The herald., 1895-07-07

It is said that tho conviction thar th
social barrier, once broken down. would
be of lasting good to his profession in An.
enced Irving more than any other con-
sideration.
The great actor is thoroughly in aocora
with the art spirit thoughts and customs
of this end-of the-century time, but he
10, above and beyond all, an actor and an
artist. His great house, Grafton street
in the west end of London. shows plainly
that his art is the same to MIN in the
quiet OF his home as before the footlights.
Everywhere are souvenirs and mementos
OF the great lights of the English drama.
In q bookcase in the beautifully fur
nished drawing-room there are thirty or
more different editions of Shakespeare,
Some are editions de luxe. some remark.
ably early ones. One. bound in red
leather. would be great bargain at
$2500; while another was the third edi-
ton of the great playwright's and was
once owned by the duke of Bedford.
There are memoirs of the great actors,
Macready, Edmund Kean, Gariiok. For
rest, Siddons, and all through the long
list. The magnificent collection of SOU
venirs of great actors have nearly all
double value from the famous donors of
lhe much -pized gifts. There is a little
green silk purse which was found empty
in Edmund Kean's pocket after he died.
and given by Robert Browning to Irving.
A ring was presented by the Baroness
Burdett-Coutts. which David Garrick
used to wear; then there are two watches,
one of which belonged to Kemble, and
the other, of solid silver. whose hands
stand at twenty-five minutes OF 6. the
very moment when tho old owner, For
rest. died. Among the cherished relics
OF kean are the russet leather boots he
wore in Richard III and the broad, heavy
sword he carried in Cymbeline.
The long, slender. fascinating face of
Ellen Terry, the actress, whose name
and fame have been associated so long
with Irving. looks down upon all of these
treasures from marble bust sh rined in
one corner of the room.
In the luxurious dining room, in the
place of honor, hangs a picture of the
..Shoulder Of Mutton Inn" at Brecon.
New South Wales. This was the birth
place Of the great tragedienne. Sarah Sid
dons. On the wall opposite hangs
striking likeness of the gifted woman,
and little framed autograph letter from
her, written in the dalntest Of the old
fashioned. microscopic feminine chiro-
graphy. There are books and paintings
and bronzes all over the house. arranged
in the most artistic manner. At judici-
Gus spaces along the staircase one comes
upon the choicest bits of bronze or the
most exquisite paintings. The scholar
and the student are suggested in the
choice bits of china, quaint old pieces of
silver, the curious and gracefully carved
furniture with its coverings of old Span
ish leather arranged SO carele ssly but SO
effectively in the smoking room and the
study. Just over the door of the study is
Perched stately. y.raven, but. .sunllke Poe's
famous bird, it never cracked, and has
been a bird of good rather than evil
omen. since naught but success, fame
and prosperity has come to Sir Henry
Irving.
Irving takes his titled hnors modestly.
-. - -
they would confer favor by continuing
to address him as Mr.. Irving instead of
as Sir Henry. The latter he regards as
too formal for man of his profession.