LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - MAY 9, 2021 by Lynne Belluscio A couple of weeks ago, Trish Riggi at the Woodward Library contacted me to ask what I knew about Justus Miles Forman of LeRoy. While reading the LeRoy Gazette she was drawn to a story about Forman, who died on the Lusitania. He was a famous author and was born in LeRoy. Somehow the story was familiar. Thenmy email went down, and it was a few more days before I got back to her. When we talked again, she said that she was going to do an exhibit at the library about him. She mentioned that I had written an article about him. Sure enough, I found it - - - May 20, 2002 (18 years ago). Justus Miles Forman was born in LeRoy in 1875 and attended school at the LeRoy Academic Institute. After his mother died, he moved to Minneapolis and lived with his half- brother, Frank Forman. He was accepted into Yale University and graduated in 1898. He went to Paris to continue his studies and while in Europe, began writing what he described as “little fluffy things,” which were well received and quickly appeared in American magazines. Forman traveled through Europe,Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands and he included his adventures in his stories. His New York apartment was furnished with “Buddahs, Shinto Gods, and Kwannons, and kindred objects...” He was described as “vivacious, having an agreeable personality, taking life not seriously, but with evident enjoyment of its most beautiful phenomena, whether shown in people or nature. There seemed about him the irrepressible and unquenchable spirit of youth; his was a quick mind to receive impressions into interesting aspects of life.” Forman’s novels were published around the world and he was one of America’s most popular authors. The story of Forman’s tragic death on the Lusitania was as intriguing as one of his stories. Soon after World War I broke out, Forman decided to try his hand at writing a play. “The Hyphen” opened at the Knickerbocker Theater in New York City. It was a politically charged story that challenged the intentions of German- Americans who actively sympathized with Germany. The play bombed in New York. Forman thought it might be better received in London. He decided to travel to Europe as a war correspondent and he booked passage with a friend, Charles Frohman, a theatrical manager. Shortly before departure, Forman received a mysterious phone call from a man with a thick German accent, who refused to identify himself. Forman’s butler later told the story that Forman was on the phone and became greatly alarmed and shouted into the phone, “What do you mean? Explain yourself!” The phone call suddenly ended. Forman had been told that if he sailed, his ship would be blown up. On the way to the pier, his chauffeur said, “Look here Mr. Forman, don’t you think you are taking a lot of chances sailing when that bunch of Germans is waiting to blow ‘er up?” Forman quickly answered, “ What chance have they of catching Justus Miles Forman? I should worry!” When they arrived at the pier, Frohman said he had received a similar message. The Lusitania set sail from New York City and on May 7, 1915, it was sunk by a torpedo from a German U-boat. Both men were among the 1200 men, women and children who perished. After talking with Trish Riggi, we decided that the Library and the Historical Society would collaborate on an exhibit at the Library. The Historical Society is loaning eight of Forman’s books for the exhibit, including “Buchanans Wife” which was illustrated by Wil Grefe. (Grefe also did illustrations for Jell-O). “Buchanan’s Wife” which was published in 1906 was made into a silent film in 1918. The story was about Beatrix, a woman who marries a man while under his hypnotic trance, even though she is in love with another. When her husband discovers her true love, he runs off with “a tramp.” The plot thickens, when Beatrix identifies a body at the morgue as her husband. She then marries her true love. Her first husband returns and “the tramp” threatens to blackmail Beatrix. Although I found a still photo taken from the movie, it is listed as “lost.” So, stop by the library this month to see Trish’s exhibit about LeRoy’s famous author, Justus Miles Forman. A Tragic Story – Justus Miles Forman