New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-22

HENRY IRVING AND ELLEN TERRY.
A FAREWELL WORD.


| The last curtain has fallen the present Ameri-
can season of Henry Irving and Ellen Terry has
ended and to-day these renowned actors will begin
their homeWard sail They leaving multitudes
| of admirers by whom they will not be forgotten
and they leaving many true friends, by whom
the inspiring moral OF their lives and achievements
Will always be cherished 1t is the moral stead
fast devotion TO noble ideals-for their lives have
| been given to the minstraton of beauty. and their
| achievements have largely aided TO refine and
| ennoble the society of their time. Looking back
ward over the tide of their years the reminiscent
! observer sees many creation of imaginative and
| artistic power, and many image OF gracious
! loneliness; never any shape that might offend the
most fastidous taste in the slightest way.
| degrade the art by which they have gained their
splendid fame. There is brighter page in all
| the long annals of dramatic history than that
| which records their victories and certihes their
greatness. They have been IN prodgious
| variety Of plays-traversng welnigh the whole
| field OF dramatic utcrature-Tragedy's bleakest
heights and Comedy's serenest valleys-ani they
have filled our eyes with light. with music.
and our hearts with happiness.
To Ellen Terry owe the perfect embodiment
Of Ophelia. Beatrice and Porta, the most exquisite
Of Shakespeare's women. To Henry Irving
indebted for the largest and the diversified
group Of dramatic characters that any actor
has placed in the pantheon OF the stage--crea-
tons Of weird imagination from Macbeth TO
Matthias: images OF sublimiJy and pathos. from
Hamlet to Eugene Aram: great historic figures
from Gloster Wolsey, from King Arthur tC
Beckett. and from King Louis King Charles
airy shapes OF comedy. from Benedck to Robert
Macaire; and sympathetic types of all that IS
loveliest tenderest and grandest in human nature,
from Primrose 10 Lesurques and from Don
Quixote TO Lear. Perfection in all Of these veins
would be impossible. but actor has displayed
a broader grasp Of the resources OF art. more
complete command OF diversified subjects. or
greater proficiency in wider range In opulenCe
Of professional achievement Henry Irving has had
no equal. and in versatility he stands alone. The
presence of such an actor may well be celebrated:
his absence certainly. must be depLpred-and there
are many who will deplore it. He goes. however.
TO fresh labors. and doubtless he advances TO re-
newed triumphs in the great capital OF the world,
and some day. perhaps, his American public will
have the privilege to welcome him once more.
Meantime, II is good to feel that worker so SPLEEN
didly equipped, so conscientious, and powerful
is standing at the head OF the English drama.
AS long Henry Irving leads the stage, the in
tellect and conscience of the time can rest ease
Philip may sleep" said the monarch of Macedon /
while he knows that Parmenio is awake"
Upon the proceedings of the closing night-the
performance of The Merchant of Venice" the
public enthusiasm the parting words. the mingled
emotions of pleasure and regret,-there is rea-
son to linger
"Why then a final note prolong
or lengthen out a closing song?'
The record is made and the end has come. |
Truly, as said by Edgar Pemberton in his de- |
lightful Life Of Ellen Terry,"-whch has just ar
rived from over the sea,-t is difficult to make
popular actors understand how fervently they are |
loved and of what value their presence is those
who love them But the Farewell to Irving must |
be spoken; and, the present writer has said be-
fore let him say again utter the general
feeling Of the hour:
All, God make bright for many a year
On Beautys heavenly shrine
This haOwed fire that Thou hast lit
This sacred soul of Thine:
While Loves sweet light and Sorrows tear
Lies sunshine dimmed with Showers
Shall keep for aye his memory green
In these true hearts of ours,