Download File

HENRY IRVING
the subject of wonder to every thought-
ful person. A scrutinizing glance at the
man will furnish some new matter for
wonder, but will also afford the beginning
of an explanation of his remarkable hold
upon the public. The tall, slender, flat-
chested figure ;
the high forehead defined
at its base by strongly marked and ex-
ceedingly flexible eyebrows ; the large,
positive nose ; the narrow, sensitive lips ;
the long, thin jaw ; the large, deep-set,
darkly-luminous eyes, belong to a most
striking and impressive personality. Speak-
ing for myself, I should say that Mr. Ir-
ving's face is without exception the most
fascinating I have seen upon the stage.
Once beheld, it will not out of the mem-
ory ; and I find, upon sifting my recol-
lections, that, when there is no deliberate
effort of my will, his face appears to me,
not under the distorting or glorifying trans-
formations of the stage, but with its usual
look of quiet and somewhat sad thought-
[ 205 ]