The Victorian ethic has long been denigrated for its hypocrisy, for the split mind which accepted children in factories, listened to uplifting sermons on Sundays, and wept in the theatre over virtue betrayed while accepting open prostitution on the streets. Even the cries of Victorian children are still faintly echoed by the children of today's homes broken by divorce and disturbed by violence. Henry Irving was supremely the child of his age, an age which believed firmly that will-power could accomplish all. Like many intelligent children, the young John Brodribb was seen (by his aunt) to be a suitable candidate for the ministry. As he listened to the rousing sermons in the drab chapel, perhaps he was drawn to the idea of hypnotising an audience and holding them spellbound.