LLLUSTRATLED INTERIIE IS, 288

he became a pupil at Dr. Pinches’ school, m Gceorge Yard, Lombard Street, a locality rendered famous from the fact that it was at a chop-house in this neighbourhood that Pick- wick partook of his chops and tomato saucc. It was at Dr. Pinches’ academy that young Irving astonished both teacher and taught with a recital of that somewhat weird though dramatic poem, “The Uncle.” Irom the school he went to the desk—to an Iast India house in Newgate Street, which is still i existence. Mr. Irving admits to learning poems and parts out of convenient books which he managed to hide between the pages of the ledger.

“I know, onc day,” said Mr. Irving, merrily, “ I started to learn a picce on my way to the o'fice. 1 couldn’t lcave it. Iivery moment when the mana- ger’'s cye was not on me, out came my book. T made up my mind to finish 1t that day. During my dinner hour I went and hid myself mn a huge wooden pack- ing-case. The hour went by, and I knew it not. It appears they were scarching all over for me, and 1t was just on six o’clock before they came across me 1in the box.”

He made his first appearance at the new Sunder- land Theatre on Scptember 29th, 1856, Then he worked hard in the provinces, often learning seven- tecen and cighteen parts a week. The early hours m the morning he passed with wet towels round his head, working at his lines, would astonish the most enthusi- astic college “cram.” From Sunderland he went to Iidinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester,

From o Photo. by]

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and Liverpool. Mr. Toole practically obtamed the first London engagement for Mr. Irving. They had met some time previously in Edinburgh. DBut a

small part in “Ivy Hall,” at the Princess’s, on September 24th, 1859, did not content the younz actor. Away he went to the

provinces again, working harder than ever, and not for another seven years did he return to London, as leading man at the St. JTames’s, playing Doricourt in “ The Belle’s Stratagem.” His marvellous character-acting as Dby Grant in “The Two Roses,” at the Vaudeville, is still remembered, and his ““little cheque ” rings in the cars of

many. He played Graunz for 3oo nights. He was not regarded as a tragic actor

then, and his magnificent performance of Jathias in “The Bells,” at. the Lyccum Theatre, under H. 1. Bateman, camec as a revelation, only to be intensified —after appearing as Charles 1., Eugene Aram, and Richelicw—when he appeared as Hamlet. He represented the Dane for 200 nights, the

THE STUDY. [ Lliait & Fry.

longest run of the play on record. More Shakespearcan and other work followed,

until Mrs. Bateman retired from the Lyceum. On Deccember 3oth, 1878, the ILyceum Theatre opened with “ Hamlet,” which was played another hundred mnights. On the memorable 3oth December, Miss Ellen Terry commenced her work at the Lyceum. The actor had now become a manager, and no management before or since has been attended by such brilliant results. His pro- ductions have been watched and waited for — “The Merchant of Venice,” “Twelflth Night,” “Much Ado About Nothing,”

“Vicar of Wakefield,” * Macbeth,” IFaust,” Vol. iv.—37.