New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-17
oody was glad to associate himself with this pub
TIC act and to be numbered among Mr.. Irvlng's
admirers and friends

oooy was glad to associate himself with this pub
hc act and to be numbered among Mr. Irvlng's
admirers and friends
me difference. | imagine is one OF race and
temperament. To be born Irish is to be born
with the art-temperament. To be born English
Is to be born without IT, Such Is the rule. with
numerous exceptions. Ireland has not been happy
in the circumstances OF her development If she
had been. her record would have been a higher
one, both in literature ana in art. Yet IN at least
two kinds of art, each among the highest, she
has been eminent If not pre-eminent; acting
and oratory. That makes 1t the more appropriate
that she should express her appreciation of the
first actor OF his time who might easily have
been, had he chosen one Of the first orators.
There is something more than that. England
might well enough accept don't say lesson
but a little Inspiration from the scene in Dublin.
She often might. as might the Irish in another
way and on other subjects accept hint or two
from this side Of the angry Irish Channel. If in
all public affairs which concern the two coun-
tres-for they are two--the Irish were little
less unreasonable and the English a good deal
more sympathetic. the two would get on much
better together. They never will. politically
speaking. and mores the pity. Neither race can
make itself over. nor make Its neighbors over
But If the English would put politics aside-hey
seldom do-and consider what there is in this
Irish homage to Mr.. Irving essentially admirable
and essentially Irish they might. on occasion.
soften their demeanor little to the subordinate
on whom they look down, or at whom they
look askance.
They might also see reason to reconsider their
attitude to art They might treat it as serious
part OF life. and the English Phstines might. in
the end. to look on an actor or a great
IN NOT
cessful soap-boer 1t is asking much. Perhaps
1t Is asking impossibilities. But nobody who
looks back over the history of the stage In Eng
land for the last quarter of a century. need be
daunted by impossibilities. He need not be-
lieve in them. What was tie stage before Mr..
Irving came? What is IT now? In the answer
to those two questions lies the essence of the
history Of a new dramatic life in England. There
lies also another thing. history Of success. ana
success Is to the English kind OF gospel. wherein
they fervently believe. 1t is branch of religion
which they really and continuously practise.
From that point of view they may understand
Mr. Irving in Dublin little better. He has made
his way but how? BY an assduous study OF art
He has remarkable business faculties but with
out art without the art temperament without
dramatic genius. he would have been nowhere
His career would have been impossible. That Is
a text on which the English mind may proh'aDly
ponder The mind might even open upon re-
Election. and in the company Of the Ph'Nsunes
room might be found for totally new idea: the
idea that between art and commerce. or art and
notifies or art and industry and trade. it is pos
sibe 10 conceive OF an equality. From that u
wond be but step t. the rather more difficult
concept,on that IL there were inequality ii is
not art which stands upon the lower level Of the
two And for this measure Of enlightenment they
might in a measure own themselves indebted TO
the Irish and Mr.. Irving. G W. =