New-York tribune., 1885-03-31
THE ACTOR AND HIS ART.

HENRY IRVING AT HARVARD.
AN .nnRrss TO STUDENTS ON THE ART OF ACTING
lrs REQUIREMENTS AND It's REWARDS.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rHIBUsE-l
RosroN March 3O.-There is but one opinion as
to the address that Henry Irving has Just aeh'erco
at Harvard University. Admirable IN SUI
stance. it was still more adih'raDie
in its delivery. The lucid thought the Siihp,o'
straightforward style, the practical wsuon, 'n'
intellectual grasp of the subject the felci'y oi IL
Ina ration. the freedom from e1rava-
aa,co the dignity aud refinement. which
are its characteristic attributes assert
themselves at once and are appreciable by every
reader. But the printed word is poorly Suggestive
of the weight Of personal charaoter
and the charm of absolute sincerity which
invested the remarkable speech with autnority
and beauty The substance of the speech was reit
be the truth about dramatic art out' ai'o'
II was felt that the truth nad peep
snolen bv n man who has learned 1t through nv
ing. and not through theory. In the presence oi
such an audience as Mr.. lrVing aouieS7ou'
the task 10 he acco nplished by him WIS one OF pro-
6iqious difficulty No subterfuge OF oratoricai orna
ment. no forid pretence of Thought couid nave
preyailed in this ordeal Mr. Irving nas ne'ei
more entirely justified his mentai a''"uuo
toward the stage than he did on tuis oeeasion
by the positive conviction, the simple earnesines''
and the Quiet grace with which he proclaimed the
a,on,antai principles. the uses and the essential
worth of the avocation of acting CamorioRo
hoo bea,d the silver music OF Everett.
tho copous fiery defamation of Horace Mann, the
resonant eloouence of Sumner, the majestic organ
tones of Webster the passionate, pathetic thriline
voice of Choate, and the liquid. golden meioay
of Emerson, 1t is not piace
be astonished by oratorical lights Inc man
who arrests attention here, as MI irving
did must be the man who has something
to say. His victory in this sense was complete
Parts of his discourse became almost
passionate in the intense earnestness OIL ieelhg
with which they were spoken. other paits
were delightfully."- touched, with that s'gh.y
amused and cynical playfulness which Is ONO Oh hl'
characteristics
Rnt the prevalent spirit of the utterance was that
of plain unvarnished truth, set down hon
a nure mind and spoke with q frank, In
genuous fuency that concealed every trace Vi
art and gave never single suggestion
Of anxiety OF effort. Persons who know what
nublic speaking is, and what is the ma
ture of an academic audience arc aware that
this sort of result Is not oDtained
without genuine worth in the substance OF
a speech and firm control of the subtle instruments
of voice, nerve and spiritual magnetism.
The presence of a numerous and brilliant
crowd of the foremost persons of this learned
region contributed ITO to sanSs. make '1ls Tseotrs
was packed The largest assenblage it ever
before had was 1.600. The audience tonight
exceeded 1000. The gallery above the stage
handsome theatre were filed. Outside the doors the
crowd was SO great that access TO the
heuse had 10 be gained for Mr.. Irving
and his party by n subtcrranean passage.
At Mr. Iryings first entrance the applause was en-;
thusastic and proIracted. His playful touches had
an instantaneous effect. An allusIou TO Edwin
Booth, most appropriate and graceful. evoked n
tumult of plaudits. The reference 10 n
known tendency to cultivate the BODY
at the expense of the mind excited
lively mirth. No man uses satirical Infection Of
the voice more slllfnlly than Mr.. Irving. and ms
speech proved brilliant with subtloties OF this
Kind Tho immortal part of the stage, he said. IA
ITS nobler part. That lesson has received amen
foroement not soon 20 be forgotten, when one OF
the greatest actors Of the times thus lncnieates y
IN the presence and with the sanction OF the heads
of the most IllustrOns and renowned university of
America. -, l.
President Eliot occupied a conspicuous place In
the theatre and other eminent scholars weio 10 be
seen ON every hand lt was an andi.noe that any
man might he proud 10 satisfy, and IL was entirely
pleased by Henry Irving.