New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-22
THE DRAMA.
Henry IrJTHg.

On Friday nishr March x at the Harlem Opera
House. the American tour OF Henry Irving will
come 20 end Il began on October IS. 1s'c.
at the Broadway Theatre. New-YOrk, and. eN-
tending through twenty-five weeks. IL has
prised visitations OF thirty-two cities The open
ing play M SardOu's sumptuoUs. populous.
pictorial drama OF Dante: but public curiosity
Is 10 this sombre production presently salts
fed. and. later. the repertory was restricted TO
The Merchant Of Venice" Waterloo The
Bells" and Louis XI"; and these the plays
20 which the great actor devotes the present week,
and with which he closes the present scasOn. Last
night he acted ShyIoCk. That performance has
often been described in this place. and particular
comment upon Il is not essential now. II is a
PRESERVATION Of imperial decisive authorty.-clear.
CogeDt. harmonious sustained rounded. finished.
and it will pass into history. as the representa-
tive Shylock Of the English speaking stage IN
turbulence and sorority il has been surpassed.
either Forrest Brooke. In the delirious street
scene. could. and did. make the wekin ring; but
as the presentment OF a possible human being
impersonation-it has not been equalled
and could not be excelled. Intellectual concentra-
ton. intensity OF feeling indomitable will and
potentialty and beauty Of artistic method are the
attributes that Il cOnspicuoCsly manifests. an me
actor; and, at this time, it is the personality OK
the actor. rather than any specific achievement
OF his art that absoTbs the attention Of those VINO
think.
In Henry Irving the age has possessed not only
great representative Of tho dramatic art. in all Its
phases. but IluStTlOES example OF nOpLo Ctlei
acter. splendid integrity of purpose and whole
hearted devotion 20 the highest ideals He came
upon the English stage when its ude was at an
ebb and by the power and charm Of his genius
and the tremendous impulse OF his ability and pas
sionate sincerity. ne brought that tide once more
TO the flood He has never administered the thea
tire n II merely shop He has never de-
ferred 10 popular caprice. lie has never swerved
the clear and direct path Of duty-the obiiga-
ton Of intellectual leader to the time in Whlch
b., 1~pe HrF ia Ia N
prise has ever had his support escaped his cen
sure He has made the stage glorious with a long
array o. imaginative romantic, brilliant hgures.
He has more or less Influenced all the actors ana
all the managers OF his generation. and he has left
HIS impress upon culture and society. wherever our
language is spoken. lie has given dramatic
illustrations TO an the great subjects. and ne
has munfcenty employed all the arts In their
establishment. His career has passed it's zenith,
and now, naturally. in the lapse OF time and
the vicissrudes Of fortune. It IS slowly draw
Ing toward a close. His superb dramatic COM
pauy time since dissolved. His great
and famous theatre IN London. has been swept
away. His numerous imitatOrs, after long perver-
sion Of his acknowledgements that the bow OF
Ulysses can be Blended only by the hand Of Ulysses
have mostly turned again to the rattles and the
straws. The tide is more lessenlng TO an ebb-
1t will rise again. Of codrse.-as Il has always
done: but meanwhile. there IS certain sadness in
the thought that the opportunities now passing
may be the last that this community will have Of
seeing the greatest actor OF our time. and the most
influential benefactor that the English stage has
had.
The farewell word will be spoken on Friday night.
I'm the GRIM sinister pathetic, awful and yet pitia-
bic character Of King Louis. This embodiment.
together with those Of Corporal Brewster. in Wa
terIoo." and Matthias. in The lls."-which can
he seen to-night.-manifest, in the actor, at once
his wonderful ina gination and his perfect fidelity
to nature IN tho portrayal OF character Il might,
perhaps. well be wished that he could have taken
leave OF Us in such part az that Of Dr.. Primrose
or that Of Charles tho First But whatever be the
farewell part. Henry Irving will make a royal
adieu. and he will leave. in thousands OF hearts.
all this land. fragrant. gracious and loving
rnemorv w. W.