GRAND BANQUET TO MR IRVING THE ACTOR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1739, 28 August 1883, Page 4

GRAND BANQUET TO MR IRVING THE ACTOR.

In view ot his approaching departure from England to mane a professional tour in the United .States, Mr Irving was entertained afc dinner in St James's Hall, London, ou the 4th July, Lord Coleridge presiding. The company numbered nearly tViO, and the galleries were occupied by ladies. In the course of the evening, and between the speeches, Mr Sims Reeves, Mr Stanley, and Madame Antoinette Sterling sang peveial songs. The President read letters regretting inability to attend the banquet fiom the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of Durham, and Mr Gladstone. The usual lo.val toasts ha\ing been honoured, Lord Coleridge iosc to propose "The American Republic and the President of the United States." He said : — My Lords and Gentlemen, --We are about, as you know, to send our honotned guest, Mr living, upon a torn thioughmit the great Republic of Anieuea, md we ba\e invited him to dmnei upon the Ifli of July, the day, now moie than 100 years ago, when that great Republic broke away fiom this country and njee ted the joke which the Mimsteis of George 111. attempted to impose on the necks of free men. I hope it is not an unbecoming, and I hope it is not an unwelcome, tribute to a »ie.it and fiieiully nation that on this its biithday, we should drink its health (eheeis), a biithday which, like most biithdays, was full of pain and sou ow to its mother, but of pain and sorrow that have long since passed away to be followed by feelings of unmingled pride in the magnificence of the offspring, and in the yet moie magnificient development which the future will undoubtedly reveal (cheeis). We know that that great nation has at its head an elected President— a man who for the time he fills that office is more powerful than most despotic monarchs, because he represents the n resistible will of the gie.it nation which has elected him (cheeis) ; the chief for the time of a vast Emjlish-Hpenking people, the friend of our Son-cmi^i), the successor of a man whose life was puie, whose aims were noble, and whose death bound together in the ties of a common honour and a common sorrow the hearts of America and England (chceis). I give you " The Ameiican Republic and the President of the United States." The toast was dtiink with gieat heartiness. The Chahniau said i 1 haw now to ask you to drink the toast for the puipose of dunking whn h Mo have iwenibled here this e\cninu' (cheeis). The diamatistis dead and .ilto«ethei dumb if lie cannot find :in actor to bieathe life into the creations of bib biain, and make them live and walk upon the f>tagc~ ( cheeis)— and the great aclor shaiea in the earthly uumoit.ility of the diamatist which he so much helps to cieafce (cheero). It is certainly tine that the names of the aieat actois li\e as long as the names of gieat di.uuat'sts. But moie than that, the guniui of a fjn'at actor lifts him into absolute equality with the Hist peisonages of lib. time (loud cheers) (Jainck was the chosen fiiend of Mr BurUe and Dr. .lohnsuii, Kemble lived in luliuiat y with Sir Walfcei Scott and with the King, and Mr Irving is the fiiend of this gieat couutiy (loud cheers). He is the last ot a hbt of great names, and wlut is tiue of actous is of course true of actics&cs too (loud cheers). England iiiis had a succession of great accesses of whom any nation might be proud— (cheoiij)- and if on this occasion I select from tins "Dm am of Fair Women" one name— -that of Ellen Tel ry — (piolongcd and euthabiastic cheuia)— it is not that I fmpefc Mi&Siddons, oi ~M'm O'Xeill, or Mis Glover, or Mis Stilling -(cheeri) -oi many other great women, but because Elli-n Teny h;is ljfcn associated t>o closely with man) of Mr living's sue< esses ; .md becaii.se to her yonius 1 am sine lie would be willing to say he owed not a little of some of his bnghtist tuumphs (chceis). Passing fiom that, let me ask what