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

common with the conventional villain
of the stage. and their originality was
equaled only by their histrionic force.
Competent judges Of acting adopted
Mrs. Matthews estimate of the actor
Charles Dickens. after seeing THE
Lancashire Lass" told MS son that the
greatest things might be expected of the
actor who played that rather common
place rascal. Redburn
For time. Sir Henry Irving's name
was identified with characters or this
stamp. and but for the thoroughness
with which he represented Harry Dorm
ton-in which Mrs. Sartoris (Adelaida
kemble). said he reminded her vividly
of the famous members of her own fam
tly-Charles Surface. Young NARROW.
Ca"tain Absolute. and Chevenix O1ncle
Dicks darling) it might have been sup
posed that the range of his powers was
not wide. In 1870. at the Vaudeville. ne
advanced his reputation as a comedian
10 its highest point by his Digby Grant
in THE Two Roses" a portrait which
may be regarded as perfect in both prin-
ciple and detail
"The Bellsl The Bells!"
1t was in the run of THE Two Roses
that Henry Irving obtained possession
Of The Bells" and only a cursory
glance at the play was sufficient to make
MIN anxious TO play Matthias. But how
could this hope be realized? The poetic
drama was not in fashion. and no man
ager, ii was to be feared. would incur
the risk of producing a piece of that
class. By way of testing the feeling of
the public on this point. Sir Henry
! Irving, on the occasion of his benefit at
the Vaudeville. .recited the Dream of
Eugene Aram," and the result was to
show that the essay he contemplated
might be made with some probability
of success.
He gave up his engagement at the
popular Vaudeville in the autumn of
1871 for one at the then unpopular
Lyceum in the hope of inducing the
manager, Mr.. Bateman. to bring out
The Bells" For some time a cloud
had seemed to rest upon the house.
"Fanchette." the managers trump
card failed; ''Pickwick." thouk., .-ro-g-
ly cast. shared the same fate. Mr.
/ Bateman then agreed to give 'The
4 Bells a trial.
The piece was produced on Saturday.
the 9th OF November. and had il not
succeeded the Lyceum would soon have
very high. for the Polish Jew had been
brought out at one of the minor thea
tiers with anything but the desired re-
suit. and it was not supposed that even
/ so versatile an actor as Sir Henry Try
ing could meet the requirements of the
last act
] Those who make IL n point of being
present at important first nights. but
saw no adequate inducement on this oc-
casion to go to the theater, were soon
angry with themselves for their want
Of faith So powerful an impersonation
had not been seen on the London stage
since the days of Macready and Charles
| kean- The mental torture of the con-
science-strieken burgomaster. relieved
by touches Of fine feeling or by cynica,
eXultation at the cleverness with which
he has destroyed all traces Of his crime
and provided for the contingency of IL.
discovery. was realized with a vivid
ness of imagination and wealth OF
Illustrative detail which excited a feel
ing little short of amazement.
The Risen Sun.
The actor had at last found a charac-
ter more worthy of his talents thar
any he had previously obtained in Lon.
don. nor did he fail to make the most
of his advantage Such a roar of APP
plause as that which followed the fal
of the curtain had not been heard in q
theater for many years, and far into
the morning the Matthias of Sir Henry
| Irving was the talk OF almost every
club in London. The critics an once
acknowledged the rising, or rather tn.
risen. sun.
The tide turned quickly; the previous.
" deserted Lyceum was crowded to re
pletion, and FOR 80 nights in succession
The Bells" held the place of honor II
the bills. 1t is still one Of the mos
prominent plays in the repertoire of Sil
Henry Irving His career since then il
well known. and 1t would take too Ions
to enumerate his numerous successes.
The bright-eyed little boy at DR.
Pinches' school in the short jacket anC
Overlapping linen collar Of half a cen
tury ago. is now by reason Of genius
and ambition and unwearied Industry
the most prominent representative il
England of what VOltaire called ''th'
finest. the rarest. and the most diff
cult Of all arts" A ID. A