Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-10-14
SIR HENRY IRVING IS DEAD
Distinguished Actor Passes Away Sud
denly At Bradford, England.
HAD JUST RETURNED FROM THtk1tR
lie Played last Night as Usual and
Was selsed with syncOpe Imme-
diateIy After Reaching
Hotel.

LONDON. Oct. lS.-The English speaking
world has suffered an Irreparable loss by
the sudden death tonight OF Sir Henry
Irving, who was universally regarded as
the most representative English actor of
contemporary times.
Sir Henry died literally in harness. He
was giving a series OF farewell perform
ances In the English provinces and this
week was playing an engagement at Brad
! ford, appearing in several favorite roles
Thursday he presented king Rene's
Daughter" and THE Bells" and seemed
to be in excellent health, taking the ex-
hausting part Of Matthias in the latter
play with all the vigor OF youth Tonight
before an enthusiastic audience he por-
trayed one Of his most Enthusiastically
intellectual parts the title role in his own
stage adaptation OF Lord Tennyson's
Beckett" with marked success.
After the performance Sir Henry re-
turned to the hotel, reaching his rooms at
1870 o'clock, when II was observed that
he was In great pain. Physicians were inn
mediately summoned. but before they could
arrive Sir Henry was seized with an at
tack Of syncope and expired within few
minutes, without having uttered word
| in the presence OF Bran Stoker, who had
been his immediate manager for many
years. and a few other intimate friends
/ The event caused the greatest pain an6
CONSERVATION among the members Of the
, company.
Advocated Endowed Theaters.
The last moment of his life Sir Henry
! Irving's heart was in the work to which he
had devoted his career-the raising OF the
standard OF his art. on Wednesday he was
entertained at luncheon in the Bradford
town hall. at which the mayor presented
him an address from his admirers.
In replying to the address. Sir Henry
| spoke Of himself as one, the sands OF
whose life were fast running out, but no
one then present had the slightest Idea
that the end would come so soon. He
proceeded in his reply to eloquently adVo-
cate the establishment OF theaters by
municipalities land because" he said, 81
believe that by this means the standard OF
| the true drama as distinguished from
miscellaneous entertainments would be sue
oessfully upheld.
| money is spent like water for all kinds
of philanthropic and educational objects, ="
he continued, but who amongst you ever
dreams of endowing the theater. am
sure the time will come when you will
regard the theater necessary as to liberal
education and be prepared to consider any
reasonable suggestions for the extension
OF its legitimate influence.
Sir Henry's last appearances in London
were made last summer, following his seri-
| Gus Illness, when the enthusiasm at the
nightly receptions accorded him in the
| historic Drury Lane theater will long be
remembered. Since then he has been en-
gagged in touring the provinces and con-
templated another visit to the United
States.
Expected to visit America Again.
WASHINGTON, Oct 1S.-"sir Henry Irv-
ing was looking forward with much en-
thusiasm to his coming tour of the United
States" said Charles Frohman, his Ameri-
can manager, in speaking of the distin-
guished actor tonight. HE liked the Amer
leans" continued Mr.. Frohman, "and he
had many friends among them. 1t was
Mr.. Irving's intention to come to America
two months in advance of the opening OF
his season in the latter part Of next Oc-
tober and just spend the time visiting
among them. His season was to cover q
period OF twenty playing weeks, extending
over a large part of the United States
and was to terminate at the Knickerbocker
theateF in New York. 1t was to be Mr.
Irving's farewell appearance in America
and ne wanted the opportunity to make
his adieus to the American people. Follow
ing his last appearance in New York. about
February /, he was TO be entertained at 8
breakfast to which we'll known people from
New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Wash,
ington and other cities were to be invited
He then expected to sail for England"
Mr.. Frohman was Witnessing w. H
Cranes production here of the American
Lord" when he was informed of the death
of Sir Henry. THE news is a great SHOCK
to me-" said Mr.. Frohman. 81 have known
Sir Henry very we'll for a long time anc
the last three tours of the United States
which he has made have been under my
direction. Previous TO those tours Sir
Henry had made six tours in the United
States, the first running back twenty Ave
years or more. when he came here under
the management of Henry Abbey. In al
he has been to the United States nine
times. His last visit was during the season
of 1904, when he opened in the production
of Dante" ar the Broadway theater In
New York City, and afterwards played in
repertoire in other parts of the country"
Mr.. Frohman spoke with much feeling OF
Mr.. Irvings great regard and respect for
President Roosevelt and Of the late Secre-
tary Hay, and OF his earnest desire IA
4 again visit the limited Etatea