The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-22
STORIES TOLD OF
 SIR HENRY IRVING His Generosity and Humor Re-
 called by Actors CRIED FOR HIS DEAD DOG Great Player Was Fond of Children and Many Instances of Ills Kind Illness Are Remembered.
 A Coincidence.

From the New York Ilmes
 Fuller Mellish. an English ac'oi' present a member of Richard Mansheio company, was for ten years associa'eu with Sir Henry Irving, and in the couiso of a conversation yesterday ne reeane0 many incidents of the great actors hie of a more intimate nature than are oroi- narily the subjects of publication.
 "It is perhaps only a coincidence ne said but nevertheless most peculiar one that Sir Henry Irving should nave died in tho town of Bradford, Tor IL was for a number of years place associated with superstition in his mind and in that of people who had been members of his company. Sir Henry had possibly played in Bradford in his early, struggling days, but after his Lyceum successes he did not include the town in his itinerary up to a time. about eight or nine years ago. when 1 happened to be in his company. We were then billed to play there in Sans Gene" Just before we started Sir Henry who was on visit to Lord Rosebery, was taken i'll, and the trouble developed into pneumonia. The company went to Bradford and the piece was given With an understudy as Napoleon, but Sir Henry
 
 tour Bradford was again billed, but, strangely enough, Sir Henry was again taken ill just prior to our departure for the place and could not accompany us. After that Bradford was cut from the route entirely. l am inclined to believe that it had never since been included up to the present season.
 MT. Mellishs boy Is named after Sir Henry. On the occasion of the childs christening the actor journeyed from Lon don to act as godfather and share in the general festivities of the occasion. Now the young son of the house of Mellish, 1t seems. was not agreeably impressed with the ceremonies, and persisted in setting up such squalling and believing that the minister who officiated had to pause several times Later, as Irving stepped into his brougham to drive home, he turned to his father and remarked:
 That's lusty young beggar, that boy of yours" Then, very confidentially 'but I say if you think of making actor of him you must teach him to wait for his cues"
 Could Appreciate Joke.
 That he could appreciate joke even when it was on himself is illustrated in the following incdent The company was playing at Bristol, and Sir Henry, living at Clifton, an old-fashioned health resort, about two miles away, was in the habit of taking morning constitutional along the suspension bridge at that place. then driving to the theatre for rehearsal.
 ''On the morning in question I was com ing along the bridge" said MT. Melish, ''and I met Sir Henry walking in the op- poste direction. It was bitter cold and the snow and sleet made the roadway almost impossible. Sir Henry greeted me pleasantly and then added very thought fully: Its tbawing. I think
 ''sNo, It's freezing Ireplied.
 T think you're wrong he said. The words were hardly out of his mouth when his feet slipped from under him and he came down with a thud. After I had helped him up and gathered in his hat and stick. which had been precipitated in the roadway. he turned to go. He had gone only about three steps when he suddenly turned around:
 Quite right: still freezing he said, without the suggestion of smile"
 < On one occasion the members of a pro- vincial theatrical company decided to teach lesson to member of the organ fzatlon who was noted for his bumptious- ness ani conceit The aggregation was playing In Aberdeen and ono of the wags wrote letter to the actor, signing Sir Henry's name to the document and tell Ing him he was wanted for production at the Lyceum. It was supposed that the conceted fellow would show the letter to his fellow players. and the intention was to tell him of the hoax, after he had boasted sufficiently. But in this case the actor made mention of the matter whatsoever Instead. he boarded train for London that night. The plotters were dumfounded. The joke had gone too far. Here was this actor taking a fourteen hour journey to London, only to be con fronted with disappointment at the end of his trip. As it happened however, Sir Henry allowed the visitor to come to his dressing room and read the letter He at once scented the joke. but without a word by way of disclosure asked the actor to name his salary and engaged him. The Interesting part of the anecdote from the actors standpoint. lies in the fact that the man made good" and for fourteen years remained in the Irving company, ultimately attaining a position of great prominence in the profession.
 Sir Henry in Tears.
 '"The only time I ever saw Sir Henry In tears" said MT. Meilsh, was when Pussy died in Manchester. Pussy was a foxterrier, bred In the stables of Lord Falmouth, who gave him to Ellen Terry. The little dog eventually came into IT, wings hands and for years was his con- stant companion. Old, lame and blind, he was so attached to his master that he would have nothing to do with any of the rest of us. Sir Henry had just finished performance of The Battle of Waterloo when some one brought word that Pussy had fallen down a trap and broken his neck The news was kept from Irving. but as was his custom, he called the dog as soon as the curtain was down. Everybody stood by, silently, but none of us could make up our minds to tell him the truth. Finally Irving saw that some thing was wrong. He looked from one to