THE toast was drank with ringing cheers, and in its report of the reply
the “Tribune” says: “Mr. Irving spoke in measured tones, and with a
singularly clear and effective enunciation, his frequent ironical
sallies being received with bursts of laughter and applause.” He said:—
“Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,—It is not in my power to thank you,
with eloquence, for the reception that you have given me to-night.
In spite of the comforting words and suggestions of our friend, the
chairman, that on Tuesday morning my feelings may undergo a change,
I am quite determined that to-night and to-morrow night, if all be
well, I shall have a good night’s rest. I _do_ feel naturalized; and,
whatever may be said to the contrary, I shall always bear away with
me the impression that I am among my own flesh and blood. (Applause.)
The simile of the turkey did not affect me very much; for if the
ill-omened bird (I do not know whether he is as familiar in your
country as he is in mine), the _goose_, is not served up I shall be
very content. (Applause.)
“You have received me, not as a stranger, but as a welcome friend
(Applause), and that welcome I appreciate with all my heart and soul.
In coming here amongst you I really had—I may as well confess it—but
one terror. The Atlantic I would brave; the wind and weather I would
scorn; even sea-sickness I would enjoy; but there was one terror,—the
interviewer. (Laughter.) But I am very glad to tell you that that is
passed; and I have said so much to the interviewer that I have very
little left to say to you. I must, however, also tell you that I find
the interviewer a very much misrepresented person. He seemed to me
to be a most courteous gentleman, who had but an amiable curiosity
to know a little about myself that he did not know before; and I was
very well satisfied to gratify him as much as I could. I was told
that he would turn me inside out; that he would cross-examine me, and
then appear against me the following morning. (Laughter.) But I found
nothing of the sort; and if I had any complaint to make against him,
the comments with which he tempered his suggestions were so flattering
and so gratifying to myself that I forgave him the suggestions that
he made. The only thing that I would quarrel with him for was for
saying that I reminded him of Oscar Wilde. (Laughter.) Oscar Wilde
is a very clever fellow, and I am not going to descant upon him. You
know more about him than I do; and I hope that when Oscar Wilde reads
what I have said—as I suppose he will—he will take no offence. I am
extremely indebted to the interviewer, also, for telling me that I was
classed with Edwin Booth. With that I have no fault to find.
“To the courtesy and kindness of American gentlemen I have long been
accustomed; for if you have not in London, as you have in Paris, an
American quarter, it is really because Americans are found everywhere
in London; and I think that everywhere in London they are welcome.
(Applause.) Our interests are mutual; and in our art we are getting
day by day more closely allied. London is now talking with raptures
of your Mary Anderson (Applause); of your great tragedian, Booth
(Applause); of your great comedian, Jefferson (Applause)—I dislike
the words ‘tragedian’ and ‘comedian’; actor is so much better, and it
is a household word. McCullough and Clarke, and my friends Florence
and Raymond, have had amongst us the heartiest of welcomes. And I am
quite sure that your famous actress, Clara Morris, need only come
amongst us—as my friend, Lawrence Barrett, is coming—to have another
welcome.
“Mr. Whitelaw Reid has spoken of my work in my art in the kindest
and most appreciative way. If I have done anything to gain that
commendation, it is because I have striven to do my duty; and but for
the appreciation of many of my countrymen, who have thought so, and
but for the appreciation that I receive now at this table, I am quite
sure that my work would have been in vain.
“I do not intend to bore you with any ideas of mine about my art,
either histrionically or pictorially. My method, histrionically, is a
very simple one. I merely endeavor to go to the fountain-head to get
my inspiration; and by what my work is I know that you will judge it,
and judge it fairly. I am quite sure of this: that no people will go
to a theatre with a greater desire to do justice to an actor than you
will go to the theatre to see me on Monday night. (Applause.) If you
like me you will express it; and, if you do not like me, still you
will treat me kindly.
“Our art is cosmopolitan. Every actor has his own methods, as every
painter has his methods, and every writer has his style. The best
actor amongst us has a great deal to learn. It is only at the end of
his career that he finds how short is his life, and how long is his
art. Concerning the mounting of plays, I give to a play of Shakespeare
the same advantage that I would give to any modern author; and until a
greater man than Shakespeare arrives, I think I shall continue to do
so. (Applause.)
“In my own dear land I am glad to tell you that the love for
Shakespearian drama is very greatly increasing. Shakespearian
societies throughout our land have done much to encourage that. You
know very well that there was a time when Shakespeare was said by
a London manager to spell ‘bankruptcy,’ and Lord Byron ‘ruin.’ I
remember that at one of the revivals of Shakespearian plays at the
Lyceum, a gentleman leaving the theatre was heard to express the
opinion that the play was not a bad one; that he thought it might
have a tolerable run, but that it would be very much improved if
it had not contained so many quotations. (Laughter.) The play was
‘Macbeth.’ (Laughter.) I have been told that that gentleman is
sometimes to be found in the British Museum, in the old reading-room
devoted to Shakespearian manuscripts, and that he is very frequently
found turning them over; but with what success I do not know. I also
remember that once, when a play was produced, a friend of mine asked
me what the subject of it was. I said to him that the subject was
Charles I.; at which he hemmed and hawed and said, ‘Very good; _very_
good; oh, capital! Charles I. Yes, I should think that would do
very well. Let me see. Charles I. Do you mean Shakespeare’s Charles
I.?’ (Laughter.) However, these things are improving, and even
the old play-goer,—I do not know whether such a character exists
amongst you,—who is amongst us a very dreadful creature; even he is
beginning to tolerate the student who goes to the book, instead of to
traditional characters, for his inspiration.
“We are very hypocritical, however, some of us, in England. We go to
the Crystal Palace to see the play of ‘Hamlet,’ and go to the Crystal
Palace because it is not a theatre; and when we would not go to a
theatre to see the play of ‘Hamlet,’ we will go to the Crystal Palace,
or some other such place, to see the ‘Pink Dominoes.’ (Laughter.) We
will crowd sometimes to the French theatre, without understanding the
nationality, the gesture, of the actors, or a word of their language,
when we will desert our own theatres where these pieces are being
played. But fortunately no such difference as that can exist between
us; and I cherish the hope that it will be my good fortune, and more
especially the good fortune of my fellow-workers, and especially of
my gifted companion and friend, Ellen Terry (Great applause),—I
say that I cherish the hope that we shall be able to win your favor.
(Applause.) I dare say that you will find many of us very strange and
very odd, with peculiarities of speech, and with peculiarities of
manner and of gesture; but it would, perhaps, not be so pleasurable if
we were all just alike. (Laughter.) It is not our fault, you know, if
we are Englishmen.
“Gentlemen, I thank you with all my heart for the greeting you have
given me. I thank you for the brotherly hand that you have extended to
me. And if anything could make one feel at home, and comfortable, and
sure of having a real good time amongst you, it is the cordiality with
which I have been received to-night. The very accents of your hearty
greeting, and the very kindness of your genial faces, tell me that
there are in your hearts good and kind overflowing wishes. Gentlemen,
I thank you with all my heart; and I feel that there is a bond between
us which dates before to-night.”
The speaker sat down amidst great applause. His manner and matter had
evidently given great satisfaction. How he had been misrepresented
as to his mannerisms is unconsciously admitted by the note of the
“Tribune” reporter that he spoke clearly. He did, and in that quiet,
self-possessed, conversational style which was remarked as so effective
at the London banquet.