New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-16
MR.. IRVING AT HARVARD.
AN ADDRESS ON INDIVIDUALITY" IN
SANDERS THEATRE.
A REMARKABLE AUDIENCE GREETs WITH Ap.
PLArsE THE CELEBRATED AcToR-sTU-
DENTS URGED TO CULTIVATE SELF
RELIANCE AND sELF.DE-
VELOPMENT.
VELOPMENT.
ny ~rrrGr,ru TO Thy rR,Brxt I


that welcomed and appaude1 Henry Irving this
afternoon in the Sanders Theatre at Harvard Uni
versity and II enjoyed experience that will not
be forgotten. The speech delivered by Mr. Irving
was designed especially for young students and
urged the Emersonian doctrine Of self-reiance and
acknowledgment The drift Of 1t was toward
large and clear view OF the facts Of life and toward
the incubation OF sincerity and courage. In his
teaching, 80 well in his professional conduct
the note that Mr. Irving strikes ~ that OF power.
His career has been one achievement, ard every
hour Of It he is a most eloquent exenplihcatlon
Of the truth that success cons q IN doing things
and not In talking about them he has been him.
self and not the echo Of anybody Else. and he has
not shrunk from undertaking the heaviest tasks
II was natural that. in speaking 10 young men, NJ
should counsel manly self-respect and the nainte
nance Of a noble individuality.
The injunction to look at life with your own eyes
and to walk in your own path is not new In the
land Of Emerson. Mr. Irving was speaking but
little way from the old church In which Emerson
delivered his famous Grafton on Nature. half
century ago. But that injunction seems more than
ever needed now-to oppose the malign contempo-
rary influences Of conventional luxury leviiy cynic-
isrn-and II comes with excellent grace from one
who Is so entirely its adequate representative IL
derived additional force from Mr.. lrvings beauty
Of manner on academic scene no man mas more
repose and grace, because no man is more earnest
or more deeply inspired with sympathetic good
viii toward his audience. more profoundly moved
with the spirit of courtesy, or more completely
master of the of cogent expression TWO attri'
bute5 were conspicuous in Mr.. Irvng's delivery OF
his address-slmpllcity Of character and sincerity
OF purpose Those qualities augmented the welst
of his words and made them deeply impressive
He showed no signs Of fatigue, although the laDors
Of the season now closing have been very severe
His voice strong and clear. and his demeanor,
which was marked by de.iberation and sweet
gravity had all its usual charm or nign n'eiec'
and purely spiritual isolation
There a time when the presence or an ACTOR
as a speaker at a university caused surprise no
less than pleasure. 1t seems entirely natural now.
Mr. Irving speech was received with enthusiasm
by a company representative Of the character, learn
ing dignity beauty and fashion Of this refined
Mace II should have an excellent effect since
many young fellows may learn from It rot to be
in haste for recOgnitior never 10 foreSo hgn IDEAS
always TO make the best Of their best powers and
always to remember that nobility OF character ana
strong and fine individuality are vital powers IN
the world and are fully appreciated and priced
Counsel sometimes derives peculiar authority from
its orcin and the words Of a great actor possess
for young people OF the present day an exceptional
force and value.
Henry Irving and Ellen Terry, who was an audi
tor had a most enthusiastic greeting both on ther
arrival and departure from the theatre
MR. IRvING'S ADDRESS
Mr. Irving. whose topic was individuality" SAID
in part:
Need I say what pleasure it IS to be among you
to-day and to have the privilege Of addressing you
once more? | would hardly call this an address
Injections on an interview which had with
three young Harvard friends and II was some, rs
be a matter OF much Importance. That the indi-
vidual reach the highest eIpres,lo son, OF 81 his
oWm nature TO find the best expression o. the voice
Of power which is within US Is The b destiny wh'a
Each and all Of you should learn to value am ~
my talk with you to-day It is priceless giit s ana
comes next in sequence OF value 70 h9nor asu
and which may lead TO permanent renown; and II
in your youth you try to put It rom you; 30 donom
nator. YOU come as near as may be TO the l NIL
lcctuai standard Of that base Indian VINO I. Hb,
OF the fox who lost his tail is not merely nur..
sery myth: it has its analogue those persons OF
/ today who try TO persuade the men and women OF
stronger gifts of individuality than their own 10
In the course of conversation with one Of my
young friends. when l received the honor of your
temerity to ask him what his ambition in lie was
to be. An orator.: said ne Il snoeL IKE DANIEL ..
