Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-14

tellectua1 force in his chosen fields he had
no equals. , The knishthocd that came IN the
tardily recognizing his primacy among his
fellows Of the sock and buskin.
The actor whose Matthias (1s71). Charles
QS73l. Hamlet us74). Macbeth 1s75), Rich
ara III ds78), Lesurques and Dubose dsTT),
Louis XXI g87s). Claude Melnotte t1sTe),
s Isss3 rsn s ,,s aomee ss2 oos gensdek
Arthur (lSe4, to mention q few of his
greatest roles on which his reputation was
built In the early stages Of hfs career had
anytning but pleasant time of II.
In 1895 Irving was knighted by the queen
and subsequently he made productions of
sCymbeline. Richard III' ana Mime.
Sans Gene" His productions of Robes
He used the last named for his last visit
TO America, appearing In 1t first at the
Broadway Theater. October 81. 1908.
that time were a Sers IN IS p5,o assG
8. 1884 and 1866. In New York he APP
peared at the Star Theater in his first three
engagements. and thereafter at the house
then called Abbey's now the Knicker-
booker
In 1892 Dublin University conferred upon
him the title of LID. He had lectured at
oxford. Harvard and at various other seats
Of learning.
No other manager in any other country
ever equaled Irving as a producer of drama.
He was probably the best stage manager
III the WOrlQ, ana IN many OF MS parts was
incompatible.
Sir Henry Irving was taken Ill last Feb
ruary, when he was playing at the Theater
Royal Wolverhampton. and was laid up
said that he had caught severe chill and
needed rest and quiet. The spring tour
was abandoned and the company returned
to London.
Sir Henry made large sums of money In
America and in his English tours, but was
not a rich man. His expenses were very
heavy, and he was most generous In his
payments of salaries. When any of the
members of his companies were sick, they
always got their salaries. His recent Lon
don productions were not financially sue
cessful.
His Birth and Early Life.
! Sir Henry Irving came of a Somerset fam
lily of the prosaic name Of Brodribb, and he
was born in Keinton- Vaudeville, near Glas-
tonbury, on February 9, 1S3s-sixty-seven
years ago. The boy was christened John
Henry. Irving was the name he chose when
he essayed a hating first appearance on
the stage. and later he adopted the name
Henry Irving as his own, and by 1t was
known during all his well-known dramatic
career.
His parents were extremely poor His
father died when Henry was yet small
boy and his mother whose maiden name
was Bohemia. took him back to her native
Cornwall. where, In the town of st. Ives.
he was reared by his Aunt Pemberthy.
Small opportunities for education came to
| the boy and when he later obtained chance
to attend the school of Dr. Pinches, in Lom-
bard street, London, the fact that he had
not neglected to improve such opportunities
as had come to him was speedily shown.
for he obtained prominent place In. classes
of boys of his own age.
In the school exhibitions given were
shown the first evidences of that histrionic
talent that in the future years was to make
Irving one of the most famed men of the
world.
He was distinguished for his dramatic
but stilted elocution, and Cresswell, an old
retired actor who delighted in hearing the
boy recite, confidently prophesied a the
atrical career for him.
He married and his son, Henry Irving.
jr., born in 1870, Is now a noted actor,
though he has been overshadowed by his
illustrious father.
Sir Henry's last appearance In Washing
ton was made the week of Monday, Decem-
Der %. 1903, at the National Theater, pre-
senting Waterloo" The Bells" Louis
XII Dante and THE Merchant OF Ven
ice."