The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-06-13
THE FOREST HOME.


tors, is about one mile from Holmes
burg Junction. 1t was formerly the
estate of Caleb Cope. The lawn is
smooth and well kept; board walk
leads up to the entrance door; before
the windows are beds of blooming
plants, which are changed to suit each
month a wide hall runs through
the house, out of which open the beau
tiful rooms the ceilings are low, the
windows deep, the furniture quaint and
elegant. There are reception rooms,
library, reading room and dining room
on the first acor. In the wide hall is
Balls famous brorza statue of Edwin
Forrest as Corioanuo.
A winding stairway leads to the
upper rooms, and on these walls, as
we'll as in the rooms, are the beautiful
painting brought from the old Forest
residence, at Broad and Master streets
The bed rooms and bath rooms are on
the upper floors, each of the former
being furnished hicely and adorned
with the household treasures of the
family of actors.
A wide porch runs across the back
Of the house, the steps of which lead
down to velvcty lawn dotted with
shrubbery and flowers. Here, under
an immense convas, on each 23d Of
April, Shakespeare's day of birth and
also of his death, are held appropriate
ceremonies for the pleasure of the fam
lily and their friends. Mr.. Hartel, the
suave superintendent, is always glad
to receive visitors on Thursday. The
home was founded in 1885.
Edwin Forrest, the noble founder,
is buried in the churchyard back of
OLD St. Paul's, on Third street. He
transmitted his name to no child his
domestic life was tempest-tossed until
he sank into the loneliness of private
Jvso'a'ion. His intimate friends were
Col. John w. Young. Daniel Dough
orty and James Rees
He retained his identity as a Phila-
de!phian, was born Oh George running
from Gaskill street over into South
wark district, and his father was a
watchman in Stephen Girard's bank,
on Third street.
He is SAID 10 have had no equal on
the American stage. He was one of
the most Iihe raj actors Of his day, and
was always ready to encourage young
aspirants
On some future birthday Of Edwin
Forrest his ashes ought to be entomb-
ed on the fair lawn at Springbrook.
Messrs. Daniel Blugh, p. A. B.
Wiiener, James Ii. Windrim, Ste
phen Greene, James Pollock, William
L. EIkins, Thomas Dolan, George w.
Hall !. Edward j. Mathews, and Ferdi-
nand j. Dreer, who is now the oldest
surviving friend of the great TRACE
dian, have Joined in placing upon the
front of his former home, at the south
west corner of Broad and Master
streets, now owned and occupied by
the School of Design for Women, a
tablet Of bronze, bear
ing the inscription This building was
formerly the home Of Edwin Forrest,
the greatest tragedian of his time"
Forrest died here on the l2th day of
December, 1892; he was born March
9th, 1906.
The first to enter the Forrest Home
was Mrs. Jane English; she died there
in October last. She was one OF the
most genial mcmb rs of the pleasant
company of old actors who are passing
their declining years there. She was
born in Philadelphia in 1920, and
played souhrette parts during her long
career on the boards. Her first bus
band was named Western, the father of
her two famous daughters, Lucille and
Helen Western, emotional actresses,
the former OF whom made successful
Mrs. Woods novel, East Lynn. Her
second husband, William 3. English,
was an editor Of some repute. Mrs.
English entered the Home in 1885, her
second husband having died in 1864
A later addition to the Home was
Mrs. Sarah n. Baker, daughter of the
late Charles S. Porter, a popular actor
and manager Of this city. She was
born in Philadelphia in 1918, and her
first appearance was made at the Wal
nut Street Theatre, in December, 1887,
as Virginia in Virginius. She was
long leading lady, and supported
Forrest, Charlotte Cushman, L. Il.
Thomas W. keene, the elder
Booth and other great actors of her
generation She married j. S. Baker,
a talented young actor. in 1858. He
joined the Unicn army during the CT
vii War, and died in 1864. In 1887
she celebrated the tiftieth anniversary
of her debut, and then retired from the
stuge. Sac died at the Home recently.
The little family of old actors has
recently received another member,
Kate Ludlow, in her S0th year. She
made her debut in 1885, at Bowery
Theatre, New York she has played
with Charlotte CusAman, Clara Fisher,
Blake, Brougham and Florence. She
7 l.