The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-01-05
REHEARSAL WITH IRVING.
A Member of His Lyceum
Tells of His Great Kindness

A REHEARSAL WI"
A Member of His Lyceum
Tell. of His Great Kindness
Writing of Irving, while she was d
member of the London Lycenm coln
pany, Gertrude Norman, in the Inca
ter Magazine, says:
"Sir Henry always impressed one'
despite his capabilities for long noui'
and days Of vigorous work. as Delhs
a fragile and delicate man, one WIZ
had suffered great physical pain ia
the earnest battle of life. When ne
appeared in the early morning to MS
already gathered company, coming
quietly and unobtrusively around the
corner of some jutting wing. the most
.prosaic of us all felt a change ana
stimulus in the atmosphere. II was
as II some grave and gentle sage OF
philosopher had come to speak to nls
waiting followers.
Immediately one was aware that
here was q man Of the profoundeS'
Intellectual attainments, containing IN
that lofty brain so many brilliant quai
tiles and gifts that there was little
doubt that whatever branch OF art
literature, science or politics he mao
chosen for his medium of expression,
in any one of them he must have pols
nantiy succeeded. When at rehearsal ne
was alert, tense, all-seeing and com
prehensive, but in private life usually
grave, dreamy, absent-minded. But he
could be, as many have attested. the
most animated and genial Of takers,
the best and wittiest Of story tellers.
Nevertheless, one could never In his
presence lose sight Of the fact that his
art was to him an all-absorbing monu'
mental and worshiped passion.
The many unforgetable productions
which evolved from under his master
hand were rehearsed by himself and
Miss Terry with the utmost ardent
love. The rehearsals attendant on
these lasted many weeks, but the enor-
dous interest attached to them was
SO enthralling that one never grew
weary, even though one often found
the day and night had passed and
dawn was flooding the London sky and
streets.
Irving was benignly gentle, espe-
cially to the younger folk; he seemed
to comprehend sympathetically the
great awe in which we all held him.
Occasionally he was a tribe shy, as
If not quite sure what to say to us.
To all he continually showed the
sweetest tact and consideration, ever
striving to find as topics of CONVERSE
ton the subjects most interesting to
his colleague, friend or visitor.
His sense of humor was both sly
and delicious, and his criticisms of
faults in ones work were so delicately
made that one felt more as If receiv-
Ing a compliment than a correction.
Each and all worked for him with
love, not fear, so it is little to be'won-
dered that he attained harmonious re-
suits. l have seen him go over a
tiny scene or an infection from eight
cen to twenty times, never losing his
patience nor that wonderful sense of
courtesy which haloes the whole man.
There are many stories told of Sir
Henry's little eccentricities, and all
are too well known to bear repetition
here, but one quaint little habit l do
not recall having seen mentioned in
print-that of his wearing different
hats at rehearsal. By these hats we
could usually tell the mood of our
great chic. and the length Of the re-
hearsal before US.
when he appeared in 4 smart, tall,
silk hat, we knew it meant 4 brief
hour or SOS work. II he wore a high,
stin hat, such as Mr.. DAILY used to
wear, it meant several hours of earn.
est labor, but II he appeared or called
for battered, shapeless, soft and very
old brown hat, we knew that it meant
an intense and arduous day. If this
last adornment were flung Off alto
gether. then We knew irrevocably it
was 4 sign of all day and almost all
the night within the walls Of the the.
tAvU