58 Reminiscences of 



had ever encountered, and from him Forrest sub- 

 mitted to anything. I beheve if Oakes had requested 

 him to go out and walk around the block half a dozen 

 times, without assigning any reason, that Forrest 

 would readily have done it. The first time he came to 

 visit Oakes at the Tremont House, I saw him seated 

 with him at the table ; I quietly took a seat at another, 

 leaving the two loving friends together. Forrest ob- 

 serving this, from evident remarks of Oakes, asked 

 him to invite me to my usual seat, which I afterward 

 occupied and which led to further intimacy, and I was 

 after invited by them to pass the evenings in Oakes 's 

 sitting-room, where Forrest made free in familiar 

 conversation. Oakes often asked Forrest to recite, 

 and read extracts from favorite authors, especially 

 from Shakespeare, which Forrest was ever willing to 

 do, and there was an interest and impressiveness in 

 such which exceeded that of stage renderings. Oakes 

 would sometimes require Forrest to repeat or read over 

 passages several times, expressing his critical review, 

 which Forrest would assent to with most gracious 

 gentleness. The Lord's Prayer I have several times 

 heard Forrest repeat with an impressiveness which a 

 pulpit orator could well envy. Scriptural readings 

 were favorites, especially the psalms and proverbs. 



Oakes was well known in the earlier days from his 

 critical articles and reviews over the signature of 

 "Acorn," and his stepson, Thomas K. Batelle, was 

 also a sporting writer of considerable prominence, 

 over the signature of "Corinthian Tom." I knew 

 him during my earliest days in California, and our 

 friendly relations were continued iintil his death, 

 some twenty-five years ago. 



