| Author: | Irving, Henry | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | 15A Grafton Street, Bond Street, W | ||
| Recipient: | Wingfield, Lewis Strange | ||
| Address: | [London] | ||
| Date: | 1888, May, 4 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (2 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | Instead of 'Eugene Aram' he had better recite 'Gemini & Virgo' if Wingfield prefers it. It is shorter & sweeter. It is by C.S. Calverley as he probably knows. He encloses £20 as he promised & is pleased that everything has gone. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | The occasion was connected with Mrs Keeley (see Letter 5430 on 3rd May) but Irving had recited Calverley's poem in the Huntington Hall in Boston on 15th February. Thomas Hood's 'The Dream of Eugene Aram' was probably Irving's favourite recitation. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/14/9/8(1)) | ||
| Ref.No: | 4549 | ||
| Author: | Wingfield, Lewis Strange | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | 14 Montague Place, Russell Square | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | [1889], [March], [2] Saturday | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (3 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | At the Committee Meeting at the Garrick Club the new picture was displayed on the easel - a royal gift. All agreed that Irving's proposed place over the mantelpiece in the smokingroom would not do. Fires do harm amd not everyone would see it. The hanging is considered by a small subcommittee of which Sir John Gilbert is chief and the general opinion the proper place is a central position on the stairs where it will be well lighted and all who enter can see it. Why not a few hundred more gifts of like quality? | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | Irving had given the Garrick Club George Clint's painting of Edmund Kean in 'A New Way to Pay Old Debts'. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/43) | ||
| Ref.No: | 4551 | ||
| Author: | Irving, Henry | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | Lyceum Theatre | ||
| Recipient: | Wingfield, Lewis Strange | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | 1889, March, 4 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (1 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | He is glad that Wingfield likes the picture & that Edmund Kean will be remembered on the 'Garrick' [Club] walls. He is sure the Committee will hang the picture in the right place wherever that might be. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | Irving had presented George Clint's painting of Edmund Kean in 'A New Way to Pay Old Debts' to the Garrick Club. See also Letter 4551. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/14/9/8(1)) | ||
| Ref.No: | 4552 | ||
| Author: | Wallack, John Johnstone “Lester” | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | [New York?] | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | [1884?], Nov., 24 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (2 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | Irving is most kind - he sends thanks of the Fund Managers to him and Miss Terry for their ready acquiescence. Wallack wanted to have met Irving before but he is suffering a lot of bothers of all kinds and is never free. He hopes they will meet soon and in the pleasant way Irving suggests. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | 1884 is the most likely year, but the letter could date from 1887. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/42) | ||
| Ref.No: | 4574 | ||
| Author: | Wallack, John Johnstone “Lester” | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | 13 West 30th Street, New York | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | [1886?], March, 30 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (3 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | He writes on behalf of a young man who left England (leaving wife & children at home), seized with cancer of the tongue who the physicians say will not live three months. The Actors' Fund there have sent him home and the companies of one or two theatres have subscribed money in addition. His name is Henry Siddons, a member of the family of tragedians. As President of the Actors' Benevolent Fund he hopes Irving will be able to free his last days of want and suffering. (Postscript:) Henry Siddons' address is 29 Grange Road, Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | Henry Siddons who acted as Harry Palmer died in 1886 aged 41. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/42) | ||
| Ref.No: | 4575 | ||
| Author: | Doyle, Arthur Conan | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | Claremont, Grand Parade, Eastbourne | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | [1897], [May] | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (1 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | Anxious to get a good, big box for performance of his little play. To whom should he send? Hopes Irving received the little book. Emperor's character is elaborated with care but there is no scope for drama in the story. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | 'A Story of Waterloo' opened at the Lyceum on 4th May 1895 but there were single benefit performances including one at the Prince of Wales's Theatre on 1st June 1897 to which this letter refers. The little book on Napoleon is probably 'The Great Shadow', 1892. Irving was playing Napoleon in 'Madame Sans-Gêne' from 10th April 1897. Summarised by courtesy of the Conan Doyle Estate Ltd. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/22) | ||
| Ref.No: | 967 | ||
| Author: | Modjeska, Helena | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | 145 Soane Street, S.W. | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | [1879], [July], [26] | ||
| Document Type: | Letter | ||
| Content Summary: | She did not dare call after the performance as she did not get the usual hint from Mr Stoker, but she cannot be silent. She thanks Irving for the seats and treat, and now thinks of nothing but Richard III. It is perfect; subtle and devilish - the most sublime personification of Evil. Irving is great. She is sorry to think that she will never see the whole play - nor Irving's Hamlet of which she has read and heard so much - she sends never changing admiration and friendship. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | This can only refer to Irving's benefit on 25th July 1879 when he played characters from 6 plays including an act from 'Richard III' and from 'Hamlet'. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/32) | ||
| Ref.No: | 4606 | ||
| Author: | Wyndham, Charles | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | Criterion Theatre, Piccadilly, W | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | [1888?] Tuesday | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (3 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | Wyndham had heard from Toole that Irving could not have received the letter, and that he was out of town. He did not get the message himself till Sunday afternoon so that there was no time to communicate with Irving except verbally on Sunday evening and that Gilli [Gilbert] Farquhar promised to do and Wyndham supposes did not. Anyway the duchess fully understood that Irving's absence was not his fault. He thanks Irving for the cheque. Shall he put it to the receipts as the idea of a subscription was abandoned as his advertisement said. He wishes he had known that Irving would have acted for them as he could have advertised it. They had nearly £300, and with Irving they should have had nearly £400. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | The benefit has not so far been identified. It is possible that the duchess is Duchess Paul of Mecklenburg whom Irving was due to meet in July, 1888. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/43) | ||
| Ref.No: | 4628 | ||
| Author: | Wyndham, Charles | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | Criterion Theatre, Piccadilly, W | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | 1897, June, 5 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (3 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | To relieve Vanderfeldt's great anxiety as revealed in his telegraph appeal he wired him the previous night to wait till he could communicate again. He feels he must return Irving's kind contribution, promising him to write to him again should any [appeal?] arrive. He thanks Irving for his invitation but he is pleadged for a late night on Tuesday and he is not so young and vigorous as Irving to go out two nights running. He is very annoyed as regards Gillette as he has been compelled to refuse the invitation to meet him for the same reason. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | Hastily written and barely legible. Wyndham was only one year older than Irving. E.H. Vanderfelt acted for 4 performances in London in April 1897. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/43) | ||
| Ref.No: | 4636 | ||
| Author: | Watson, Alfred Edward Thomas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address: | The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, 148 Strand, London, W.C. | ||
| Recipient: | Irving, Henry | ||
| Address: | - | ||
| Date: | 1888, July, 24 | ||
| Document Type: | Letter (2 p.) | ||
| Content Summary: | Lord Henry(?) who is a friend of Irving's as well as his has consulted him on an insoluble point. He was a great friend of Miss Hilda Hilton who has just died and left a considerable quantity of stage clothes and jewellery which she begged him to give to an actress whom the gift would benefit.The situation might become comic, but what could Watson do? He suggested they should be sold and given to a deserving theatrical charity, but promised to ask Irving. Can he suggest anything? If so which is the best market, and the most suitable charity? Please write. | ||
| Published: | - | ||
| Notes: | Lord Henry is probably Lord Henry Somerset. Hilda Hilton died in 1888 aged 35. For Irving's draft reply see Letter 4647. | ||
| Document Holder: | THM (Reference: THM/37/7/42) | ||
| Ref.No: | 4642 | ||