The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-16
Hands and Eye
brOWS:


criticism on Irving?" SWELL" said
Bran, slowly stroking his beard, "it is
very good practice.'' From which 1t may
be known that In addition to his beauty
Bran possesses what Addison termed a
pretty wit. Irving and Terry have reach
ed that enviable position in public APP
plause where the newspapers can neither
help them nor harm them. According
to popular theory the knight OF Windsor
and his lovely partner can do no wrong,
and In judging their performances the
critics occupation is gone. All that Is
published about Sir Henry makes no
difference In his income. An actor who
can crowd the theater these times is su-
perior to the accidents that befsll his fell
lows. Criticism to him 10 like water on q
ducks back. Bran Stoker studies the
thermometer, not the newspapers, and
he would rather have fail in the mer-
curry than the compliments of all the
writer's in this country. Yet IL may be
interesting TO know that carefully ar
ranged scrappook, containing every
thing, good, bad and Indifferent written
about him, ~ kept for Mr.. Irving. When
he Is on board ship going home the
knight intends to look over his bulky
volume TO learn what the critics thought
OF him. He already knows what our
audiences think OF him-knows II by the
balance at his bankers. There is no
actor in the world at present who holds q
position SO ielicitious as that occupied by
Irving. His reputation Is so securely es-
tablished that nothing can happen that
would interfere with the applause OF his
audiences In this matter he nibles
David Garrick, who maintained the affec-
tion of the people In spite OF his occa-
sional disagreements with the critics,
and at his death was buried with great
splendor OF ceremony beneath the monu-
fraa nj Afr
Henry will be laid away in Westminster
Abbey. Through good works he has won
such a tomb. Yet we hope, ard the
honest knight shares our wishes, that he
may not get into 1t for many a year. Sir
Henry. wants.to produce some new plays
before making his final exit, and new
plays are hard 20 lind. Bran Stoker de-
Was 1t not los NIT John McNally OF Bos-
ton and Charles Hoyt, OF civilization in
general2
Did you ever watch Irving's eyebrows?
When speech fails him, these capillary
orators are quick with eloquence The
hirsute divisions OF the Knights forehead
are heavy In hair, dark in color and
which language lies incoherently on his
lips, but we have never discovered his
eyebrows at a loss for words. 80 also
Miss 1erry's hands. Whatever happens.
these shapely members still carry her i'm
to triumph. The deaf and dumb alphabet
Is nothing 10 what she can do. We have
read whole scenes from Shakespeare out of
the movements Of her fingers; her wrist Is
an epic aud her elbow a pastoral. IL Miss
Terry Will leave her hands and arms be-
hiDd her In company with Sir Henry's
eyebrows We can make shift 10 do with
out the London Lyoeum through the
melancholy years which Mr. Stokor de-
clares must intervene before no can come
back TO us. IL Is the vehement ardor OF
Sir Henry's eyebrows that mas won his
knightly spurs and Will eventually carry
him To Westminster Abbey. IL was the
fascination OF Ellen Terry's fingers that
enabled three happy men at various in.
teryals TO place wedding ring In their
keeping.