Webstsr His eye spare sls with Ef ve eelFnti
could. should like 70 he Daniel Webster ~ os;.
said |. great ambition; don't you try 70 oe ay ~
! own power: YOU have rot the physique ever TO be
a Daniel Webster had been S9 ,,g a. EopTsfs
and Phillips Brookses that began 10 thlhN 'n s
things continued 20 go on ~ the sam, SAM ra Daniel
Webster was hscoSe treat by merely initiating some
ore else He had great gifts of certain kinds, and
he knew them and used them To the rtn al; YIN
him the ore rotundo must have had SPECIAL va.".,
FOR the greatness of his voice lent new power 10
his eloquent words. Edwin Forrest ma1 d nd he
roo r,aie a distinct impress on his tine by me
/ exercise of his art. Unlucky. however II IS , to9
me rising generation. These aim at the result oSs
not Just value upon S The means .bs O. sommSn
sense OF youth with little lung.power trying 10, 10
initiate The method ac Fyer man NAV have within
himself the electrical or psychic quaint. heceS az
% r,h or stature or avoirlupois Napoleon and
Nelson Garrck and Kean were little men Dut Nv T"o
suitable means of expression. each In nus b'opl, .
fashion? So may each one o. you, {t you n t.
USE Sr vom Eut YOU can no more trim the natural
| power within you to n pattern INA" W" w "
| crease or diminish your stature
CHARACTER AND CARlcATURE
,,or ,rvsoIf I cannot understand why any man
| ,o,,,d want TO formulate himself 70 the identity
of some one else. Each man is diHefeH' l'o'" US
fellows lust as the leaves OF tree ana ~ oeS'
| a nerfect stimulation can be but an imperfect SUI
! stituton belong to calling where our Hrs' en-
! deavor ought TO be to assume Identities ho' o'
/ own We actors have to study. either as "nois
/ or bv parcels from living models; Tor our or"'' -
| to present Appearances other than our OWN " "
! do things which all men who see ana ',' ,
rscognize as nos impossible typcaly. Ills s.uuy
must be both intellectual and physical 'o' -.
identify is TO be presented all its component '
must hang together with proper cohes''e" .,s
this study one cannot help arriving al so'"e 'e
opinion Of the worth and value OF iuen'y, ,hot
said wisely enough, by an experenc1uf Who could
no man could well succeed IN puplc II 80 @ieent es-
not be easily caricatured There - JUS 20 annly its
srntIal truth In this to make us reauS " bpp NOT
wisdom Indeed. there are many inI anw sufi-
having been endowed by nature VIII az" n,r try
an,it distirctiye individuality OF their OWL ,oiy
to beset snsulary which may sevf h s' appearance
WI, srr,. ono else has made familiar \ 49, 49,
is told OF certain Mr. Smith n ~ Lo Of Yelling.
T,nrving he resembled the great Duke 81 ry himself
ton used TO dress like him ano 80 va, not well
that people to whom the i rt nuke on being
told that Mr. Smith had said tina, ne 10 II NOT?
taken for him. remarked; Dear me sr smith"
hmt / have never been taken FOR WI ana s differ
o I' reed not ;ell you that there Is vas and TOO
ence between character ana carr, ,Sint that they
I'm ,here are who. while they thlnN ne s only
are toiiin; the former in their Gasp so manner,