A touching account is given by one periodical of Henry Irving's dog Trin being rescued by a shepherd's collie in the Highlands. However, it is fairly well established that a handsome leading man, if he had talent, would not last very long under the Lyceum banner. But when it came to small part players he had immense sympathy for them. He was, as Ellen Terry remarked, a monument to show the power of genius of will: <disp-quote> 'For years he worked to overcome the dragging leg, which seemed to attract more attention from small minded critics than all the mental splendour of his impersonations. First he studied the play to be produced, by himself for three months, until every detail of it was imprinted on his mind. Ellen remarked that the company would have done well to notice how he read his own part, for he never again, until the first night, showed his conception so fully and completely.