Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-06
FORTUNE AND HEALTH GONE
Friends of Actor Henry Irving Start Relief
Fund.
Overwork, Financial Losses and Men
tai Worry Have Made His Con-
ditiOn Critical.

The New York Herald of today saws:
There have been so many mysterious ru-
mors as TO the true inwardness' of Sir
Henry Irving's endeavor to lease his Lon
don theater. and the real facts in the case
have been so misstated and distorted, that
| it is as well to give the public the whole
| truth of the affair.
Sir Henry Irving's condition for some time
| has caused his friends serious concern.
Both physically and financially he is in
much distress. He is broken in health-not
beyond the mending, perhaps-and serious
ly crippled in his business affairs by the
disastrous failure of several most elaborate
and expensive productions at the Lyceum.
OVerwork and public failure, which have
been an intense strain upon a man of pc
culiarly sensitive organism, and the added
demands upon his strength, due to his social
hospitality after an evenings work upon
the stage have wrecked his health and
ruined his once large fortune. He is now at
Bournemouth seeking the recovery of his
strength. and his most intimate friends are
endeavorinS to raise a substantial fund
which shall provide for his needs during the
remainder of his life
The Close OF Ills Career
His physicians have imperatively warned
him that he must forego the excessive cares
of management at the Lyceum. Reading
between the lines one readily recognizes
what this means-a gentle method Of telling
the sick man that he must call a halt in his
public career as an actor as well as man
ager, if, indeed, he can ever take an active
part in Theatre life again. He has acqui-
esced in the main part of this suggestion,
and has agreed to relinquish the manage
ment of the theater which has been his own
Tor over twenty years, from the boards of
which he has risen TO the height of fame
and reputation, and for score of years
has fairly dominated the London stage
w Hen you consider that the T.ypanm has
been the very essence of his life, how
necessary to an actors happiness is his
publlc success, you can realize how broken
ne Is IN health when he consents to let
pass from his direction the theater that has
been coupled with his name since 1878. and
where he brought about the renaissance of
the earlier glories OF the English stage
But not only was his health the impeling
cause. He took into his confidence some
time since number of his friends and told
them candidly Of the straits to which he had
been reduced by recent losses, and asked
their assistance and advice These were
men who not only were admirers of the
actor and who had abundant means at their
command, but men of good practical bust
ness experience as well.
They were very fond of Irving as is all
London, and they would have done any
thing in their power, financially, to aid him
We're IL mere question of pounds, shillings
and pence But, regarding the actor physi-
cally as well as the situation financially
they saw that the future was decidedly
doubtful, if not hopeless, and that if they
acted the part of real friendship they would
counsel him to retire from the stage-at all
events from the ownership and direction of
the Lyceum-and seek the recovery of his
health.
Fund for His Benefit.
How much they told him of what they
foresaw in the future is neither here nor
there. But shortly afterward a number of
gentlemen in England and on the continent
were applied to and pledged themselves to
provide fund for use when the apparently
inevitable retirement should occur Mean
while the actor, hopeful OF the results of his
rest at BouTnemouth, is eagerly planning
the leasing of the Lyceum and the under
taking of another American tour which
shall recoup his fortunes, and which they
say in England. he has asked Mr. Charles
Frohman to manage for him. And 1t goes
without saying that Mr.. Frohmans thea
tiers will be open to him if he comes.
1t is the heartfelt wish of all those who
have enjoyed the delightful art of Henry
Irving that his hopes may be realized. that
strength may return, that fortune may
again come to him, that the trouble which
is now casting its shadow before NAV be
averted, and that the late afternoon of his
life may be frightened by the sunshine of
old-time success
He is not very old-his sixtieth birth
day occurs next month-and, relieved OF
the carplng cares of management, he may
yet recoup his lost strength and fortune
but what is in store for the sick man now
at Bournemouth is hidden in the shadowy
future.