Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-17
MEMORIES OF SIR HENRY IRVING
Omcer EdEehiII n Fellow TOwnsman
and Met Great Actor
in Omaha.

Among the few who had the honor of
being received and welcomed by the great
English actor, the late Sir Henry Irving,
during his last tour of the United States,
was officer William Edgehill of the Omaha
police force. Last night officer Edgehll
told of that experience and others in the
life Of the great actor with much pleasure
and feeling.
Il was "A very small boy when John
Henry Broadrib left our little country
town to make the beginning of his career
in London, but l can remember well the
little stone house, third door from the
inn, where his parents lived They were
humble people, but earnest and thrifty.
They, as most OF the families of Keinton
Mandervlle. Somerset, England, earned
their livelihood in the great and famous
stone quarries of Keinton. Here Irving
lived until he was II years old. When
became old enough to take interest in ma
tlonal matters Irving had already made
name for himself in the Lyceum thea
ter in London Then my father used to
tell me about the boyhood of Irving, and
hold him up as a model for me. l think
the English people make more of boys
who rise to greatness than Americans do.
At all events the people Of Keinton Man
Irving from among them.
According to my. fathers stories, Irv-
ing was never like the usual rough and
tumble lad. From his earliest childhood
he was serious and studious. How much
of this he told for the good effect it would
have on my waywardness I cannot say,
but at all events, Irving began his life
work at an age when other boys think
of nothing but play. How he lived during
those first years in London the people OF
Keinton may never know, but they do
know that he was dependent on his own
resources. His parents were too poor to
offer much aid. The boy was not a run
away and always kept in touch with his
parents. He always wanted to be an
, actor.
I'VE often talked of his first years of
success, and the kindness of his patron,
Lady Burdette Coutts, who out of her
generous interest engaged box at the
Lyceum theater by the year. paying Ell, 900
sterling annually. This she did for five or
more years until the actor had become a
great man. She was always fond of him
and we liked her for II. Once she gave
Irving two collies, and the actor was fond
of dogs. A gift of that kind from noble
woman is never forgotten in England. As
/ long as there is a Kenton. they will tell
of Irving and the beautiful collies Many
of the people of Keinton saw them. When
John Henry Broadrib became Sir Henry
Irving by the graciousness of Queen Vic
: toria, the pride of the Keinton people could
not be measured.
/ Before this time my father had moved
! from Keinton Manderville to Wheat Hill
and l never saw Irving again until / met
him here in Omaha in 1902.
/ "He treated me very kindly, thought
! He never forgot friend nor refused a
! boon to a needy man. He might have had
! a great fortune If he had saved 1t, but
understand he gave most Of 1t away. He
was very much pleased when introduced
myself and told me that he remembered
my father we'll. We think more of these
recognitions. you know, and naturally
was very much delighted. He shook hands
! with me three times when we had visited
for an hour and told me that If / wished
l might accompany the troup, IL he evei
visited America again. thought that wal
a remarkable offer and a sign of the kind
ness he felt for the people of his NATIVE
! town"