New-York tribune., 1879-12-21
NY FIRST" "READING."
A DISMAL EXPERIENCE.
By HENRY IRVING.



Many years ago Il think il was IN the Autumn of
1888, made an ambitious appeal 10 the public
which don't suppose anybody remembers but my
self had at that time been about two years upon
the stage and was fulhi ling my first engagements az
Edinburgh. Like all young men. was fnll OF
hope. and looked forward buoyanfly to the time
when should leave the bottom rung of the Ladder
far below me. The weeks rolled on, however. and
my name continued 20 occupy useful but obscure
position in the playbill. and nothing occurred TO
suggest TO the manager the proprety OF doubling
my salary although be took care 70 assure me tnat
] was made to rise" 1t may 90 mentioned that
i was then receiving thirty shllngs per week
which the usual remuneration for what Is
termed Juvenile lead
At last brilliant idea occurred 10 me. II hap
II called IN Scotland-and IL struck me thai might
turn NV leisure 10 account by giving reaning. L
impaired this project TO another member Of the
company, who entered into lt with enthusiasm.
He. too. was young and ambitious. Ii was the
business aspect of the enterprise which hred his
imagination, il was the artistic aim that excited
niue. When promised hun half the profits; bht
not before he had vision of the excited crowd surg
ing round the doors of his characteristic energy in
keeping them back with one hand and taking the
money with the other; aud afterwards, of The bags
OF coin neatly tied and carefully accounted for,
cording to some admirable system OF bookkeeping
by double entry. This was enough for me, and
appointed him TO the very responsible position of
manager, aud we went about feeling deep conf
passion for people whose fortunes we're not, ike
ours, on the point of being made.
Having arranged all the financial details. We
came to the secondary bus inevitable question
Where was the reading TO be g1venf Ii would
scarcely do Edinburgh; the public there had too
many other matters 10 think abOnt. LinlIthgOw
was a likely place. Nothing very exciting had oc
CURED in LnlithgOw since the sReg gent Murray
sirot by Hamilton of Bothweil Haugh. The old
town was probably weary of that subject now. and
would be grateful To for cutting out the Regent
Murray with much superior sensation. hy trend
the manager accordingly pahl several visits 10 Lin
i,hgow, engaged the Town Hall. ordered the post
ers, aud came back every time full OF confidence,
Meanwhile, was absorbed ~ The Lady u LYONS
OF young actor. had decided % read; and day
after day. perched on Arthurs Seat. worked my
self INTO romantic fever, with which had little
doubt | should iunOculate the good people OF Lin
thg0w.
The day came which was 10 make or mar us quite.
and arrived at LIn.ithgow D high spirits. teIt
thrill of pride at seeing name Tor tue first time
in big capItals on the posters which announced
that at rs o'clock precisely Nr. Henry Irving would
read The Lady of Lyons This highly sat
isiactory. and gave us an excellent appetite
for frugal tea. AT the holel we eagerly
questioned orr waiter as To the PROBABILITY
of their being great rush. lie pom
dered some time If calculating the number of
people who had personally assured him OF their de-
termination TO be present; out we could get no
other answer out of him than name can ieli.D Did
hc think there would be tiiy people there Name
can tell" Did he think that The rhrong wonld be
so great that the Provost would have 10 be sum-
moned 90 keep Ordrrf Even THIS audacOus prOpo-
sltIon dld not induce him 10 commit himself and
lett 10 infer that, IN his opinion, II was not
at all unlikely.
Eight o'clock drew near. and we sailed out to
survey the scene of operations. The crowd had not
yet begun TO collect IN front of the Town Hall, and
the man who had undertaken 70 be there with the
KEY not visible. A. ~ was getting late. and We
were afraid of keeping the puDiic waiting IN The
chill air. went search OF the doorkeeper. lie
was quietly rrpOsng ia the bosom OF his family,
and 10 our TemOnstrance replied; " Ou ay, the read
ing forgot all aboof IT. lhis was not lnspirliIng,
but We put 10 down 70 harmless Ignorance IL NaS
not 20 beexpecteu that q man WHO looked after the
Town Hall key would feel much interest III The
Lady of Lyons.'
manager made the most elaborate preparations for
taking the money. He had even provided himset
with change in case Opuent cIti zen OF LIN
lithgow should come with nothing less than SOW
ereIgn. While lie was thus energetlcaly applying
himself 10 business. was stfolli1g like casual
spectator on the other SIDE OF the street, taking
some last feverish giances ut the play and auxi-
ously. watching Tor the first symptoms OF the
rush.
The time wore on The town ecck struck :, and
still there was sign Of the rush." The manager
mournfu lly counted and recounted the change for
that sovereign. Haif-pasi ;, and not soul 10 be
seen-not even small boy IL was clear that no.
body intended 10 come and tlat the Regent Murray
TO iave the best OF il after al. could not read
The Lady Of Lyons t. an audience consisting OF,
the manager with face as long rs two tragedies
there nothing for u but To 'at retreat No
came out even To witness our discomhture Lin
lithgow could not have taken the trouble Z" study
the posters, which now seemed such boTrld m0cker-
les III our eyes. don't think either of rs could for
some time sittrw5rd real any announcetiGna % con-
We managed TO scrape together enough money TO
paw the expenses. which operation was a sore irlai
to nv spscu ative manager. and pretty severe tax
upon the eIn0luments of the " juvenile Lead As
for LIniIihgOw, We voted II dull place, sun
wrapped IN mt dleval siumber. and therefore IN
sensible TO the charms of the poetic drama. ana 10
youthful ASPIRATIONS after glory. We returned Ia
Edln burgh the same night aud on the journey. Dy
way Of showing that was not at all cast down,
favored my manager with selections from The play,
which he gOOd-ium0rediy tolerated. though there
was a sadness in has smile which touched my sensl-
tive mind with compassion.
This incident was vivIdly revived Iast year. as |
passed through LInlithgOw on my way from Edln-
burgh 10 Glasgow. III which cities gave, in con-
junction with my friend Toole. two readings on be-
half Of the sufferers by he bank failure which pro-
duced large sum of money. NJ companion IN the
Linlithaow expedition wac Mr. Edward oaker-nOw
one OF the most popular managers In the PROVINCES
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,oTUEp HoPSUTp ~ TNDT4.