Mr. E. S. Willard, whose career at the Shaftesbury Theatre within the last two years firmly established his claim to be regarded as one of our few really great actors, made his first bow to a theatrical audience at the Theatre Royal, Weymouth, in December, 1869, and afterwards gained some useful experiences on the "Western Circuit." In 1875 he married Miss Emily Waters, now well known in literary circles as "Rachel Penn," and then he made his first appearance in London at the Covent Garden Theatre. Five years of hard work in the provinces followed, leading to his engagement at the Princess's under the management of Mr. Wilson Barrett. His performance of the _Spider_ in "The Silver King" was no less popular than that of his chief. Although Mr. Willard's position in the first rank of actors could not have been long delayed, his sudden leap to the front was almost the result of a fortunate accident. He had accepted a long engagement from Mr. Hare for the new Garrick Theatre, which, fortunately for Mr. Willard, was cancelled by him when he refused to play the opening part assigned to him. This left him free to assume the reins of management at the Shaftesbury Theatre, where his remarkable performances of _Cyrus Blenkarn_ and _Judah_ established his claim to pre-eminence, and more than justified the faith and confidence of his numerous admirers. [Illustration: _From a_| AGE 18. |_Photograph._] [Illustration: _From a_| AGE 27. |_Photograph._] [Illustration: _From a Photo. by_| AGE 36. |_J. Templeton Grove._] MISS KATE RORKE. Miss Kate Rorke, at the age at which our first portrait represents her, was already on the stage, in the character of one of the little school-girls in "Olivia." At fourteen she was still a stage school-girl, this time in the Bancrofts' production of "School" at the Haymarket. Soon afterwards she joined Mr. Charles Wyndham's touring company, and at the age of our third portrait was delighting the audiences of the chief provincial theatres in a variety of characters. These early studies, combined with great natural abilities, have borne the fruit to be expected; and to-day Miss Rorke, as the frequenters of the Garrick Theatre know to their delight, is one of the most charming and finished actresses at present on the English stage. [Illustration: AGE 12.] [Illustration: AGE 14.] [Illustration: AGE 16.] [Illustration: PRESENT DAY.] THE DUKE OF CLARENCE AND AVONDALE. BORN 1864. At the age of seven Prince Albert Victor was receiving his education at home. At fourteen--at which age he is here depicted in a Highland costume--he was, like his brother George, a cadet on board H.M.S. _Britannia_ at Dartmouth. At nineteen, he became an undergraduate at Trinity College, Cambridge; after which he was transferred to Aldershot to study military science.