Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1905. Death of a Great Actor.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3586, 17 October 1905, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1905. Death of a Great Actor.

HoviE cables report the death ot perhaps the greatest actor that fever stepped before the gaze of a British audience—Sir Henry Irving. Death war. caused by syncope, after a performance at Bradford 1 Fof almost halt a centrify Sir Henry’s name has beeil befbfe tile public, and although he travelled little outside of the British Isldri ttnd the United States, still his fame as an elocutionist and successful exponent of Shakespearian wdrks is kriowij throughout this length and Breadth tif tile British speaking world, and his name will be handed down to posterity as one of the foundation links of the stage. It was in February, IS3B, that |Jenry' Irving (Henry Brodribb to be correct) first observed the light rif day in Keintoll, a Somerset village. When only a lad attending school, his mai - vellous elocutionary powers became noticeable, arid the yduth received very Ciildgy fforn a member ot the dramatic profession. Ibis was evidently the first idea Irving had of appealing on the boards, and, altlldugh He left sclio'ol tO follow commercial and legal pursuits, Still the thoughts of the calling which made him so famous played their part, and young Henry eventually took to the stage in the 50’s. Until 1871, Irving's career is said to have been rather chequered ; but in that year he became a celebrity, in fact the idol of the drama-lover. It was as Mathias in “The Bells’’ at London Lyceum that he scored his first real success, ,and from that until his death Irving has claimed the admiration of one and all. Irving was the only actor living who could claim the distinction of knighthood, the departed hero receiving a title in 1895. He leaves two sons—both of whom have followed their father’s calling—who, with the 1 whole world, are left to mourn his loss.