he became a pupil at Dr. Pinches' school, in George Yard, Lombard Street, a locality rendered famous from the fact that it was at a chop-house in this neighbourhood that Pickwick partook of his chops and tomato sauce. It was at Dr. Pinches' academy that young Irving astonished both teacher and taught with a recital of that somewhat weird though dramatic poem, "The Uncle." From the school he went to the desk—to an East India house in Newgate Street, which is still in existence. Mr. Irving admits to learning poems and parts out of convenient books which he managed to hide between the pages of the ledger.
The study.
From a Photo. by Elliott & Fry.
"I know, one day," said Mr. Irving, merrily, "I started to learn a piece on my way to the office. I couldn't leave it. Every moment when the manager's eye was not on me, out came my book. I made up my mind to finish it that day. During my dinner hour I went and hid myself in a huge wooden packing-case. The hour went by, and I knew it not. It appears they were searching all over for me, and it was just on six o'clock before they came across me in the box."
He made his first appearance at the new Sunderland Theatre on September 29th, 1856. Then he worked hard in the provinces, often learning seventeen and eighteen parts a week. The early hours in the morning he passed with wet towels round his head, working at his lines, would astonish the most enthusiastic college "cram." From Sunderland he went to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, and Liverpool. Mr. Toole practically obtained the first London. engagement for Mr. Irving. They had met some time previously in Edinburgh. But a small part in "Ivy Hall," at the Princess's, on September 24th, 1859, did not content the young actor. Away he went to the provinces again, working harder than ever, and not for another seven years did he return to London, as leading man at the St. James's, playing Doricourt in "The Belle's Stratagem." His marvellous character-acting as Digby Grant in "The Two Roses," at the Vaudeville, is still remembered, and his "little cheque" rings in the ears of many. He played Grant for 300 nights. He was not regarded as a tragic actor then, and his magnificent performance of Mathias in "The Bells," at. the Lyceum Theatre, under H. L. Bateman, came as a revelation, only to be intensified—after appearing as Charles I., Eugene Aram, and Richelieu—when he appeared as Hamlet. He represented the Dane for 200 nights, the longest run of the play on record. More Shakespearean and other work followed, until Mrs. Bateman retired from the Lyceum. On December 30th, 1878, the Lyceum Theatre opened with "Hamlet," which was played another hundred nights. On the memorable 30th December, Miss Ellen Terry commenced her work at the Lyceum. The actor had now become a manager, and no management before or since has been. attended by such brilliant results. His productions have been watched and waited for —"The Merchant of Venice," "Twelfth Night," "Much Ado About Nothing," "Vicar of Wakefield," "Macbeth," "Faust,"
