The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-07-29
FORESTS CASTLE.
He Never Passed Might in Il and II
Now Belongs to Rome.


A half hours sail up the river from
New York brings the tourist in view Of
the battlemented keep and tower of
Fonthill, rising above the treetops on
the summit of Mount St. Vincent. The
castle is built of stone, in imitation OF
the Norman-G Gothic structure of the
middle ages, and lacks but the moal
aud the drawbridge to present perfect
picture of an old feudal stronghold. In
all other respects it is the most com
plete reproduction of medieval castle
that can lie found in this country.
Fonthill was erected by Edwin For
rest, the great tragedian, when he was
in the zenith of his fame, and was in
tended for the happy retreat of his de-
clining years. 1t was destined, how
ever, to be intimately associated with
the domestic tragedy that broke up his
home and embttered the last days of
his life. The glory of his famous di-
vorce suit is too well known to bear re-
production; but it is not so well known
that the incidents which led up to it
were developed while he was engaged
in laying out his extensive grounds
and building his beautiful Norman cas-
tie at Fonthill. While absorbed in this
work he occupied handsome stone
cottage that is still standing on the
grounds, and was, to certain extent,
living apart from his wife.
1t is said that she did not look with
favor upon her husbands plans for the
future. She was of lively, social dis
position, fond of entertaining the many
| friends she drew around her by her
charms; while Mr.. Forrest was quiet
and reserved, caring little for home
company outside of few intimate
| friends and his own immediate house.
hold. The idea of spending her remain
| ing days shut up within the stone walls
| of a feudal castle. with no other COM
| pany than her husband, was altogether
| distasteful to Mrs. Forests imagina-
ton, SO she passed the greater part of
| her time in New York keeping open
house, while Mr.. Forrest stayed at Font
hill busy with landscape gardeners and
architects.
At last the castle was finished, and
preparations were completed for NOV
| ing into it, when the discovery came
that led to the ruin Of their happiness,
Defeated in the divorce suit, Mr.. For
rest was too much chagrined to contem-
plate living solitary life in home
around which his fancy had weaved so
many dreams of domestic bliss. He dc
termined to part with his estate, and
the Sisters of Charity of the Roman
Catholic faith having offered him $780,
900 for it. he transferred the land, with
all the buildings upon it, to their own
ership. 1t is said that Mr.. Forrest
never passed night in the home he had
| planned with so much solicitude and
care But the story does not end here;
it has tragic sequel.
| George Jameson, an actor, who was
held by many to be responsible for the
domestic infelicities of the FORESTS,
met with horrible death many years
afterward under the very walls of the
castle that had been built by the man
he is said to have wronged. He was
walking down the track OF the Hudson
river railroad one night to take a train
ut the Mount ST. Vincent station for
New York, when he was struck by the
engine of an express and instantly
killed.
Fonthill castle is at present occu-
pied by an aged prelate of the Roman
Catholic church. Rt. Rev. Mgr. Bern,
ard O'Reilly, prothonotary apostolic o1
the papal court, the author of the
Lives of Pope Plus TX. and Leo KILL
and of other scholarly works, is spend
ing the evening of his days in this quiet
beautiful retreat.-I.eslie's Weekly.