The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-26
criticising Edwin Forrest.

Col. w. A. Taylor the venerable political
correspondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
recently related TO the Cleveland Herald
the following story:
"IIl never forget little experience had
in Pittsburg. Ihad been working on the
Enquirer something like two years, when
my work was noticed by the Pittsburg Post,
and l was offered q situation on that sheet.
about my second day on the Post, Col.
Barr, the proprietor, come from his private
Office into the editorial rooms to see me, and
one of the first things he said was:
"'Young fellow, Edwin Forrest is coming
here next week, in king Lear and want
you to write criticism of his acting. Now,
if there is anything l dislike, it is the con-
tinuaI Iauding and putting of actors. IL has
become too common. l want you to Wit
ness his acting, and give it the criticism it
may demand
1.-THE next day he came to me again and
spoke OF the matter, and every day until
Forrest arrived when we met he would re-
mind me of my assignment and Instructions
NOW, mind you, Forests acting for
twenty years has been beyond the criticism
OF the leading papers of the country, but l
was young and paid no attention to that.
At last Forrest arrived in the city, and in
the evening, armed with sharpened pencils
and plenty of paper, and bearing in mind
the instructions Of my superior | went over
10 lne CDedLST W sos luo BlSth dCOOLs
His acting was perfect; the most search
ing critic could not have picked flaw. But
what should dos l had received my in
structions, and TO disobey would probably
result in my dismissal AT least, that is the
way | argued with myself.
AFTER the play was over [ went back to
the Office, removed my coat and sailed in.
The result of it was about two columns of
the most bitter, scathing language you ever
it tyo fDll n fha worst EinH of
abuse. l called HIM u cheap amateur, a
one-horse actor, and everything | could
think Of.
But the joke of the thing was to come.
got down TO the Office next morning about
9 O'clock. l had been there but short time
when the door opened aud Col. Barr's son
stuck his head in.
"'Has father been down YETI he asked.
mo replied.
"'I thought not. said he. Did you write
this about Forrestg
"Why, yes 1 responded promptly, your
father told him to criticise him.
"Well. by -, l should say you had.
But beware of father. Forrest is stopping
with him as his guest
lit was then I felt like kicking myself.
Col. Barr came down to the oftiCa in the
afternoon, but never said word to me. l
could see that something worried him, and
OF course mistrusted what it was
Later in the day l learned from Col.
Barr's son everything. The colonel and
Forrest had for years beon intimate friends,
and whenever Forrest came TO Pittsburg he
alaays made his home with Barr. The
evening before Barr had witnessed Forests
production of King Lear and after the
performance the great actor had gone with
MIN home.
"In the morning the two had taken q car
ringe ride, in the course of which Barr mad
iokingly told Forrest that there was to
be a criticism of his acting in the morning
Post.
Upon their returns from the ride they
proceeded to the breakfast table. The
servant, as was customary. had placed a
copy of the Post on each plate at the table,
and as the two sat down the first thing nat
urally was to look at the paper.
1.-THE first thing that met their gaze was
my two-column criticism.
They read down about a stick full,
glanced at each other and arose from the
table. Eating was out of the question. Ii
was evident that Forrest felt grossly in
suited, and the fact of his being the guest
Of Barr made the matter worse. Barr at
tempted to offer excuses, but they were
! of no avail, and Forrest left the town mad.
Forrest went to San Francisco from
Pittsburg to fill an engagement, and slmulta-
neously with his arrival there copies of the
Post containing my article arrived. The
San Francisco papers were, of course, sur
prised TO see such a scathing article of
Americas then greatest actor, and it was
the Examiner, / think, that published an
editorial paragraph asking what new brand
Of whisky was being manufactured in the
mountains around Plttsburg that should
have such demoralizing effect upon the
actor.
an a few weeks Barr got letter one day
from Forrest. It was the clipping pasted,
and below it he wrote:
"'Colonel: That was a good joke
1.-THE colonel knew that his old friend was
no longer mad, and he felt much better
"Some six months after this, one day
when busy at work, heard some one come
up the stairs, walk along the hall and dis
appear into Col. Barr's room. Pretty soon
I heard loud bursts Of laughter, and at
once recognized that leonine voice so pecnl~
lar to Forrest.
"They we're laughing over that criticism.
Said Forrest: Il want to see the man that
wrote that The colonel called me in aud
| was introduced to the actor. Then | re-
lated the circumstances. How | had been
instructed by the colonel to criticise him,
and that had been used to working on a
paper where such instructions meant roast
ing l thought Forrest would die. l
never saw a man roar 80 with laughter
"Well sir, the matter resulted in our &C
quaintance, and l enjoyed the friendship OF
the great actor until his DEATH