New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-15
HENRY IRVING.
AN APPRECIATION

N the death Of Henry Irving the stage has lost
Us most ilustr1ous figure and the world has lost
| great benefactor. He has died in the fulness Of
| artstc achievement and at the summit OF a SPOT
| less and splendid renowu- He in his sixty
| eighth year and his career Of public service ex-
| tended over nearly half century. He began poor
| and IN a humble position. and ~ force OF char.
ecter, integrity Of purpose incessant industry
noeucy TO duty. and the charm Of genius he raised
himself 10 splendid erainencs. and he raised the
dramatic profession Of which he was the most
sp1ouous representative, 70 dignity that 1t had
never before possessed. He was animated by the
MODEST form OF human an1bitton-the wish and
purpose to make his generation better and hap
pier by exceng an interpreter OF human nat
ure' minister Of beauty and a guide to the
spiritual life For thirty years he held the destiny
OF the English stage IN the hollow Of his hand
ana during that time he presented only the greatest
SUBJECTS and presented them only in the greatest
manner. He touched nothing base His energy
was tremendous and his activity never made a
pause. He was not only the manager Of r. theatre
but he was in every part Of the world that he
visited the manager Of intellect. and his influence
was felt all along the line Of social life He left
nothing to chance. He scrupulousy regarded as
well the slightest detail the grandest design He
not only accomplished a benefit and an evolution
IN the painting of scenery and the setting and
designing Of plays, but he revived and maintained
the natural method OF acting-the method that
makes representation the chief object Of dramatic
art His personal charm was so great that almost
all OF the younger actors of his time became in
voluntarily innitators Of his stye-reproducing his
peculiarites, not. his powers Those peculartdes
totJen enormously designated "nannertsms'') were
natural to him. and. in him they were delightful
His devotion to the theatre as an instrument of
human advancement and happiness religious
IN its feeling and passionate in its sincerity. He
exemplifed the dignity of his profession and he
was never weary Of asserting its cause. He was
great actor-certainy the greatest actor of his
tme-and so far the printed records OF the stage
enable d studious observer Judge he the
greatest actor that lived. for there IS no
record OF any man who has played so many and
such widely contrasted parts of the highest order
and played them all equally well. His range In
cluded Hamlet and Jingle Macbeth and Don
Qutxote; King Lear (Which he considered his best
performance and Robert Macaire; DR.. Primrose.
the Vicar Of Wakefield. and King Louis XI; Me
phistopheles and Benedict: Lesurques and DUbosc;
Shylock and Doricourt; Beckett and Corpora!
Brewster. and Matthias in The Bells part in
which other actor could come within thou
sand miles Of him. q fabric of his wonderful
imagination. into which he poured all the fire Of
his generous nature and liberated the finest re-
serves of his soul It was not merely the element
OF variety which he aimed. the easy expedient
Of frequent change Of bill; he acted every part.
every fibre OF it vital and the whole per-
sonality true, His interest IN humanity was as
wide the human mind reach and as deep as /
the human heart can feel
In his character he combined great wisdom with |
great simplicity. His whole being dominated [
by intellect, but his sympathy extended to every
suffering creature upon earth and In practical |
charity his ulunihcence was boundless. In many /
ways he wps a lonely man-isoIated in part by |
mental supremacy, in part by temperament. and in /
part by circumstances Of cruel personal experience
but he loved to make others happy. and he gaze6
with eyes Of benevoIence all the wide pageantry
and pathos of this mortal scene. No mind moro |
noble heart tender. spirit more pure |
and gentle ever came into this world. Henry Irving
lived TO bless mankind, and in his death-which is |
a universal bereavement leaves immortal /
memory Of genius and goodness and an immortal /
example Of all that Is heroic and beautiful IN the
conduct Of LIFE WILLIAM WINTER
Los Angeles, Oct a. 1865