232

202

lives and memoirs—marvellous 1 thenr com- pleteness—of Iidmund Kean, Garrick, and Macready here also find their place.

The memorrs of Kean filled a quarter of the room when laid out on the floor. Mr. Irving bought up the mnumcrable sheets, cngravings, and what not; including priceless letters and the like, pasted cight and nine of them on top of one another on a single sheet. It was an unwicldy mass of hidden treasure, and Mr. Irving requested an obhiging fricnd to “amusc himsell” with sorting them out, whilst he was m America, On his return the thing was done.

Asmall case contains the russet boots which

cdmund Kean wore as Aw/lard 117, and the

sword he used as Corolanus. N\ companion cabincet 1s i the drawing-room. Once by one the treasures are taken out and talked about, Flere s David Garriek’s ring, which he gave to his brother on his death-bed. The Baroness Burdett-Coutts presented it to - Mr. Irving. T'wo watches are here. One s the cold timckeeper of John Philip Kemble, the other a silver one which formerly belonged to IEdwin Forest. As I held the latter inomy hand, Mr. Irving said quictly 1 —

“ Do you notice the time by it?”

It was thirty-cight minutes past five.

“’That watch stopped at the very moment Forest breathed his last!” said Mr. Irving, as he gently replaced it

But the treasures of the casc arc not exhausted. You can handle the silver dagger worn by lLord Byron, a pair of old sandals worn by LEdmund Kcan, a pin with a picture of Shakespeare, once the pro- perty of Garrick, an ivory tablet which belonged to

Charles Mathews. Do not overlook this Tittle purse of finc green silk thread

and silver band. It was found in the pocket of

LEdmund Kean when he dicd. ‘There was not a

sixpence in it! Tt was given to Henry Irving by Robert Browning.

There are some fine picturcs in the drawing-

\Wag. LY

17100 STRAND

M AGAZINY,

room. A bust ol Miss Iddlen Terry s i the Lar corner. The silver shicld which wis presented to John Kemble in Edinburgh hangs on the wall It is still surrounded with the wreath of Tnurel leaves—now faded

which My Trving had thrown to him the List night of the scason.

Then the name of Toole 1s mentioned.

it you want an example of friendships, “ Partners for Life,” Tink the names of Trving

and Toole together. Their companionship s Just as real as it is delightful. John 1, Toold’s delight s to surprise his friend Trving, On a table stands a fine silver-gilt trophy pre- sented to John Philip Kemble on his retire- ment from the stage. A\ part of its inscription reads s Bought from Robert Tait, Esq., and presented to Henry Trving, Esq., by his old friend J. 1. Toole, sth July, 1884.”

Scere Grafton Street. Zime - morning,

Iter Mr. "Toole, meeting Mr. Trving.

Mr. Toole: *“Pve found something that will interest you, Irving, to KNemble. by IFlaxman, look at 1t.”

A vase presented I'ime piece ol plate designed Come to Messrs. BDlanks and

RIS . e v, ! el TRe | N S f"ir"?’l"‘ Lo . RN Vi KN ‘o '

LIEOMUNLD KEANS FOO S SWORT ANLE FURSL.

Fronea Phote by Ellwtt & EFry.