The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-28
)SE UP CLlMPSES OF THE GREAT ACTOR-MANACERS
One Who Has Often "Played Horatio to Their Hamlet
Tells What Manner of Men They Were Both
On and Off the Stage

that OF Sir Henry Irving even, at ali
events In the English provinces. Bar.
rett wa a good business man and
knew the value Of publicity. He knew
his public too.
remember a characteristic little
incident that occurred just before Bar
retts last appearance at Liverpool. He
called me into his room and said. II
suppose you know that So-and-So has
booked Sir Henry Irving In opposition
to me at Liverpool. ! wish you would
go down there at once and do what
you can in my behalf. Spend what
you like, OF course. Moneys no Oh.
ject."
! went and did what I could, and as
luck would have It this engagement
turned out a triumph for Wilson Bar
rett. the n week, owing to the gen.
eral demand. being extended 4 another
and then to a third week. while Irving
went on to Manchester and announced
his forthcoming retirement. During
the first and only week Irving was
against Barrett they had an oppor-
tunity OF renewing their friendship,
which had been strained for some time,
and n night Barrett came down 10
the theatre very proud of the fact
that they had been sitting talking to-
gether till 5 In the morning.
Toward the end Of this visit I Liv-
erpool, the last engagement he ever
played, Barrett ran through all his
repertoire and at the end put up a
scratch production he had written and
vas anxious to try entitled Lucky
Durham" He asked me to watch :he
performance and the effect Il created
very carefully and give to him my
opinion after each act. The frst. al
though rather crude. went with con-
siderable eclat. for Barrett was a ia
vorite, and the curtain fell to ne
raised again and again to rounds Of
applause in which am not ashamed
to say l took part. Going behind the
Genes when the enthusiasm hai
abated ! met the happy author actor.
With a glow Of honest pride shining
through his makeup he said:
What do you think OF it?" in a one
hat admitted no criticism. which was
TO Barrett like a red rag to n bull.
Excellent" I replied.
What, only excellent he retorted
with a shrug Of disappointment as he
turned to his fellow actors for their
more eloquent appreciation or iat.ery.
Having satisfied himself Of the sue
cess Of this child Of his brain Barrett
| sent me to London to secure a thea
tire for the fall season. and in my quest
| went to Sir Charles wyndham. He 10
my surprise and Barrett's subsequent
Indignation said he rad read the re.
Sc, ,,l ,Lat -, ,ta hAsa q. "a -k aI
resemblance TO one he had produced a
score of years before. He gave me 4
manuscript of the latter to read. but !
personally failed To ind any striking
likcnes between the two works. Wynd-
nam stuck to his guns. however. and
the incident might have led 10 Soma
legal trouble. but Barrett died aft, r
n severe operation before the produv-
ton of his own play in London.
Whatever his limitations as ar art
list and actor. Barrett was "A good an !
great man. | shall never forget the
simple hearted but sincere way in
which he was mourned by thousands
OF his fellow countrymen.
After Wilson Barrett's death ! re-
celved a wire from Sir Henry Irving,
who was then nj Tintagel. In Corn
wall, and shortly afterward was en-
gagged all the yea round by him, re-
naming with him until his death,
Personally Irving had been very fond
Of Barrett in spite OF the latter's at
tempt in years gone by to rival him
in London. and on my meeting witt,
Irving al Drury Lane. where he wos
rehearsins prior to the start OF his
first farewell tour. he asked me to tell
him about Barrett's death.
"Ha," he said in his emphatic way
they murdered him, they murdered
him"
Irving had a greatness apart from hi