New-York tribune., 1882-08-13
HENRY IRvIAGS SpAEcH At HIS BENEFIT
From The London Standard July 81.

London Standard,
Ladies and commemorative curtain has
fallen upon Romeo and Juhec for tn 13Oh time and
nope you VIII permit 1t on september 2 TINS DAY Ive
week. to rise upon the play presented tonight
aiu Told sometimes mat do wrong 10 inlet upon you
Tue edOusnes OF Shakespeare an author whose w"rAs
O the wise judges Of dramatic arr assure US are
ratner dull and uTe,Ome To anmcteenth-century audi
epce Perhaps shakespeare would md some OF us te
duh and tresJme 100; but be mat as IL may lear
snail continue il my misguided course 80 long as shall
and for u ose VINO nnd hs works dul ana ulol'-we,
shall nappy pu, them on the free list when yod
are kind enough 10 leave room for them am glad To
nothing but success. We began with the Two
ami when was played until the production
OF Romeo and J.lIct.' Romeo and Juliet
cording mat twenty characters more or less, In
the play, OF them had ever been attempted by
a rst nights representation This, in "A Shakespeare
play is somewhat remarkable aud difficult bey ond be
LABOR their first appearances in what are Lea leg-
innate parts Evcr pare has Ocen acted DeiOre-hun-
GUS standards opinions lave been formed and vol
nInes PROBABLY written upon them. 1t is common
part meaning part tuat cannot be Judged BY prece-
uent. II was tnouGnt by some, remember,
uapings that hal spent TOO much upon is pro-
ducLon That don't dispute; Dut that 1t was over
upon stage bea full mean and har
uiouuus and that hit Ms not dwaifs tue inaglna-
ton reality. took no less parauye pains III
producing 1hc Cap.atn Oi the Wttcn,' or The Two
Eo,es' Inc xt play-and / must again infllct upon
Won the t,ui0usness of Suakcspcare-,he noxt play
winch We shall nave the honor OF presenting VIII he
Nucn Ado About Nothing the cast OF when viii be
the Oesl Dy every possibility command. What
next venture may be aitcr Jnat can hardly say,
Tor like good skipper, must closely watcn the breeze
of your desire my sails accordingly. On be-
halt OF the Lyceum Company, must tnaDk you Ior the
manifold kindness yOu have shO~D, and must
especially thank you on bcnall OF Mrs Stirling,
whose performance Of the Nurse Will am sure,
be long remembered by you; ana on behalf OF MSS
Ellen Terry. To play tie part of Juiet l3J
consecutive times. and never to nave iatered, Is
effort calling forth an energy Doth OF BRAN and soul,
feat OF slcaI endurance not Ocn Accomplished ana
seldom, am glad 10 say, If ever required Of an artst
You Viii perhaps say, Ihen why require IL 4 Ladies
ana gentlemen, Iose who 1--we To please must please
llye.' cannot be COMMANDED III theatrical
matters you Ike the prsentment OF play you VIII
cOue ana sec II you ION llAe IL you Will stay away,
and II you and see 1t III gOOdly numbers II Is
managers duty to continue II. While you success
Keep II should Oe tne motto OF the manager Of Dlg
theatre for sympa by without success will
hi, theatre Iur myself, while thanking you for
b. Aut at enhance you We nOnorcd Inc To-
ngnt (anothcr pIOOf of fayorJ nave a confession
10 make whcn lies heayy upon my breas,for If am to
credit certain authority l have .rieyously offended
tom honOrcd In the breach tnan the obserya
Inc custom Of what is called taking benefit Ben
es il appears should never be taken should be forgot;
least Dy actors ~hOn your .AVOI has cncIsbed VITA
nrosneritv and honor. Now | beg TO diIrr from tins
view ana having the respect aud honor OF my calling
thoroughly and seriously AT heart Woud not forget Inc
old cusoln. Ladies and gentlemen, few or you, dare
saw have come here tOnign with the Impression thht
your money VIII be boon to an Impoverished treas
ury; It Is not 10 pat money III my purse 1i a1e ~ Guy
of your hat cling 10 the OLD CUSTOM bht cannot
deny ms end OF eaon season the grdlncdllOh
OF reading your kindly faces that appreciation
which 4 deserve lnperfectiy, but Wh!ch' De
leye me, value highly. Thanks for your generous
favor, every nlgnt is a benefit OF 0thr"ise 70 nie
manager, but on occasions Ike tins come forward
and am not ashamed 10 do So many great masters
Of done before To take special Dcne-
ntbe benefit OF seeing around many OF my best ana
well ted riendsDest and well tried because through
my career through all my struggles, through nay
failures aud spnsser they have suocOIed h MIN teir