File:The autobiography of Joseph Jefferson (1890) (14779446334).jpg

Identifier: autobiographyofj00injeff (find matches)
Title: The autobiography of Joseph Jefferson
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Jefferson, Joseph, 1829-1905
Subjects: Jefferson, Joseph, 1829-1905 Actors
Publisher: New York : Century Co.
Contributing Library: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Digitizing Sponsor: The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

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r this. His friends had already takenup cudgels for him and rallied to his support. Itwas like a successful candidate asking his constitu-ents, after they have elected him, to add to theobligation by throwing his unsuccessful rival outof the window. Edwin Forrest, with all his faults, had warm andgenerous impulses. I know of one instance wherea poor, old actress went to him in distress. Informer years he had known her father and respec-ted him. Touched by her appeal for assistance,he lent her a large sum of money, with the almostcertain knowledoe that he would never o-et it backagain. It was never made public; no one knewof it but the receiver and myself The ForrestHome has done much good, and is likely to domore; and those actors who either by age orby infirmities have been debarred the privilege offollowing their profession will naturally be gratefulfor this rich legacy. Even In the days of his theatrical fame and pros-perity Forrest was an austere man, and as he grew 1 > V W IMl
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FORREST AS KING LEAR. OF JOSEPH JEFFERSON 169 older he became morbidly misanthropical, holdinghimself aloof from all but his most intimate friends.The latter part of his life was embittered, too, byillness and the loss of public favor. Until the clos-ing years of his career he had been blessed withperfect health; this became suddenly shattered,and the unexpected attack wrecked his dramaticpower. He might have borne the stroke of illness,but to one whose imperious nature could not brookthe faintest slight the loss of public admiration wasa heavy blow; one, too, that would have shockeda wiser and more even-tempered man than EdwinForrest. Still he toiled on, and was unjustly cen-sured for acting past his powers. But what washe to do? His physicians told him that he mustact if he would live; the wheel must be kept inmotion or it would fall. His performances in thelarger cities were given to empty houses, whilebright and youthful aspirants were drawing fromhim all his old adherents. His fo

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