(On that night, I remember, H.I. for the first time played Coriolanus _beautifully_. He discarded the disfiguring beard of the warrior that he had worn during the "run" earlier in the season--and now that one could see his face, all was well. When people speak of the evils of long runs, I should like to answer with a list of their advantages. An actor, even an actor of Henry Irving's caliber, hardly begins to play an immense part like Coriolanus for what it is worth until he has been doing it for fifty nights.) _November 16._--"New York. Saw delightful Maude Adams in 'Quality Street'--charming play. She is most clever and attractive. _Unusual_ above everything. Queer, sweet, entirely delightful." From these extracts, I hope it will be seen that by burning most of my diaries I did not inflict an unbearable loss upon present readers, or posterity! I am afraid that I think as little of the future as I do of the past. The present for me! If my impressions of my friends are scanty, let me say in my defense that actors and actresses necessarily _see_ many people, but _know_ very few. If there has been more in this book about my life in the theater than about my life outside it, the proportion is inevitable and natural. The maxim is well-worn that art is long and life is short, and there is no art, I think, which is longer than mine! At least, it always seems to me that no life can be long enough to meet its requirements. If I have not revealed myself to you, or succeeded in giving a faithful picture of an actor's life, perhaps I have shown what years of practice and labor are needed for the attainment of a permanent position on the stage. To quote Mrs. Nancy Oldfield:-- "Art needs all that we can bring to her, I assure you." THE END INDEX Abbey, E.A., 277, 372 Abingdon, Mrs., 54 Adams, Maude, 321, 399 Adelphi Theatre, The, 76 Albani, Madame, 264, 381 Albert, Prince, 18 Albina, Madame, 41 Alexander, George, 209, 260-61, 300, 302 Alexandra, Queen, 56, 391, 397 "Alice-sit-by-the-Fire," 345 Allen, J.H., 185, 301 Allingham, William, 122 --Mrs., 122 Alma-Tadema, Sir Laurence, 372, 377 "Ambassador, The," 391 "Amber Heart, The," 191, 271-2 Anderson, Mary, 231, 321 _et sqq._ Angell, Louisa, 56 Archer, Fred, 306 Argyll, Duchess of (Princess Louise), 397 "Arms and the Man," 346-7 Arnold, Sir Edwin, 117 Arnott, Mr., 187 _et sqq._, 217 Asche, Oscar, 349 Ashwell, Lena, 269 "Attar Gull," 41-2 Austin, L.F., 299 _et sqq._