Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1905-10-18
HENRY IRVING dies.
DISTINGUISHED ACTOR PASSED
AWAY At BRADFORD, ENGLAND.
English Speaking Stage Suffers Great
Loss by His Death-Foremost Actor
Of His Time-Family Desires Fun.
eral Arrangements to Be Simple as
Possible.

The English speaking world has suf-
fered an irreparable loss by the sud-
den death recently 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 series of farewell per-
formances in the English provinces.
and last week was playing an engage
ment at Bradford, appearing in several
favorite roles.
After the performance Friday night
Sir Henry returned to the hotel, reach
ing his rooms at 1880 o'clock, when it
was observed that he was in great
pain. Physicians were Immediately
summoned, but before they could ar.
rive Sir Henry was seized with an at.
tack of syncope and expired within
a few minutes, without having uttered
a word, in the presence of Bran Stock
er, who had been his immediate man
ager for many years, and few other
intimate friends. The event caused
the greatest pain and CONSERVATION
among the members Of the company.
Believed In Municipal Theater.
To 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 ad.
dress 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
not one of those present had the slight
est idea that the end would come so
soon. He proceeded in his reply to elo-
Quently advocate the establishment Of
theaters by municipalities, because"
he said, II believe that by this means
the standard of the true drama, as
distinguished from miscellaneous en-
tertainments would be successfully up
held.
Money is spent like water for all
kinds of philanthropic educational OBJ
jects," he continued, "but who among
you ever dream of endowing the the
ater? l am sure the time when you
will regard the theater as necessary to
a liberal education and be prepared to
consider any reasonable suggestions
for the extension Of it's legitimate in
fuence Is not far distant. 1t may be
that in years to come our countrymen
will scarcely understand how in our
times SO potent an instrument for good
or i'll as the stage was left entirely out
side the sphere of public administra-
tiOn."
Sir Henry's last appearance in Lon.
don was made last summer, following
his serious illness, when the enthusi-
asm at the nightly runs accorded him
in the historic Drury Lane theater will
long be remembered. Since then he
has been engaged in touring the prov
inces and contemplated another visit
to the United States.
Seldom has the death of a public
man in England called out such uni
versal expression Of sorrow as has
followed the trigically sudden demise
of Sir Henry Irving at Brandford. Ap-
precautions, histories Of his career and
stories of his many sided activities fill
the newspapers.
His last words on the stage as the
curtain was rung down on the death
of Beckett, Unto Thy hands, o Lord,
into Thy hands," were the last he ut
tered, as he never spoke after his COL
lapse in the hall of the hotel where
he died.
Flags at Half Mast.
Flags are halfmasted over the town
hall and other public buildings at
Bradford. No definite funeral arrange
ments have been made but the family
is understood to desire to have them
as simple as possible.
That the body of Sir Henry Irving
should find resting place in West
minister abbey appears to be very
general desire.