The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-15
THE PLAYER FOLK.

Speaking OF experiences" said Henry
Miller, during wait in darcy Of the
Guards" at the National last night. 4
shall never forget my first meeting with
Sir Henry Irving It was before the
Queen had honored him with his title a
memorial service for Edwin Booth had
been arranged for at one CT our theateTs
shortly after the demise of that most
brilliant actor and charming gentleman.
Irving, SaIvini and other representa-
tive artists had been selected to deliver
addresses Salvini was to speak in his
native Observation-Disclosures it was thought
advisable to have some enc read an Eng
lish transit zion of his remarks vas at
that time leading man Of the Empire
Theater Company, and when approached
for this Tessiing. eagerly accepted it. It
was such an honor. such an opportunity
No audience I had ever played to would
be so sympathetic, no lines I ever spoke
would give such chance for eIoeutfonary
display I received the translation and
rehearsed it over and over again in the
privacy Of my own room, until had it as
perfect as part | had played for q
twelvemonth
The momentous afternoon arrived. and.
seated upon the stage before that i'm
menSe concCurse, 1 listened to the glow
ing tributes paid to the dead artist But,
while thrilled with sympathy. began TO
fear that my humble contribution might
not be up to the mark. Ny hands tren-
bied. and nay lips, no matter how fre-
quently moistened. grew parchcd again
1t was, IL fact, stage fright Of the most
pronounced type
Sal r--s, -,
the liquid Italian phrases rolled forth It
mattered but little that he was speaking
IN language foreign tc the audience
Inc chord CT sympathy was touched, and
he was aDplauded unanimously
And was TO follow. like a Greek eho-
rus-IIke the crack CO a rife after the
booming OF a cannOnt what an antic1i-
max What shock to the auditors! It
would never do. So. grasping the voIum-
nous manuscript was supposed to read.
stepped forward and said Ladies a8d
gentlemen Mr.. Salvini's beautiful ora
ton to which you have just listened is
and then apparently endeavored TO de-
clpher the writing, giaacing nerTously w
ward az the lights as though they we're
insufhcients-'is a long one. so may I. with
your permission, Just quote for you his
Laost eloquent peroration7 .eFoday.
Shakespeare and Mefpomene. with hands
cLasped- weep before the mute lips Of one
VINO was their worthiest INTERPRETER
Then l resumed my seat amid the thank
ful applause of the entire house
AS soon as the exercises were over. a
friend said to me. Miller. Mr. Irving
wishes To be introduced I was. of course.
delighted and as we walked toward
where Mr. Irving was standing. visions Of
what he might say to me danced through
my brain. Was he impressed with nv
Work2 Would he offer me an engagement
IN MS company Il he did. would I be
Justited II leaving my present position
All TINS vas still in ray mind as he
gTasped ny hand and said:
Dir. Miller, allow ne TO consrafuTafe
you upon the manner in which you acted
THIS afternoon Il was charming
Il thanked him fer his appreciation
which said was the more precious as it
was seeiEg him upon the stage which had
decided me upon adopting the profession
as a livelihood.
Why, Mr. Miller said Irving. quite
astonished, are you an actor2-
Mr.. Miller paused in his story. and then.
with merry twinkle in his eyes. he
added.
4 was younger then, and it was several
hours before I was able to appreciate the
hunor of his remark"