The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-10-01
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PUGNAClOuS ACTORS.
Famous Histrions who Have Resorted [
the Uae of Their Fists.


the Use of Their Fists. 49,
Edwin Forrest was fighter. and had
the very worst kind of temper Here
are couple of stories about him told
by one who knew him well. The doors
had just been opened and the audience
was just beginr6ng to come in. The
stage was empty and dark. The Wis
itor stood talking with the theater Of
fetal who had conducted him there,
when they were startled by woman's
shriek, followed by hoarse, inarticu-
late growl that swelled into roar, and
as they turned to the direction whence
the sound emanated they saw woman
in white fairly fly across the stage
closely pursued by a big man, who
limped as he ran and was swearing big
oaths at every breath. "Qh, said the
manager in reply to his hurried ques-
ton, ut is only Forrest having quar-
rel with his leading lady" and he add
ed, apologetically, they do not get
along together very we'll" The famous
trugedian was playing at the Globe
theater in this city what proved to be
his last engagement; he suffered fright
fully from govt in his feet, and it was a
task his dresser greatly dreaded to put
on his shoes One evening, when his
feet were very much swollen, the
dresser was having bis customary bad
quarter hour, when note was passed
in the door. The envelope was large
and square and bore a monogram. and
it was addressed in what appeared to
be ladY's handwriting. One shoe was
on when Forrest opened and read the
note. The MISUNDERSTANDING missive
read something to this effect: The writer
had been ~ the theater the previous
evening and noticed with greal deal
of sympathy that Forrest limped. He
| hoped the traeedian would not permit
| himself to suffer long, as by coming to
| the. writer's address the troublesome
corns would b. removed without pain,
| and on account OF the WRITER'S admira-
tion for the actors genius no charge
grasped the full import of the letter he
let ont a howl, and jumping up with a
suddenncss which overturned the
dresser, he began tramping around the
room, throwing his arms around like a
mailman and repeating again and again
as he clutched the air with nervous
fingers: "Oh, IL only had that mau
herew
| Edwin Booth, who always threw the
mantle of charity over the weaknesses
OF his father, tells many stories of the
great actors testiness and pugnacity.
Here is one Of them in Edwin's Ian
guage: my last experience of his
vagaries was at orr final parting on the
ship that bore him forever from me.
He asked sal or on deck to take his
luggage to the cabin. The fellow re-
piled: TN no turnkey What are you,
STRIP demanded my father I'm a
thief, responded the brute. Instantly
my father put on his fercest scowl.
struck an attitude and said: Your
hand, comrade. Pima pirate!'. Edwin
Booth himself will fight when occasion
demands. Oncs a discharged member
IF his company went to his dressing
room and began TO bully him. Picking
up a sword from the corner Booth
roared out, "Dcwn on your knees. you
scoundrcl, ami pray for mercy, for I'm
going to cut your heart out and eat il
before your eyes The terrible nature
of the threat frightened the man into a
nervous fit tina. lasted some time, and
yet he must kave known that Booth
was only acting. San Francisco Elk
lminer.