The evening times., 1899-10-30
HENRY 1Rv1Na,s SPEECH.
Patriotic Sentiments Expressed &
the LOtoa Club Dinner.

| ~N6" AOIhh, ott oo-I he give
by the Lotos Club Saturday night in homo
Of Sir Henry Irving was a most enjoyabl
affair. 1t was at the Lotos Club that 81
Henry made his first appearance in thi
country. On the occasion Of his first visit
1888. he was entertained by the club almos
as soon as he set foot in the country an
since then he has many timees partake
Of the hospitality of the members Of tn
Lotos. Among those who assembled to d
honor to Sir Henry were some Of the bes
known men in the city. The decoration
consisted entirely of flowers and foliage
There were blooms by the hundred. Will
the walls OF the banquet room were en-
tirely hidden beneath oak leaves of beauti
fully variegated autumn tints.
| The title page of the menu card was don,
in scroll work. upon which were imprinted
some Of the numerous characters Sir Henr!
has undertaken in his long career. UpoI
the frontispiece was a stanza by william
! Winter. which read:
| welcome royal,
| In accents tender, sweet and kind.
| From lips fond and hearts loyal
As any left behind.
| Altogether there were about three hun.
dred members and guests at the dinner. Al
| the cross table on the right OF Frank R
| Lawrence. the president of the club, sal
| the guest OF the evening. and on the left
Dean Stubbs. of Ely Cathedral, England.
With the serving of the coffee Mr.. Law
renee rose to make his Introductory address
He said:
Formally of speech is not to be expect
ed tonight. Time was when Henry Irving
came to us stranger; but that could only
happen once. His first appearance on this
side of the Atlantic was at our table. ana
he went forth from our, house to gain the
admiration and affection Of the whole
American people.
ION each of his succeeding visits we have
met him with a welcome that has ever
grown warmer, and tonight we take the
privilege of greeting him with freedom.
a familiarity. and sincerity born Of an old
and tried friendship. He has now made at
least as many voyages to America as CO.
lumbus. One came to discover the other
comes to reveal; and, while there was a
necessary limit to the discoveries of Co.
lumbus We are not yet prepared to assign
a limit to the achievements OF Irving.
I'VE recognize him as the possessor Of
genius OF a very high and rare order, and
We find in him. allied to great talent, that
form OF genius which has been called an in
finite capacity for taking pains. In COM
mon with all men, we admire great talent.
wherever found. But to us as a nation OF
workers, Sir Henry Irving particularly ap-
peals because of his lifetime of unremittins
industry devoted to the advancement OF
noble profession He might long since have
rested upon his laurels, but with him vic
tory serves only as stimulus for further
endeavor. and he comes now, ii is safe &c
predict. to renew and TO enlarge the tri-
nh af ha IN again fhnSp
tributes OF praise which our people have
always been so ready to bestow.
Since Sir Henry Irving visited US last
things have happened which have brought
our countries much nearer together than
ever before. We shall not soon forget ths
friendship shown by Great Britain toward
the United States at an important period
in our affairs, and every Englishman who
comes 10 US now brings with him an addi-
tional claim 10 our regard.
We greet and welcome Henry Irving
once again. We take him 10 our hearts. We
rejoice to see that time has touched him Sc
very lightly in the last four years. We
hope he may come to us many times again
and that this evening may be the forerun-
ner of many another merry meeting"
In rising to respond. Sir Henry was
greeted with cheers again and again re-
newed When silence was at last obtained
he began:
From the affectionate words your chair
man has used | think l am justified in call
ing you my dear friends. 1t is impossible
for me TO reply 10 such an inspiring pane
gyric as Mr.. Lawrence has uttered AL!
though | cannot lay claim 10 much that h. |
has uttered, still, / know that you, in the |
fullEess of your good-fellowship and your |
give forth your hearts TO his well
come. Gentlemen, such welcome rather |
breaks one up bit. Ii is with no ordinary |
feelings of pleasure and happiness that l |
find myself your guest tonight. Since We |
last met have had what was for We a new
enforced rest; and an en-
forced rest is not always a pleasant time |
or man who likes his work, and l rejoice
% clasp your hands again. the hands OF
rienGs who have been so stanch. l cannot
orget that when / came to these friendly
md hospitabie shores in 1883 it was in this
hub that I received the first stirring well
ONE of America. Since then some of US
ire a little older but as | look around this
able l see many signs of unabated yigor.
Since l was last In this country there
las been a gratifying development of that
God will which all Englishmen and Amer
cans who understand one another as We
10 have always been anxious to see per-
established between the two na-
ions, and | think l must tell you of a lit
lie incident which occurred to me in your
avy yard. on the Delaware, on Christmas
lay. 1895. The yard was closed; it was a
eneral holiday. ! was the only visitor,
nd an officer in charge was courteously
ointing out to me many interesting OBJ
,cts. and was admiring as one could but
o, a magnificent battleship which was ly-
1g in the river and wondering at her
lighty power. Yes, said ne. she's great
isn't she? But I'm sorry to say
lat at times even her power has its linn
s. Indeed?' said l. Well, We can't al
avs coal her.. oh. not coal her? That's
D limit l said. No limit? How's that?'
)h, l said. there ought to be no difficulty !
bout that. Why can't We coal together
well, gentlemen, perhaps we Lever
,ail, but it seems to me that it would be I
D unnatural thing if We ever did. Has
1t the heroic and noble Dewey given an q
onored British name TO that lion cub
hich We suppose in England to be his in
parable companion? Il sincerely hope {
lat he will like it equally when he grows {
o). But, gentlemen. l believe there is g
( I may sol a fellow-feeling now mani I
sted toward us for the heavy responsible
which England is now discharging, e
hich, misjudged as it may be in Europe e
III not be misjudged in America. l don't 6
etend to be politician in any way, but 7
know that when the civilized world passes +
dgment upon us it is the good opinion !
the Great Republic that We value most =
,r myself, 1 have no words to thank Mr..
lwrence for his heart-moving greeting
to thank you for the proof this gathering
YES of your undimmed regard-and a re-
rd which goes out, feel. in full measure