Life of Edwin Forrest, the American Tragedian. Volume 1 (of 2)Alger, Horatio, Jr.
General
Life of Edwin Forrest, the American Tragedian. Volume 1 (of 2)
Alger, Horatio, Jr.
Forrest, Edwin, 1806-1872
A specimen from one of these articles will be of interest: "Mr.
Forrest has a finely-formed and expressive countenance, expressing
all the passions with marvellous exactness and power, and he looks
the character of Richard much better than could be expected from a
person of his years. He assumes a stately majesty of demeanor, passes
suddenly to wheedling hypocrisy, and then returns to the haughty strut
of towering ambition, with a facility which sufficiently evidence that
he has not only deeply studied but also well understood the immortal
bard. The scene with Lady Ann appeared to us unique, and superior to
everything we have ever seen, not excepting Kemble or Cooke. In the
soliloquies he uttered the sentiments as if they had arisen in his mind
in that regular succession, and we never once caught his eye wandering
towards the audience. Of the tent scene we do not hesitate to say that
it was a very superior piece of acting. Horror and despair were never
more forcibly represented. We consider Mr. Forrest's natural talents
of the highest grade, and we hope his good sense will prevent him from
being so intoxicated with success as to neglect study and industry. We
are willing to render to youthful talent a full meed of praise; but
while we applaud, we would caution. Applause should not be received as
a reward, but as an incentive to still further exertion to deserve it."
During his first engagement in Cincinnati, Forrest boarded with widow
Bryson, on Main Street. Almost half a century afterwards, William D.
Gallagher sought this excellent woman out, and obtained from her some
very interesting reminiscences. It seems that General Harrison, who was
subsequently President of the United States, came to Mrs. Bryson one
day and asked her to do him the favor to take as a boarder a young man
named Edwin Forrest, who was then playing at one of the theatres. The
General said he feared, if the youth boarded with the other players,
he would form bad habits. He wished to guard him from this, as he
considered him a young man of extraordinary ability, and destined to
excel in his profession. She assented. She said he was at that time
a beautiful boy, with deep and very dark brown eyes, a complexion of
marble clearness mantling with blood, and a graceful, sinewy form. He
once made her very angry by an insulting remark concerning one of the
female boarders, whose conduct did not suit his ideas of propriety.
Mrs. Bryson declared that she would not have such language used at
her table. He replied that of course he did not apply it to her. But
she could not forget, and sent for General Harrison, and related the
matter to him. He brought Edwin before her. The youth hung down his
head. "Poor fellow!" added the old lady, "it has been a long time since
then. Forty-six or seven years. Yet I can plainly see him standing
there now!" Eying him sternly, the General said, "Sir, the father of
this lady was a Revolutionary soldier; her husband was one of my trusty
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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