Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-09-27
How Actor rorres. Joined a circus.

HOW Actor Forrest Joined Circus
DIR. George A. Kane has written The follow
ing interesting account OF how Forrest Joined
circus
Now that this distinguished actor has Left
The world, and that snls Her stage, tue theater,
of which he was inconteslably one OF the
brightest lights for over forty years, innu-
merable stories, more or less true, are told of
him. What / am about 10 relate ia the re-
suit of few hours passed with the great old
actor on the plight that closed his last en-
gagement in the Crescent City, at the St.
Charles, The "Old Drury" of New Orleans.
was "in front" that night, and witnessed his
impersonation of Lear. j had never seen the
part we'll played before, and 1 am sure
never have since. After the performance
entered the dark alley OF the theater and met
Forrest, who, grasping my hand, said with an
oath that | was the only man he wanted to
see. He invited me to the hotel, and to-
gether we entered the St. Charles. After
supper Forrest threw himself upon a sofs,
and at my reques st ran over briefly some OF the
leading events of his wonderful life, few OF
which L here submit from my recollection of
that memorable evening.
"One of my frat ventures" said Forrest,
Gin the dram attic line, shortly after my debut
Young Norval,' was with a company
which played brief and ftful engagement
in Kentucky. The company came to grief
at Lexington, and cast about 10 see what /
could do. could not afford to be idle long,
and ore day / fell in with two Frenchmen,
Pepin and Bisch ard, who came along with a
circus company. Alter slight hesitation !
j1ined thep. | was not used to riding, but
could jump and tumble, go / went into the ring
with The best performers they had. / was
not meant for the circus, however, and 1 soon
drifted back to the legitimate coming to
New Orleans with james ii. Caldwell. /
Tcut into his stock company, but we did not
agree very well. i was forfeited by him
twice; once because ! would not play
Hamlet and opce because / would not
play Romeo Ny opinion is that Romeo
should be played by man OF mature judg-
ment. Charles Kemhle played IT when he
had wrinkles on his face, and / deemed that
] was not old enough 10 plsy either part. 1t
was during that same engagement that had
my frat and last experience at the gaming
table. i had left the theater one night with
only silver dollar in my pocket, and while
wandering about the streets i heard the
sound of a roulette-wheel. The thought
struck me to try my luck, aud the wish being
father 10 the thought, did 30. was in the
room for hours, and came out the possessor
OF $500. This was small fortune to me at
that time, and 1 went home so excited that
could not sleep, and daylight saw me again
at the table, II was thu same old story. /
lost every cent OF it, including my silver
dollarn
The first time Forrest came before the
public with great prominence was when he
supported Edward Kean, IL was in Albany,
and the play first put in rehearsal YVES
OtheilO, in which Mr.. Forrest was OF course
to play Gage" Kean did not appear at the
rehearsal, and Forrest went to the hotel 10
see ii he wished TO give "Isgo" any particu
lar business to do Forres, saw Kean was a
little pale-fsced man, with head of black
curly hair, and "perfect mirror of an eve."
In answer to Forests errsnd, he said: "You
come on the stsge and look at me; it will be
all right" Kesn, he said, was a very fine
singer, ard during Forests call sang
Moore's "Believe Me, if All Those EndearIng
Young Charms" in very touching manner.
Some of Forests stage BUSINESS struck Kean
very favorabiy, and he compiimenltd the
young actor highly, and told him he was
sure TO make his mark.
In the following spring Forrest WEI =,
New York in a destitute condition, most
his clothes having been kept at Albany in
part payment for his board. He was dis.
gusted with his profession, and had about
made up his mind to quit the stage when be
WAS asked by an obscure actor 10 play for his
benefit at the Park Theater. The mans tale 4
of distress touched him and he consented.
That was the turning point OF his career.
Hs chose Oheho for the occasion, and the
benefit was sweeping success. On the day
following, Clifford, the manager of the Bow
cry Theater, placed $500 in Forests hand
and engaged him for one year. From that
time forward his course was series OF sue
cssses. The first American play in which
Forrest appeared was Metamora, which was
written for him.
In 1881 Forrest produced The Gladiator,
which was followed by Oralousa and The
Broker of BOeota, all written by DR.. Bird, the
novelist. Sill later he brought out Jack
Cdds, from the pen of Judge r. I. Conrad.
He purchased number of other plays by
American authors, and he always did all in
his power 10 foster native talent in this d.
reetion. About this time the American
stsge contained several actors OF no mean
promise, among them Augustus AdsIqs.
OF him Forrest said: HHe was splendid
actor, and had he not abused the gifts of
nature be would soon have acquired prom
inent place on the stage Of the day." but he
was 'his own worst enemy" He fell VIC
tim TO drink Another actor who promised
to take a front r. nix was Charles Eaton. For
rest said OF him: HE had genius, but CON-
mitted the common error of copying others. |
He not only initiated the peculiarities of the |
elder Booth on the stage, but off also" He |
was killed, while in a stage OF intoxication, |
by falling from balcony.
OF Barrett, Forrest had a high opinion. |
He said he struck off 10 a new path of his |
OVID, had no one to help him, and was
strictly original He began at the bottom
of the dramatic ladder. OF Fechter he said: |
iHe is not tragedian, but melodramatIc
actor-more trick than art" He did not
share the general opinion regarding Edwin
Booth, aud said, Significantly, ssHe had
father before him, and had also brother,
both of which facts helped TO make his repu-
IaiIon."
/ asked him il he thought the legitimate
drama would soon recover its Just promi-
hence, but he replied: aNo; the sensa-
.ionai has such a strong hold upon the
public that it would take Shakespeare
and Garrick combined to upset it, How
ever, when there shall come time when
We shall have man who can look and
,ct an Antony and a woman who can
ook and act Cleopatra and the play is
pot on the stage with tine same care of detail
~ the Black Crook was, and with panorama
If the Nile, it will run 1000 nights"
When Forrest went 10 California by boat
he was desthly sea sick and poured forth
lis soul in Profanity. A preacher on board
undertook 10 admonish him for this, but the
,ctor only replied, "Your Lord and Master,
when at sea, was id glad TO get out and
walk" The captain told him that when he
vas a boy he took 10 the sea from choice,
,ut Forrest interrupted him, saying, THAT'S
lie / know of only one man who took TO
he sea from choice, and that was Noah"
When was about TO 90 / asked him re-
,arding his plan for the next year.
hn nd tfruh do I