it i«, ml owe to Mi living? What i> it that has brought this magnificent y.ithomm togethfi '' (oheu^) We owe him avuv gicil debt of gi.ititudc foi the niagiiiliocnfc icpu suitalion of soipo ot the plays of Shaks/eie ,\ud of otliet authoM in a manner unexampled in om time (.clieois), Moi cover, as f.u as the example an. l the influence of one man can do it, ho has done mm h. using the ixpusMon of the Bishop of Dm ham, " to punfy and exalt the diamatic ait ' (piolong< d Jieciing). Wheievei Mr living's mflueiu'e h.is piudominated the whole tone and atmospjiL'icof the theatie has been umfoiinly high cind pine— (loud eheui 1 -) — and Ihe pieces which he has acted, and the way in which he ha? acted Mu-ni have always, been Mich th.it no husband need hesitate to take his wife, no mother need fear to take hei daughter to a thcitic where Mr Irving is the liiling spirit (loud applause). I believe that what has bi ought us here to-night besides tins is the recollection of the geneiosity and unselfishness of Mr Irving'* caiecr (cheeis). He has shown that generosity not only in the paits which he has played, but in the paits which he lias not plajcd. He has that lie did not eaie to be always the cential figure of a oiuiounding gioup, in which e\ci 3 one was to lie Miboidniated to the pnncipal actoi, and in which every actor was to be coii'-ideied as a foil to the leading eh.uaotev (eheeis). ll.' had been supeiioi to the sclhshiHs-b which now and again has been exhibited by some of our be<t actois, and h" has had his lewaul, as he ha-> collected lonnd him a set of men who I believe aic pioud of acting with him, and who feel that they act not only undci a. manager but under a fiiend (loud eheeis). I believe it is because we feel that these high aims have been puisucd by Mr living, and because we respect and admne his character, that this unexampled gathciing his come together (cheeis). We desne to say to him that we heaitily wish him success in all he undertakes (cheeis). It does not become me to — indeed 1 have not the skill or the power— ami} se critically Mr Irving'a genius ; all I can say is that I fiud gieat delignt in Mr It Mini's acting, and that I look with wonder and udmiiation upon the veisatility of his poweis. He seems to mo to be a thoiougli artist, and not only pla\s well in tiagedy, but in comedy and faice, and this it i.v less common than is yenei ally supposed. In conclusion, let me s.i} that as Aniciic.i dent Booth hcie to ib, so we send living I 1I 1 Aniei lea (loud eheeis). And .is living and England leceivcd Booth with open anub, so I am convinced will that gicat and genei oils unintiy lcceive oiu fn->t-i.itu and admiitible .ictoi (cheeis). At all events we tell Ameiica that we send her our best — (cheeis)— on this her bnthday. as a biithday present (cheeis). We send her a man of whom I may fitly and propei ly adopt the woids of the great Roman oiator Ciceio, spoken of Mr Irving's piedccessois — " Sumnms aitife.x et metercule semper piitium m lepublica tunquam in Scena optimal ium "—which I will tiaiiblate for the benefit of one or two persons w ho might not undei stand it — (laughtei)— as meaning that he is a consummate artist, and capable of playing the noblest pait both on the stage and on" it (loud and piolon<.'< d cheuis). J give you the toast of " Heniy Irving" (cheers). The toast was honoured with great enthusiasm. Mr living (who was received with enthusiastic cheeiniL') : My Lotd Chief Justice, my lords and jfcntleman, — I cannot conceive a finitcr honour etitciing into Ihe lifrot any man than the hoiioui you haw. paid me by afseiiiblinu I cie tonight. To loo'< mound this loom and hcu"' the fat;c» of my distinguished hobts. wou'd stir to its depths a <oldei naluio Ihnu mini. It m not in mv power, my loids and gentlnui.Ji. to tltir k \ou for this compliment jou have to-nixrht pmd nit 1 , "'l'he fiicnds thou hant, mid then A'U>pUon tiicd, Giapple them to thy 19 i\\i WJtJj hooks ot nU el. !l Neve-r bthfio iawulto utiongly felt the mngic of those

