TLLUSTRALLED

Irving to produce an original play in blank verse which he had written !

During our drive to the theatre he told me many things of interest. On the question as to whether Mr. Irving thought a school of acting necessary, he said that one could never make an actor. You can teach him clocution, technique, but there is no making an actor. Lven technique is a lifelong study. The fashions in hand-shaking change cvery day. He studies his parts cverywhere ;5 many of the characters we arc seceing to-day he had within his mind ycars ago, and they have been developing and growing cver since. Then, after ycars of playing, there 1s still - always some- thing to learn in a character.

Mr. Irving 1s onc of the few actors who, at the conclusion of a death scene in a tragedy, always fall forward. Mr. Irving has taken the opinion of physicians and many old soldiers on the subject, and 1t 15 the only natural way with those suddenly overtaken by death. When a man was shot his head fell on his breast, and the body always fell in the dircc- tion indicated by the head.

Just as we drove up

INTERIILILS. 287 and prits, including onc by Maclise, and Sdmund Kean by Clint. DPictures of the actor himscll are not wanting, and portraits ol Sarah Bernhardt, Lillen 'Terry, and John L. Toole are in prominent positions. The place of honour is a huge “ King Arthur ” chair. Here prinees, poets, and politicians, men ol learning and of all nationalitics, have sat.

But 1t 15 the table which fascinates one

most. A clean white linen cloth has been lud out, and cvery-

thing is ready for making up. Everything on the board is time-worn — the table itscll being a stage “prop,” and usc-

ful for banqueting scenes. ‘The looking-

glass—-ticd together with string- has heen - use for somcthing hke twenty years: the wicker - basket, which contains the making-up materials, is of a good age. "There is quite a

to the private door of the theatre in Burleigh Street, Strand, I asked Mr. Irving if he had ever met the late Cardinal

Manning. He never had. Yet as Cardinal

Ilo/sev 1n ** Henry the Eighth,” when the actor smiles, his expression is the exact counter- part of that of the late Cardinal.

Fussie follows us in. Passing through a passage, which leads direet on to the stage, at the end we find some stairs. The walls just here are covered with Indian matting. A\ very few steps, and you have entered the dressing-room. It is just as cosy as it well can be. The walls are covered with pictures

THE PRIVATE DOOR OF THIE LYCEUM THEATRE.

varicty of puffs. Tiny saucers and plates are neatly arranged in order, containing various powders—prin- cipally o mixture of ycllow ochre and whi c, lor cach will help to stiggest the complexion ot Cardinal ] olsey, which is the character he will play to-night. The chair—- SE placed in front eeem OF the table— s old and rickety, but he who has just sat down keeps it for associa- tions’ sake, and 1t gives

more comfort than a Turkish ottoman.

[Fussie never stirs from the spot,

There was sull plenty of time to spare, as we had o reason for reaching the theatre

carly. Tt was to talk about dear Charles Mathews. Mr. Irving took down his picture.

It was given to him by Mrs. Mathews, and represents the electrical comedian at seventy- six, Its a striking likeness ; and the face