The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-26
henry IRVING AS a HOST.
mr.. Blaine and Bull Run Russell ia X
over the Gettysburg Campaign.
IN. Y. MaIl and Express. !

make free 70 say never seems more genuinely
happy than when in tie society Of my coun-
tryinen, and am firmly impressed with the
belief that this feeling has nothing merce-
nary in 1t, as is toe often the ease with art
lists who are foreigners. have often heard
him dllate with enthusiasm on the wonderful
progress we have made as nation. | had
previously met Mr.. IrvinA in New York, and
had promised lin then that when | should
visit London | would cali upon him He had
not forgotten my promise and when l met
him at the GIllig entertainment tie extended
10 me cordial invitation To come to his the.
atre on the inllowing evening and. as he ex-
pressed il. 4" have n chop with ME-.
The utXt evening at IL o'clock found me at
the Stage entrance OF the Lyceum Theatre, in
Wellington street, Strand. Its front Is sup
ported hy xix massive CGrinthian pillars Of
granite extending from the top of the theatre
to the sidewalk, ami the first impression is
one of grandeur, and solidity. My card was
sent to Mr.. Irving and soon his secretary and
manager came 10 the cab TO escort me to the
interior of the house. Through dinsy cor
ridors, laden with scenery, We went, con-
frunted now and again by winding stair
case, until felt that l should certainly re-
quire chart to find my way out again.
Round and round we went, ON and upward,
until suddenly we entered snpper-rOnm
which burst upon my view like vision of
fairyiand. 1t was brilliantly illuminated
with grand candelabra and electric lights.
and presented beautiful scene.
This room has history, having at one
time been the scene If cop-iyial gatherings
in the famed ''BeafStesk Club" Around the
hospitable buardbrChis old room many time
have gathered In. social jnllty aud cheer
Oliver Goldsmith, Dr. Samuel johnson, Bos-
well Woodfali. the publisher Of the .Junius
letters; C"lman, the dramatlSt, and Smnlett,
>as well as liaMkeswurth, Bonnell ami Thorn
ton-all great wits of the day-MacklIn,
Savage, Garrick. Edmund Burke, the states
man aud orator, and other great lights Of the
past injury, while wit and merriment ran
round. From its tapestried walls the por-
TRAITS OF the most noted representatives Of
the English stage and literature, both ancient
and modern, look down. Here and there are
scattered beautifully painted scenes from the
celebrated plays In which the great actors
and actresses of the past achieved their
triumph-, The portrait Of Miss Ellen Terry
Is the most notable Of to day, and it occupied
the place of honor on the occasion of my
visit. 1t is paced over the grand old n.antel
and forms striking contrast in its modern
attire and bright, cheerful expression of face
with the quaint costumes and severely in
tellectual countenances Of these who precej-
ed her in the characters in which she now
excrls. The broad table was almost buried
IN bed OF choice flowers, and it was evident
that the 0 casi0n was not an ordinary one.
While my guide waa entertaining me with
running description of the surroundings
was surprised to see Mr.. Charles A. Dana
enter the room. Greater still was my sur
prise when few moments later he was fol-
lowed by Hon. James G. Blaine, vigorous and
sprightiy Then canie Tie celebrated war
correspondent, Bull Run" Russell, Lord
Beachan Reymnur and other guests, each
more or less distinguished. When all had
arrived Mr.. Irving, who had been detained
in dressing after the performance, made his
appearance and warmly greeted his friends
individually. have often heard those who
have never seen him except from the front OF
the stage remark that he seemed to them a
cold and dilfident person, with whom ac-
quaintance must be difficult. If there ever
lived an actor who could leave shop be-
hind and readily transform himself into an
entertaining and delightful host, that actor
is Henry Irving His public character is
forgotten and The gentle urbanity of an I'M
assuming gentleman draws you closely tn
him.
With an utter absence of formality we
were directed 10 our seats. Mr.. Blaine be-
ing placed to the right of Mr.. Irving, Mr..
