The Grey River Argus and Blackball News. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, OCTOBER, 19th 1905.

Grey River Argus, 19 October 1905, Page 2

The Grey River Argus and Blackball News. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, OCTOBER, 19th 1905.

The universal expressions of regret from all parts of the civilized world and from all sorts and conditions of men conveyed to the family of tbe late Sir Henry Irving bear eloquent) testi» mony to the widespread recognition that England's great actor had attain* cd. That Irving is entitled to be described a 8 a great actor but few will question for despite the mannerisms that in later years detracted from the artistic value of- some of his work, he remained tbe most prominent figure on the English stage. As a contemporary very appropriately remarks : — " No " actov on the English stage played " such a variety of great parts so con* " sistently well as Irving : no manager "ever placsd before the public auch a " series of magnificent and historically " accurate pictures ; and none hold " such a high position in the affection " of his brother and sister profession- " als." The English stage owes much to Irving for no English actor prior to him did so much to dignify »nd ennoble the drama and give it the place in the social life of the people which, with bis high ideals h« believed it should occupy. In his endeavors to further raise the tone of the English stage he advocated the establishment of a national theatre to be conducted on similar lines to that of the French national theatre and in this he is supported by all who desire to see the stage occupy the position it should hold as one of the foremesb educators of the masses. Our readers will have noted thab Miss Ellen Terry, whose! professional career has been so intimately bound up with that of Irving's has suggested that tlie establishment of a national theatre would be the best form that a memorial could take of the great actor who made bis last exit so tragically. Of th« necessity, even in j these days, for the uplifting of the i drama there ace ample and sufficient) grounds. The great mission of the stage should be to elevate the mind and even in works designed merely to amuse it is, we believe, possible to i unite true humor with the highest moral truths. In this clans of production on tbe modern stage it must be conceded that the amusement pro^ vided appeals rather to the lower than to the higher qualities of the human mind. It will probably be ar»iied tiiat play-writers in producing this class of dramatic literature are only conforming to what some economists describe as the inexorable law of sups ply and demand ; but this does not hold altogether and wo have sufficient belief in the inherent goodness of human nature to imagine ihat in nine cases out of ten an audience would prefer good, clean and healthy dray matic productions to the meretricious and often harmful plays that are sometimes produced. The foU lowing remarks on the subr ject, though written many years ago, are probably as true cf the English stage as they were when penned:-— "So long as there is no national " theatre which, removed above the " conditions, of a commercial specu- " lation can cultivate the art 1 . to- '• which it is dedicated for the sake' "of that art itself, the future of" the " English drama will be at ti'O n.ercy " of tbe likings of London, ami of the " the adoption of those likings by " the London which is not London I " and by the 'provinces'. The time '< may come when it will be recognised " that the progress and culture of a " people depend upon its diversions as " well as upon its occupations; and " that the interests of a national art " are not unworthy tbe solicitude of " thoughtful statesmen." It remains to be seen how the British public will take Miss Terry's suggestion. There is sure to be an outcry on the part of those possessed of vested interest • and this, backed up, probably, by the ture Britisher's deep*rooted dislike to any State interference with private enter? prise, may lead to the pos ponement of the consummation of a reform " devoutly to be wished". But in time, we feel assured, tho-e who hive the best interests of the mass c s at heart will succeed in making it $n accomplished fact. Is