The San Francisco call., 1906-06-22
IRV|NG'S SONS
GIVE UP Coin
Turn 1t Over to Their Mother
TO Hide the Family
Skeleton.
Actors Widow Had Made
Plans TO Bring
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL.

LONDON, June 21-Lawrence and
Harry Irving, the sons of the late Sir
Henry Irving, have presented their
mother, Lady Irving, with a life inter-
est in the $4,000 each received under
Sir Henry's viii. This generous action
has prevented n lawsuit which would
have brought to light the family skel-
eton that lurked in the Irving house
hold
Sir Henry Irving's will made no pro-
vision whatever for his widow. Ever
since it became known that he had en-
tirely ignored her in the disposal of
his fortune feeling has arisen, even
among his personal, friends, that as a
man, setting aside all considera tions
of his fame as an actor, he hardly mer-
tied the high esteem in which he was
generally held.
That he and his wife were ill-mated
had been long matter of common
knowledge but that lamentable fact,
it is held, even among the smart set,
which is disposed to view marital obli-
cations lightly, did not justify him in
leaving her practically destitute. How
ever much she may have failed to real
ize his expectations a wife, and
probably he disappointed her still more
las husband, she was the mother of
his sons.
With what was realized from the
sale of his effects, the estate left by
Sir Henry Irving amounted to 500, 900.
OF this sum, in accordance with his
will, one-half was divided between his
two sons. The remaining $4,000 went
to Mrs. Aria, a well-known fashion
Journalist, whose contributions are in
great demand among publications de-
voted to feminine interests and pro-
vide her with a comfortable living. 1t
was not generally known that she oc-
cupfed so strong a place in the actor
knights affections. After her death
the principal goes to her daughter, at
present a mere child
Had Sir Henry made such a generous
bequest to. Ellen Terry, who for so
many years shared his theatrical tri-
umphs, it would have aroused far less
comment
The artist is rarely business man
and It is due to this, probably that in
making his will Sir Henry disregarded
the provisions of the English law un-
! der which a mans widow is entitled to
her dover rights in his estate unless
he has previously made substantial
settlement upon her. In Sir Henry Ir-
! Wings case this was not done. Lady
Irving was, therefore, in a position to
dispute the will. She was about to
bring the suit when her sons settled
the matter out of court by transferring
their inheritance to her and thus
spared their fathers memory the dis
closures which would have resulted
| from legal contest.
OF course Lady Irving had no. tinten-
tion of calling in question the right of
her sons to the legacies left them by
/ their father. 1t was the bequest of
half of his fortune to a woman who
had no legal claims upon him, that she
wished to assail. Had the matter been
brought to trial there can be no ques-
tion that Mrs. Aria would have had 10
relinquish considerable portion of
her $4,000. Perhaps things nave
turned out as she had foreseen. She
retains the money, and the sons sacri-
fee their inheritance to prevent the
exposure of the family skeleton. Thor
action is none the less creditable to
them because they have inherited from
their father such abundance of dra-
matte talent that they can make their
way in the world without -the help of
any of his money.
DEALERS BUNKO YANKEES.
It is a curious fact that the best
business man in the world, the Ameri-
can, is yet the one who is most easily
duped when any question of fine art is
involved. Americans may not know it.
but each season they represent mines
Of gold to English art dealers, who for
their coming, lay in enormous stores
u taxed pictures Dy q lne yoiuN NlldStSrSs
imitation china and brummagem bric-
a-brac.
! A true story is going the rounds Just
now of how j. Pierpont Morgan went
! into famous Bond street establish
ment and saw there what purported TO
be magnificent Louis XVI drawing
room suite in pale blue and gold. He
was much impressed with 1T. and after
some conversation bargain was
! struck for $4,000 In good time the
| furniture was sent home. and Mr.. Nor
gan asked his old friend, Mr.. SPIEL
man, one of the greatest authorities
on everything that appertains to art
to come and look alt the wonderful
suite"
he came and after brief examina-
tion said to Mr.. Morgan. My dear sir,
you have been done. The thing is mod
ern-absolutely So" Next morning Mr..
Morgan went hack to the Bond street