Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-09
How the Late Secretary Of State Went
to Cincinnati Forty Years Ago and
Played at the Old Shire's
Garden,


was a very young man he had an am
bition to become an actor, and being
convinced that bis histrionic talents
would win him distinction as an ex-
ponent Of the drama, he broke away
from all those social considerations
which, at the time, withheld many a
stage>struck youth from becoming an
actor, and went to Cincinnati, Al
though a novice, his exceedingly
handsome appearance, fine, mellow
voice, and generally imposing
bearing obtained him a position in a
little theater managed by a man
named Shues. Old Cincinnatians
will remember Shires, the proprietor
OF "Shires' Garden" Tie Burnet
house now stands were the grassy
slopes of the garden, in the CO 0ter of
which stood the little temple of the
drama.
Theatricals tn the West were at low
ebb IN those days-the work was
hard, the pay poor and the prejudice
great against the PLAYER. Mr.. Frel-
ingAuysen "did not work his way
up" as was nearly always the custom
then, but stepped at once into the
position of jeune premier, which he
held for part of the season about
the middle of the ferties. He had
dark hair, which curled and waved
upon his well-shaped head, his eyes
were large and expressive, ais figure
and presence imposing and gestures
good. He was in appearance the
beau ideal OF jeune premier. He
was always perfect" IN his roles,
could commit to memory in an in
credibly short time any number Of
words, SO that soon he became recog-
nized as q reliable and steady going
actor, but there his dramatic u1alif-
cations ceased. He did not possess
the ''sacred Efre" Of genius, but he
did possess the sense to abandon a
calling for which the regular charm
ess" work convinced him ia that wav
greatness did not lie for him. He was
very intimate with his feIlo w-actors
and his friends, who were a lit
tie afraid Of him because of his evi-
dent superiority of education and
manner. He was a gentleman. and
though the members of the company
Of Shires' Garden theater were good
fellows and capital actors, they were
not polished and cultivated men, save
for one or two exceptions, and so they
stood aloof from the splendid looking
young fellow who had voice like q
deep toned bell, but would never make
an actor. Such was their verdict upon
him. One morning at rehearsal the
ieune premier announced that he had
received letter from relative which
would cause him to fOrsake the stage
and return to his home. They ali felt
that his decision was a right one, and
he took leave, followed by the hearty
good wishes of all who had shared his
brief theatrical career. IF, like so
many, Mr. Frelinghuysen had refus-
ed to believe that his talents were not
histrionic, he would in all probability
have passed his life knocking about
as a second or third rate action. AS
long as his youth and good looks
lasted, ne would IN virtue Of them
have held leading position; after
their decline he would have gone slow,
| ly down the ladder, and at the foot of
| il expired and been buried by the
actors fund, How little his player
friends at Shires' garden, when they
laughed at his failures to make trad
ititional points" foresaw what great
points he was destined TO make in an
other sphere-that his name would be
honored by q nation when theirs
would not be remembered for a decade
even among their own cIassl
Mr.. Frelinghuysen did not appear
under an assumed name, and his own
will be found in the programmes Of
Shires' Garden theater about the year
1843-if there are any extant.