The morning times., 1897-02-05
HENRY IRVING In YOUTH.
How a booksellers Clerk Went on
the Stage.

John Henry BrodriBb, To give his true
name, was born in 1888 alta quiet little spot
near Glastonbury, called Keinton. His
mother came of the good old Cornish fam.
lily OF Behenna, and was a woman of con-
siderable personal beauty, and of very
sweet disposition. The actor S childish days
were spent principally with an aunt at
Belston, near the Lizard Point. His Unborn
love OF Cornwall exists in Sir Henry to this
day, and he finds his greatest pleasure ana
most health-Siving reposc in wandering
among the rugged coyes and quaint fish
ing hauletS OF the extreme western coast
OF England
When only eleven he was sent to DR..
Pinches' schCol, in George YARD, Lombard
street. Ii was u weIi-knuwn ernlnaFy, and
there young BroanbD made many Of his
manhuod's . best and truest friends The
first dramatic spark was struck IA him at
school festivities, anu was not e2linguis.-d
10y his schoolnaster, who was the most
BrOaa-Ininneu OF men. He was stlil child
ia years when the monetary eXIgencIeS OF
his family forced him into a clerkship with
b firm OF booksellers, and he found himself
earning his own living. his access to
standard works ana all the best new books
fOStered his sJUdIous disposition while his
evenings were free for worship at theatri-
cal shrines When he was seventeen his
employers wished to send him out 10 their
branch establishment in Bombay, but by
that time the youth mad east the die of
his life in favor Of the stage, and he de-
clined the offer. Two years later he made
the plunge, left his desk and trod the
boards, from which rumor has ii that lac
was hissed. If So, it was the Disraen in
cident over again.
For nine years Henry Irving worked in
the provinces, founding lifelong friend
ships, gaining measure of popularity in
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Llv-
erpool, but always struggling TO attain
London, the actors Mecca. The chance
came at last IN 1866, when he was en-
gagged TO support Kate Terry in Bonci-
cault's play, Hunted Down." in which he
acted SO well that London appearance
followed. AT the Gaiety, Drury Lane, the
st. James and tie Haymarket he acted
long round OF characters, being generally
cast for the villain, who, III those days,
was necessity in every play In 1870 be
created Digby Grant, in The Two Roses"
His performance reused interest and Gu
next moved TO tie Lyceum. then under
Col. Bateman, and here his Matthias, in
THE Bells played to a langIid house,
clinChed the matter forever The morning
after that memorable first night, after fiji
teen years uf heart braking labor, Henry
Irving woke to tina himself famous. From
that hour lie has never looked back, and
fame and fortune have Kept pace with
him. Col. Bateman was Sufficiently astute
TO turn the temporary engagement into a
permanency. In 1852 he first seized the
American continent, starting on his tour
with the most extraordinary banquet in
all the history of English sociology, and
carrying with him the whole nations
wishes Tor success. Since that time Irving
has descrvedly made huge fortunes in
America, where he is ~ genuinely adj
nhred as in England In more recent years
be has played before the queen at san
dringhanl and Windsor and her majesty
said last year that it gave her real pleas
ure to dub him d knight bachelo' st
Paul's.