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“The Cup,” “Othcllo ”—in which he alter- nated the parts of the Movr and Zage with lidwin Booth — and his last, “ Henry the Eighth,” which as a spectacle has ncver been equalled ; and now we arc promiscd “ King Lear” and lord lTennyson’s “ Becket.”

Three times has Mr. Trving, accompanied by Miss Ellen Terry and the Lyceum com- pany, crossed to America. As in this country so in America— his genius was instantancously

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Irrom a Photo. byl

recognised. Mr. William Winter, the eminent dramatic critic, said @ * He speaks to the soul and the imagination.” But little has been said here of Miss Iillen Terry’s share in the Lyccum triumphs. Mr. Irving impressed upon me the work she had done —but, 1 have a little note on my table as 1T write now. It bears the signaturc of 1llen Terry. lor further information sce a future number of this Magazine.

We spoke of many things that afternoon - - on matters merry and subjects solid. Mr. Irving is never happier than when telling a story against himsclf.

“Many years ago,” he said, 1 was playmg in Dublin. I was suddenly called upon to undertake a heavy part - the actor who was cast for it having been taken ill. In those days your gallery boy was a much greater conversationalist than he is now-—I mean, if a couple of gallery friends were separated, they thought nothing of holding a conversa

STRAND

SOME FAMOUS SWORDS AND STICKS.

MAGAZINE.

tion across the house whilst the play was in progress. Well, 1T made my first cntrance.

“ls that him ?-—ch?’ shouted one youth to another.

““No,” came the reply, * them is the young man’s clothzs ; they’ll shove him out later on !’

The drift of this little ‘story will be under- stood.

“Have T ever had any accidents?

Only

ONe Serious one. It was 1n the frst run of ‘Hamlct.” The sword slipped out of Laertes hand and cut

me near the eye. A dear friend of mine, Dr. George

Critchett, was """" in front; he came round and stopped the

bleeding Dby twelve hours” ap- plication of icc. I'encing ? You saw my foils downstairs on the table? 1 never practisc now, for 1f once learnt the art 1s

)

mwiont & Iy, never forgotten. I took my first lessons from a man named Shury, In

Chancery Lane, afterwards from Roland,

in Iidinburgh, and also from McTurk at Angelo’s. Have T cver forgotten my

part? Yes, T have. Tt is a curious thing that the more perfect you are in a part, the more likely you are to ‘stick” It is often the case after you have been playing the same character for a hundred or more nights. The worst part of it 1s that when you want the prompter he 1s never there.

“(Give me the word,” says the actor.

“ 4 \What word do you want?’ replies the prompter.”

The day was going quickly. suddenly jumped up.

“alf-past six ! we must be off - luxcuse me whilst T just write a line. Look at that,” passing me a letter ; it came this morning. [ get many more like 1t.”

It was a letter from a footman inviting Mr

Mr. Irving