THE ACTOR'S PART.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 26, 31 January 1912, Page 10

THE ACTOR'S PART.

IN HUMAN AFFAIRS. MR. H. B. IRVING HONOURED AT A CIVIC RECEPTION. When The Post went to press yesterday a civic reception was being tendered Mr. H. B. Irving, the well-known actor. Unfortunately Mrs. Irving was unable to be present owing to indisposition. The Acting-Mayor, as already recorded in. The Post, presided, and Sir James Carroll, Sir John Findlay, Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., and several others ofioupied seats on the platform. The welcome tendered Mr. Irving was exceedingly cordial. Sir John Findlay delivered a characteristic speech. He spoke on behalf of the Shakespeare Society, and extended a hearty welcome to Mr. Irving, who was, he said, a great exponent of the greatest) dramatist who had ever lived. The community was privileged to have Mr. Irving in its midst, and his advent had probabiy been responsible for the shaking oi more dust off the covers of Hamlet than anybody could well imagine. Mr. Irving was the bearer of a great and honoured name, and they believed the^y would find in the son the genius of his father. Those who had the privilege of hearing him at the Opera House would carry away lasting impressions of his work. Sir John cordially welcomed him to Wellington, and said that he believed ho would leave the country with some desire to return. Mr. Fisher, M.P., Mr. H. E. Nicholls (president of the Wellington Shakespeare ClubJ. and Mr. Freeth (representing the press) also joined in the welcdme to the visitor. Sir James Carroll's appearance was tho signal for hearty applause. He delivered a speech which was both spontaneous and eloquent. They w4re present, 'he said, to welcome an illustrious guest, an educator, oner who was associated with the works of a great master. He had the pleasure of witnessing Mr. Irving's performance the previous evening, and he had keenly , watched his portrayal of human passion, of light and fanciful thought, of deep reflection, of profound philosophy, and "I can," he said^ "assure you tjiat it was an educative treat. May Shakespeare appear in every generation. Therb should be Shakespeare always," he concluded. y .. MR. IRVING'S REPLY.Mr. Irving, in reply, spoke at some length. .He spoke confidently, and towards the conclusion of his remarks had every reason for believing that he had his auditors an much interested in his words as those who had seen him at the Opera Hove« were delighted with his acting. Before he commenced to speak he was greeted with a sustained round of applause. He expressed regret lor the absence of his wife, and said he felt that the welcome ■ tendered him was partly out of respect to. the memory of his father, whose regret it had always been that he was unable to visit these shores.' He also believed that in thus welcoming him they were according some recognition to the profession to ; which he belonged. In this respect i things had changed. Years ago there i was a pronounced prejudice against the I actor, but that day had passed, and no where to-day was there a greater appreciation, of the actor's worth than -in Australasia. The change' in the attitude of the people to the actor's profession wae, he thought, a sign of advancing civilisation. Like the literary profession, it was open to everyone; but it was an art whom those that served were proud to serve. Coming to Shakespeare, he said they could not do too much tovkeep alive his memory. In these times there was- great mddern drama, clever, brilliant— and itr was due 1 to Shakespeare to see that he wac not i lost in this modern 7 brilliance. In his j own mind he , felt • that Shakespeare! would endure. He ' referred to r the [ growth of the music hall and " other ' modern developments, and estid there was a danger of creating a race of people incapable of taking amusement in anything but tabloid form." It would "be a great day for England and 'the Empire when a national theatre was eatab- j lished. He thought that other leading' actor-managers would visit the Domin- ' ion. In conclusion, he cordially thanked i those present for the welcome extended. I