The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-27

Of DIR. Pinches school. in George
yard. Lombard Street locality IA
miliar to readers Of ''Pickwick.' In ac-
cordance with time-honored custom. the
pupils, dressed i'm the short jackets and
overhanging linen collars usually worn
by the rising generation at that time.
celebrated the arrival of the Christmas
holidays by giving recitations before an
audience consisting mainly OF relatives
and friends. In the preliminary rehear-
sails one of these boys displayed particu-
lar Intelligence and ardor. and Mr.. Cres-
wick. the tragedian, who was a friend Of
the schoolmaster. and happened to look
in. patted the youth on the head, gave
him how to grasp dagger In the most
approved tragic fashion.
The pupil thus honored dearly wished
to recite a rather sensational poem
called THE Uncle" but was requested
by the master-a most amiable man-to
choose something "a little less theat-
rical.' Whatever ne did he was sure to
do well. and Mr.. Creswick had the sat
isfaction Of knowing that the loudest of
the many loud plaudits elected from
the audience on the evening of the
breaking up were bestowed upon his
protege.
The boy thus brought to notice was
Henry Irving, born at Keinton, a town
within easy distance Of the ruins OF
Glastonbury Abbey. in 1885. The ap-
plause he won at the school in George
yard had scarcely ceased to ring in his
ears when he was placed in the office
OF an East India merchant, with the
prospect, II he gave satisfaction. of OBJ
tanning lucrative post in Calcutta.
i, Cd ~,
seek fame and fortune on the stage. and
with this in view took lessons from an
actor named Hoskins. in MIDDLETON
Square. This Mr.. Hoskins was SO
pleased with his pupil that he intro
drced him to Mr.. Phelps, then the man
ager OF Sadler's Wells Theater. The
tragedian. after hearing the aspirant re-
cite -Othello's Address to the Senate. "
kindly smiled approval. but advised him
not to join SUCH an ilI-requited profess
sion as the players.
well sir" said Irving. who was not
eighteen. lit seems strange that such
advice should come from you, seeing
that you enjoy so great a reputation as
an actor. l think l shall take my
chance and go upon the stage"
in that case. sir. you may come
next season to Sadler's Wells. and III
give you 81 a week. to begin with y
Irving. completely taken aback. STAN
mered a few words of grateful appre-
citation. but did not accept the offer. lie
thought it better TO begin his career in
the provinces-the best of all schools for
the actor.
Unalloyed Stage Fright.
In iS56. bidding final aaieu TO the Of
flee OF the East India merchant. he
made his first appearance on the stage
II was at the Lyceum Theater, Sunder-
land. and the part allotted TO him was
Orleans, in .'Richelieu." He had never
felt want Of confidence in reciting be-
fore. friends, but it was different wher
he found myriads of cold. critical eyes
fixed upon him His self-possession gave
way, but owing TO the hare-like timid-
ity of the character Of Orleans. the per
Torrance was not much affected.
His next essay was not 50 fortunate
The play was a Winters Tale irving
being the Cleomenes. His nervousness
was so intense that he forgot the i'm
portant speech IN the first act, and. i'm
porting in his excitement some word.
from another play. Come on to tn,
market place, and / win tell you fur
Their" fed the stage This unlocked
for invitation naturally caused the dir
est confusion; the local critics sharply
rebuked the young actor for his irrev
erent alteration of the poets text. anC
very probably he would have been dis
missed on the spot If the manager hat
not good-humoredly made allowances
for inexserience.
Manifest Versatility.
From 1857 TO 1859 Irving was at tn,
Theater Royal. Edinburgh. supporting
such artists as Miss Cushman. Robson
Miss Faucit. Charles Mathews. Vanden-
hon. and Webster. 1t was in the cours,
OF this useful and aspiring period Of
practice that hts versatility was frs
shown Nothing came amiss to him
tragedy, comedy, melodrama, farce
burlesque, or opera.
His reputation spread rapidly. and n
1859. at the instance OF Mr. Toole. an
almost lifelong friend. he was engaged
70 appear at the Princess Theater, Lon
don Here he had no chance Of dis
tinguishing himself. but two readingi
which ne gave at Crosby Hall were suf
6cient to prove that an actor OF no or
binary pretensiOns awaited public rec
ignition. Determined to win promi
nent place In his profession, Irving re
turned to the country, and for five year
endured with singular tenacity Of par
pose the labors and vicissitudes insep
cradle from the life OF a provincial ac
tor
sIn 1865. having played some time il
Manchester. where he excited much en-
thusiasm by a performance OF Han.
let. Sir Henry Irving went 10 Liver
pool. and I'm that town began 20 Oh
tain a hold upon the public which n
never afterward lost. IN 1866 Mr. BOuci
cault engaged him TO support Miss Kat
Terry IN Hunted Down. In which n
created so great an impression that Lon
don was at once open TO him. In DC
tober. 1856. he appeared at the St Jane
Theater as DoricOurt in The Belle
Strategem." and at once made his mark
'Ah. Mr.. Oxenford," said Mrs. Franz
Matthews. meeting the iliustrious crit
after the performance. what did yo
think OF Doricourt2'
AN admirable performance" was tn
reply.
There's a great future in store 10
Irving" continued the lady.
7'Im inclined 10 think 50 myself" sal
the critic. And on more than one Oc
casi0n the lively lady predicted tina
sooner or later Irving would be lat tn