Dana next on Mr.. Blaine's right, and the
others comfortably disposed, with Mr.. Rus
sell opposita our host As to the menu, /
need scarcely say that it was perfect for such
an occasion, and accompanied by wines the
mere recollection of which is delight, while
the chairs positively compelled comfort.
There was complete absence of that for
malliy which usually marks similar enter
talnneBts in our own country, and very soon
alter the last course ripple of animated
conversation circled the board. Mr.. Blaine
and Mr.. Dana became deeply interested in a
conversation between themselves. which,
though not overheard by the rest of the com
pany, excited considerable curiosity, one
gentleman renarking to me that it was pos
sible their chat was of political nature.
As he was evidently not well yersed in Am
erican politics, suggested that, il view Of
MIR. Dana's support of General Butler during
the Cleveland Blaine campaign, they could
be called enemies, and that political strug-
giles in the United States rarely created as
perities that time could not oblterate
While engaged in this earnest conversation
Mr.. Blalneiand Mr.. Dana we're interrupted
by Mr.. Russell, who alluded TO the late civil
war in America His remark was heard by
an az tue table, and instantly excited the at
feston Of the eoitor and the Maine statesman
The former WIS aware that had been an
officer in the e1erate army and address
ing himself to me, asked IF did not think
that the defeat of the Federal army at the
first Bull Run was Of great benefit, to the
Union cause could not see it in that light
aud Mr.. Dana explained that had the Union
army been victorious then, the war; In his
opinion, would have ended by the submission
of the Confederates without the emancipation
OF the slaves, which, he said, would have been
great calamity. | stated, and Mr.. Blaine
who. seemed to have become interested,
nodded his approval, that Mr. Dana greatly
mistook the temper of the Southern people at
that time, If he believed that they would have
abandoned their cause under such disaster.
Noting the interest Mr.. Blaine had taken
in the discussion, | asked him what he
thought would have been the result had Gen.
eral Lee won the battle of Gettysburg. Hold
ing up two fingers he answered unhesitating-
ly and Sententiousy.
Two republics"
Mr.. Russell with an evident desire to con-
tinue the conversation in the same line, re-
marked that he had never heard the battle
of Gettysburg described from Southern
standpoint Mr.. Blaine joined with him in
the request, relating that he had visited the
field and was conyersant with the positions
occupied by the troops on both Sides
ApolOgizing for seeming to criticise the gen.
eralship of so great a military commander
as General Lee, / said that it was my belief
tn he had never intended TO fight an offen-
siye battle so far from his base of supplies,
but that the success of the first day had de-
termined him to make the attacks of the
second and third days. During my remarks
pointed out, somewhat at length the fact
that it was in General Lees power to inter-
pose his army between General Meade's and
Washington, which would have given him
two ebjectyes-either Washington or
Meades army. This would, l explained
have forced Meade to attack him, when he
would have the selection of his own ground
or Meade's failure to attack would have al
lowed Washington and Baltimore, with the
surrounding territory, to fall into Lees
hands, and the Federal defensive line would
have been the Susquehana River. / de-
scribed how such movement might have
been accomplished by indicating what might
have been the disposition of Longstreet's
corps early on the morning of the second day.
Mr.. Blaine, Mr.. Dana, and Mr.. Russell man
ifested intense interest and enthusiasm in
my narrative, and when / concluded both
Blaine and Russell congratulated me warm
ly, saying that had given them an idea of
the battle which they had never considered
before.
During my description Mr. Irving listened
with rapt attention. Leaving the war the
company drifted into a general conversation,
and Mr.. Irving, Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Russell
were delightfully."- entertaining, with a fund
of brilliant and refined anecdotes.
/ had heard from time to time reports con-
corning Mr.. Blaine's ill-health, bat / failed
to discover anything in his manner or bear
ing that indicated anything but a perfect
physical condition. His strong personality
impressed itself on all present, and that
evening for the first time | understood the
meaning of the phase SO often used in the
last Presidential campaign, 1.-THE magnetism
of the Plnmed Knight"
When the hour for separation arrived Ino-
tced that Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Dana, who
had been more or less closely engaged in con-
versati0n during the banquet whenever OPP
pnrtunity offered, took their leave together.
a Mr. Truf oil nj of 1of