The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1906-01-06
A REHEARSAL wlrA IRVING.
A Member of His Lyeeum Company
Tells Of HIn Great Kindness.

Tells Of HlA GFsag kindness.
Writing OF Irving, while she was a
member Of the London Lyeeum com
pany, Gertrude Norman. in the Thea
ter Magazine, says:
"Sir Henry always impressed one,
despite his capabilities for long hours
and days OF vigorous work, as being
a fragile and delicate man, one who
had suffered great physical pain In
the earnest battle of life. When he
appeared in the early morning to his
already gathered company. coming
quietly and unObtruslvely around the
corner Of some jutting wing. the most
prosaic of US all felt . change and
stimulus in the atmosphere. II was
as II some grave and gentle sage or
philosopher had come to speak to his
waiting followers.
Immediately one was aware that
here was a man OF the profoundesi
intellectual attainments, containing In
that lofty brain 50 many brilliant quail
ites and gifts that there was little
doubt that whatever branch Of art
literature, science or politics he had
chosen for his medium OF expression,
In any enc Of them he must have poig
nantIy succeeded. when at rehearsal "a
was alert. tense. all.seeing and com,
prehenslys, but In private life usually
grave, dreamy. absent-mlnded. But he
could be. as many have attesesd, thu
most animated and genial OF takers,
the best and wittiest OF stsry tellers.
Nevertheless, one could never In his
presence lose Aiwht Of the fact that hIa
art was TO him an all-absorbing monu.
mental and worshiped passion.
The many unfOrgetAbls 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 waa
50 enthralllng that one never grew
weary, even though one often found
/ the day and night had passed anI
dawn was flooding the London sky and
streets.
Z
cially TO the younger folk; he seemed
TO comprehend sympathetically the
| great awe In which We all held him.
! Occasionally he was tribe shy. rs
II not quite sure what TO say ~ Us.
To all he continually showed the
sweetest tact and consideration. ever
striving to ind as topics OF converse
ton the subjects post interesting to
his colleague, friend or visitor.
His sense OF humog was both sly
and delicious, aud his criticisms %
faults Ia ones work were 80 dr!icately
made that one felt more a. n recslv.
ing a compliment than a correction.
Each and all worked for him wits
love. not fear. 50 Il Is little 70 be Won
dered that he attained harmonious re-
suits. / have seen him 20 over a
tiny scene or an infection from eight
patience nor that wonderful sense oi
courtesy which haloes the whole man
There are many stories told Of Sir
Henry's little eccentrelties. and all
are too well known to bear rcpetitlou
here. but one quaint little habit I 10
not recall having seen mentioned la
print-that Of his wearing Different
hats at rehearsal By these hats ~
could usually tell the mood ~ oul
great chic, and the length Of the re-
hearsal before u.s.
When he appeared IN smart tail
silk hat. We know It meant a brIei
hour or sos work n he wore n high
stiR hat, such az Mr. DAILY useI I,
wear. Il meant several hours OF earn
est labor. but II he appeared or calIet
for a battered. shapeirss soft and yerl
old brown hat, We knew that Il mean
an Intense and arduous day II THU
last adornment were hnng IN alto
gether. then We, knew irrpyocably 4
was a sign Of all day and almost al
tho night within the walls Of the the