Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-14
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
LONDON, Oct 13.-The English
speaking world has suffered an irrep-
arabic loss by the sudden death to-
night of Sir Henry Irving, who was uni
versally regarded as the most represen-
tative English actor of contemporary
times.
Sir Henry died literally in the har-
ness. He was giving series of fare
we'll performances in the English prov
inces and this week was playing an en-
gagement at Bradford, appearing IN
several favorite roles. Thursday he
presented "King Renes Daughter" and
1.-THE Bells" and seemed to be in ex-
cellent health, taking the exhaust1ng
part of Matthias in the latter play with
all the Vigor of youth. Tonight Defore
an enthusiastic audience he portrayed
one of his most Enthusiastically intel
lectual 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 11:3O o'clock, when it was observed
that he was in great pain. Physicians
were Immediately summoned but be-
fore they could arrive Sir Henry was
seized with an attack of syncope and
expired within a few minutes, without
having uttered a word, in the presence
of Bran Stocker, who had been his
Immediate manager for many years,
and few other intimate friends. The
event caused the greatest pain and con-
sternation among the members of the
company.
The Associated Press tonight received
the following telegram from Mr..
Stocker:
Every terrible news. Sir Henry Irv-
ing had an attack of syncope after re-
turning from the theater to the hotel
tonight and died suddenly"
Worked to the Last
To the last moment of his life 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 him
self as one the sands of whose life were
fast running out, but no one then pres
ent had the slightest idea that the end
would come so soon He proceeded in
his reply to advocate eloquently the es-
tablishment of theaters by municipali-
ties, "because," he said, "I believe that
by this means the standard of the true
drama, as distinguished from miscel-
laneous entertainments, will be success
fully upheld"
Money is spent like water for all
kinds of philanthropic and educational
Objects" he continued, "but who among
you ever dreams of endowing the thea
ter? I am sure the time will come
when you will regard the theater as
necessary to liberal education and be
prepared to consider any reasonable
suggestions for the extension of its
legitimate influence. 1t may be that in
years to come our countrymen will
scarcely understand how in our times
so potent an instrument of good or i'll
as the stage was left entirely outside
the sphere of public administration"
Sir Henrys last appearance in Lon
don was made last summer, following
his serious illness, when the enthusiasm
at the nightly runs accorded him will
long be remembered. Since then he has
been engaged in touring the provinces
and contemplated another visit to the
United States.
Sketch of Irving's Life
Sir Henry Irving was born near
Glastonbury, England, February 6, 1888.
He was for time a clerk in London,
but adopted the theatrical profession in
1856, his first appearance being at
Sunderland He appeared for the first
time in London at the Princess theater
in 1859, after which he went to Man
chester, where he remained for five or
six years, but returned to London In
1866, where his first marked success
was as Digby Grant in Albery's 1.-TWO
Roses" In 1870. This was followed by
his powerful impersonation of Matthias
in "The Bells" His next noteworthy
parts were Charles I, Eugene Aram and
in the plays so named In
1874, at the Lyceum theater, he sus-
tanned the part of Hamlet so success
fully as to raise himself to the first
place among English actors. His
chief Shakespearean parts were Mac |
beth, Othello, Shylock and Richard the
Third.
In 1878 he leased the Lyceum theater |
for himself and has since put on the
stage in excellent style "Othello," |
Merchant Of Venice" much Ado