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HENRY IRVING
regal action in mounting the throne and
holding it, as if he had just dispossessed
a usurper, always produce a strong thrill
in the audience. The instance, however,
is isolated, and it is curious to note that
Mr. Irving accomplishes all the best of the
effect of the scene without the help of any
comprehensible speech. If further proof
were wanting of the lightness of Mr. Ir-
ving's emotional gift, it might be found in
the uniform demeanor of his audiences;
those of America repeating, according to
my experience, the behavior of those of
London, who, if Mr. Archer's keen eye-
sight is to be trusted, are almost always
" intellectuall}' interested, but not emo-
tionally excited." That Mr. Irving ever
attempted Macbeth and Othello seems im-
possible; that he should ever presume to
attempt King Lear is incredible.
My conclusions, then, are these: that
Mr. Irving's art would be much more ef-
fectual than it is if " to do" were one half
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