New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-05

ton usually wait upon the current Of the Language;
and. while the splendidy' significant contrasts oi
movement seen by the poets Imagination are p9r'
trayed In descriptive cadences OF golden meio"y
the present object halts and little nothing Is
visbiy accomplished. In Shakespeare somewhat
less. however. In Henry VIII" than IN olner
pieces. the language is subsidiary to the persons
woIsey is ambitious, polite, and vindletlye;; but
also he is Intellectual. prince-like and GRACIOUS
capable OF profuse generosity. and able to inspire
tender, devoted affection. He has undertaken 10
his profound and exact knowledge of human ma
ture his resolute alacrty to crush the enelhiess
whom he cannot beguile and the sapient craft with
which ne viii make the selfish interests OF all
other influential persons converge in his own sue
cess lie does not hesitate in the pursuit OF his
wel-dehned but shrewdly disguised purpose. to use
the most perious expelients of policy-the passions
Of men and the ambitions and vanites OF Women
in the cnanglement OF their amatory experience.
Until the period Of his fall he is almost always
playing "A part and consequently he abounds WIN
quick transitions from reality TO specious artlhce;
ana back again to truth At ali those points OF
precipiatc change Mr.. Irving was remarkably el-
Notwithstanding the great Cardinal in a hctd0n,
very much as undoubtedly he was In lie. me
chamber, the cold, incisive reply to Campe e,;
concerning DR. Pace.-"We live not 10 be gripd
moody solnoquy about Anne Bulien. at which the
utant were in the finest vein OF hiumh hi'
dramatic art TN no Anne liullens Tor MN, .
places of executive crcumspecton ana swift siS
nhcance. because Of his vital sympathy with an
ygilant and whimsical pleasantry biending moi
dant sarcasm with playful huinor. III which there
~, AT times toucn OF grim derlSlOn.
dents of his mental constitution were long ago
'ignihed in his acting, and II is easy TO see III
what manner they become very valuable. for the
portrayal of such character WOlsey. There
L.. however, deep Heart beneath the acting OF
Henry lrViDg.-Vhcn Is why It's idSCl-
nation enddres and incrcascs.-and accordingly,
when he reached the melancholy climax of VOL
stys fate. ne presented most sad aspect OF SIM
PIE sorrow and gentle dignity and he spoke the
famous farewell not with the glib iacihty ana
hollow mou;hing Of sonOrOus elOcutionst. but In
the faltcring accents OF a breaking heart No
WOsey 50 characteristic has been shown upon the
has ever been shown thar possessed manner OF
such ample worldness such intellectual cralt,
such wide culture and such splendid predomnancc.
To the community this dramatic success Is On"
Of uncommon mportance-fOr there Is much more
In II than the triumph Of any individual actor
No thoughtful observer Of Mr. Irsng's production
OF Henry WIZ fail 10 consider that bOih play
and performance are immrtsurab!y superior 70 the
plays and performances that custOmariy occupy
and sensual; here the meaning j. 40 LONGER paliry
These great pictures OF lii" and death present the
vanity If worldly ambition ana the emptiness ~
worldly rewards. All the passionate cnd'aEor VIII
10 md. all tho g;4nlrur will be brought
low. For every human q. allure the hour comes
on with sounditss step. when tn" fever 81 ms
little life viii cease 10 burn, and all It's turmoil
viii sink to silence. ~ you gaze upon the rain OF
these great persons. and mediate what 1t D. that
bullcd: YOU are taught charity and kindness, You
are admonishcd that there j. nothing higher or
better In the world than to be helpful 10 others,
and Won are strengthened to resign your low de-
sir = ana 10 look onward. with brave and patient
spirit ~ the future that is with God.