words ', but you will remember it is also said in the 'same sentence, "Give thy thoughts no tongue" (laughter). And gladly, had it been possible, would I ha\e'obejed that wise injunction to-night (lunewcd laughtci). The actor is profoundly influenced by precedent, and I cannot forgot that many of my predo ccssors have been neixcd by farewell banquets foi the honour which awaited them on the other side of the Atlantic ; but this occasion I regard as much more than ,i compliment to myseli, 1 regard it as a tnbute to the ait which 1 am proud to sci\o --(cheers)— and I believe that feeling wdl l)u shaicd hj the profession to which you have assembled to do honour (oheets). The time has long gone by w lien there was any need to apologise for the actor's calling (hear, hour). The woild ran no more c xisfc without the diiim.l tlian it can without its sister art — music. The stage gives the readiest i espouse to the dem.ind of human nature to be tianspoited out of itself into the realms of the ideal— not that all our ideals on the* stage aie lealisul — none but the aitist knows how immct.surably he may fall short of his aim of his conception, but to ha\e an ideal in art and to strive through one's life to embody it, may be a passion to the actor as it may be to the port (theeis). Your loidship has spoken most eloquently of my career. Possessed ofag"nctoHB mind and a high judicial faculty, your lordship has been to night, I ftMi, inoi c trcneious than judicial. But if I have in any way deserved commendation I am pi oud that it was ta an actoi that I won it (cheers). As the diiector of a thc.itic my experience has been shoi t, but as an actor I have been befoic the London public for 17 yeais : and on one thing I am sure you will all agieo - that no actor or manager has ever received from that public moie generous and ungrudging encouragement and suppoit (cticeis). Concerning our visit to America, I need haidly say that I am looking forwaid to it with no common pleasure. It has often been an ambition with English actors to gain the goodwill of the English speaking lace, a good-will which ia light licaitily leoiprocated towu'.h our Amenuan fellow -workers, when they gratify us by sojourning here (cliceis). Your (Jodspeed woultl alone assure me a hearty welcome in any land ; but 1 am not going amongst .strangers ; I am going amongst h lends— (cheers)— and when 1, for the iirst time, touch American giaund, f sh.ill retxlve many a grip of the hind fiom mvi whoae friendship Jam pi oud to possess (cheers). Concerninj/ our expedition the Ameiican people M ill no doltbt exeieiso an independent judgment a piejudice ot theiis and n habit of loiiji standing — (hint; liter) —as jour loidship has leminded us, by the fact that to-day is the Fouith ot July, an annive.1 ->ary nipidly becoming an Emdi.sh institution. Your loidship is doubtless aw aie, as to night has so happily pioved, that the .stage li.is lockoned amongst its staunchest suppoiteis many gieat and distinguished lawyeis. There ;<io many lawyeis, I am told, m America— (laughtei J— and as lam sine that they all deseneto be judges, I am in hopes that they will niiiteii.vlly help me to gain a f.nouiable veidict fiom the Ameiican people (eliceis> and kughtei). I base gi\en but pool expiession to my sense of the honoiu you have conferred upon mo, and upon the comiade» associated with me in this our enterpii.se-- an enteipiue winch, I hope, will favourably show the method and discipline of a company of English actois ; on thoir behalf Ithank>ou, and I also thank you on on behalf ol tho lady who has so adorned the Lyceum stage— (cheer?)- and to those laic ;,;ift= yoni loidship bus paid so just and triaciom a tribute (cliceis). The climax of the favour intended to me by my countiymeu baa been leached toniyht. Youlwucpot upon me a burden of responsibility-- a burden which I gladly and pioudly bear. Tho memory of to-night will be to me a saeicd thing — a uieinoiv winch will stimulate me to tuithei endcaunu. and encouiage me to loftier aim (loud and continued Uieeis). Loid Urn y, in the abtence of Lord Houuhton, thiongb indisposition, buefly piopo'-ul " Liteiatuii 1 , .Science and Ait.' Th" Ifon. J. Uuasell Lowell icsponded foi LitLi.ituie, I'loJessoi- Tyndall for SutiKi, and Mr L. Alma-Tadenia, JI.A., foi Ait Mi .1 L Toolo pioposed " The Chairman," who buelly ic>poiidcd, and the ])iocredings shoitly aftei wauls tcnninated.

