Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1905 — HENRY IRVING IS DEAD. [ARTICLE]

HENRY IRVING IS DEAD.

Foremost Actor of the Age Expires In Harness in England. All England is plunged in grief because of— death of Sir Henry Irving, greatest actor of the age, who expired Friday night before medical aid could reach him after a powerful presentation of Lord Tennyson’s “Beckct” in the playhouse at Bradford. The applause of the audience scarcely had died away when the famous tragedian breathed hisl ast. Sir Henry died literally in harness. He was giving a series of farewell performances in the Euglish provinces and was playing an engagement at Bradford, appearing in several favorite roles. Thursday he presented “King Rene's Daughter” and “The Bells” and seemed to be in excellent health, taking the exhausting part of Matthias in the latter play with all the vigor of youth. Friday night before an enthusiastic audience he portrayed one of his most characteristically intellectual parts, the title role in his own stage adaptation of Lord Tennyson’s “Becket,” with marked success. After the performance Sir Henry returned to his hotel, reaching his rooms at 11:30 o’clock, when it was observed that he was in great pain. Physicians were immediately summoned, but before they could arrive Sir Henry was seized with an attack of syncope and expired within a few minutes, without having uttered a word. To the last moment of his life Sir Henry Irving’s heart was in the work to which he had devoted his career — the raising of the standard of his art. On Wednesday he was entertained at luncheon in the Bradford town hall, at which the Mayor presented him an address from his admirers. In replying to the address SJir Henry spoke of himself as one the sands of whose life were fast running out, but no one then present had the slightest idea that the end would come so soon. He proceeded in his reply to eloquently advocate the establishment of theaters by municipalities, “because,” he said, “I believe that by this means the standard of the true drama, as distinguished from miscellaneous entertainments, would be successfully upheld.”