracted larger crowds
OF admirers, or ELECTED more cOpious and emphatic
aduia lon He was married to n handsome and ac-
comphshed gentlewoman, ono who had mind and
tact as well as manners and beauty. His home was
a palace. He possessed affectonate and loyal
friends-rnen such as William Leggett and James
Oakes-who stood by him, with unshaken fondness
and fidelity, as long they lived. He reached a !
professional position where he could command his
own terms. He suffered from no lack of organs of !
puohc opinion to celebrate, expOund or defend him
There was no reason in The world outside of him
self, why he shout not have lived triumphant
and happy life. Yet his existence was TEMPEST
and his career magnificent failure.
Mr.. Barrett, like most of Forests advocates
although his opinions are not always implicitly
stated and, when stated, to this point are some
times inharmoniOus with themselves-appears to
think that this result the fault of other people
that Forrest had originally open frank nature
which ultimately was spoiled by injustice and ma
hgnlty" This Is the old stOry-as tedious as it is
mistaken. The wreck of Forests life was mainly Z
the result of Forests own character Hard and
bitter circumstances created course reacted
upon him; but, in the main it was his character
that first created them. In youth he re-
volted against wholesome discipline. In man.
hood he revolted against culture. the
restraints Of good breeding and social
custom, the duty of consideration for other peope
the supremacy of spiritual law, and even those
iron dictates of destiny which, for each one of rs
how out OF what we are. He constitutionally \