Uvjs \\i) Micr,. —It you wish to tieStlO) till 111 Hit > p.M kl t Cll Hll I Ml \(.1( Vl UMIN Kn I I k m p,i< kits,i ts, ()d, ')d, .mil Is, tv be obtained ol all sum ki Lpi is, 01 lium 1 Ji. Jin I by unclosing -m t \ti.i st.mip

LIJ I IN TIII.]JrsI[— TIILN" \M) NOW. — It is ki'ihi ilh supposed tli.it in tin 1 bush we h.nc to put uj> with m my disi omlorts -mil pmations in (hi slj<ip< of tout! KoniKilj it was so, but now, thanks to 1. It. Hill, who lias himself duck in the bush, it mod dots consist chiefly of tinned nuMts his Coiost \i Suci fjucs to them a most (Ulk table fl.i\ our, making them as well of the pl.nncst lood most er.ioj iblc, and instead is hard biscuits and indigestible damper his Imi'«o\ i n Coiom \i lt\MNf> Powui it makes the \ cry best broad, stones, ( .ikes, and pastrj far supuior .md more wholesome than or le.non. Sold b) all sloickccpcrs who can obt im it from any merchant in Auckland. You will do well to furnish your house from Girlick and Cranwell's. 'lhey lia\e now the most complete Furnishing Warehouse in AucklanO turnituro to suit all classes, wfood stic „', .iiirt clioip ihu\ h.i\e Tapestry Carpets film ud pi l yard, l'riisscls from is lid per > ii d. Linott urn fioni 'Is 'Id to ">s. Oil Cloths from Is (id to 4s (id per >ard, good 12 tcct wide Oil t loths at is 0(1 ))( i Immense assortment of lion liidstcnds from Infants' Cots to 5 loot wide li i!l-t<st<-t Hcdsto ids. Double iron Jled•ti id-, liom i*)-- ISO lSedsteads in stock to select liom Hi ddnifjs ot all kinds andsi/es kept in n idiiifs-> J)inin^, Sitting, Di iwing-room l''uinuuie, .mil .md 1 1 irgo assortment of Manchester lie I'iiriiishing Goods, inrluding .1 lot of Cndtonnos Hook C.italofjues sent free to intiMidinic purchase is Garhrk and Cr.inwcll, City Hall Ati-adc Qui'on-streut, Anrkland

Lydia Fixmiam, of proprietary medicino fune, died in Lynu recently, njjed 04. Slio spent £30,000 ■ *i year inadveitiMiipr, and t-efured a trade netting her £00,000 a, year profit.

Thk liJcreasß of population m France since IS7'2 is said to be in no small measures due to the immigration of the inhabitants of Alsace-Lorraine. The greatest female land-owner in England is J3aroness Willou^'hby d'Evesby, who hiih un inuomo of £oii,ooo from land. Ol' the twenty Pharaohic mummies so i-tum^dy diacoveied last year in ft pit at Dayrt4-B.th.aree, several were guiliitided with llowerß. The greatest wonder i» tlmfc these flowers, though plucked 3000 years ago, may now be seen in the Boolalc Museum, in tho suburb of C.iiro, in as perfect pioeuation asotheis beside >ratheicd and diied only a few months ajr«. Fat is said by Dv F. L. Oswald to be thu be t !un«r food, and amontr allfat-oon-t.iinin<r substances sweet cjeam is tho best, Nilt. poilv the least lmtiitious. ConHiimpti\es should avoid all bcorbutific artioles of diet — salt meat, pickles, chee«e, puntrent i-pico-, mado diblies, and all intoxicating dunks.

A wmnv at Cape Gi rouleau, Mo., who had suifcicd fioin a husband's neglect, tiaced him to a bar-ioom, wheie he was playing cards with several companions. Setting a covered dish she held m her 1 ands down upon the table, s>he Siiid : " Piesuimng, husband, that you weie too busy to come home to dinner, I brought you youts," and departed. With a forced laugh he invited his friends to dine with him, but on 1 amoving the cover fiom the dish found only a slip of paper, on which was written : "I hope you will enjoy your meal ; it is the same your family have at home,"

Mr A. K. Finlvv, the well-known spoitsman, lias just died while at Home seeking benefit for his health. His judgment in connection with racing innttci'B was ol the sorn.lcst, nnd many a knotty poitit has lie been culled upon to unravel. As a breeder he ulso made his ni.ii l\, fioni Wellington, >nw arrow, Balladrum. The Duke, Welcome Jack, kittle Jnuk, Ci lstonn, nnd many other Winners wore i (lived in tho pnddojks of his beautiful estate in tho w<Btw>-rd. In liis yotitigor tlaya Mf Fuloy was an aucumpliMicd athlete us w 11 ns a good, horsi'iimn. About five veav<? ago he 1 nmnijilonc of Sit 1 , ReiuU-s KqUn oil's daughter*, " i ;