The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-06-17
NH. FRELINGHUYsEN AN ACTOR.

How the late Secretary of State Went to
Cincinnati Forty Years Ago and Played at
the Old shires' Garden.
NEW York World.
When the late NJ Frelinghuyssn was a
very young man he had an ambition to be.
come an actor, ard, being convinced that his
histrionic talents would win him distinction
as an exponent of the drama. he broke away
fIom ali those social considerations which,
at the time, withheld many stsge.struck
youth from becoming an actor, and went to
Cincinnati. Although novice his ex-
cstdiDgly handsome appearance, fine,
mellow voice, and generally i'm.
posing bearing obtained him a posi-
ton in little thester managed By 6
Ran named Shires. Old Cincinnatisns will
remember ShiIes, the proprietor of 'Shires'
Garden" The Barnet House now stands
where formerly were the grassy slopes OF the
garden, in the center OF which stood the little
temple of the drama
Theatricals in the West were st low ebb
in those days-the work was hard, the pay
poor aud the prejudice great against the
player. Mr. Frelinghuysen did not work
his way up,' as vas nearly always the Gus.
tom then, but stepped at once into tbs posi-.
ton of jeune premier, which he held for
part of the season about the middle of
the forties. He had dark hair, which
enrled and waved upon his well-shaped
sive, bis figure ana presence imposing
and gestures good. He was in appearance
the beau ideal of a jeune premier. He was
always perfect in his roles could commit
to memory in an incredibly short time any
number of words, so that soon he became
recognized es q reliable and steady-going
actor, but there his dramatic qualifications
ceated He did not possess the sacred fire.
OF genius, bat he did possess the sense to
abandon calling for which the regular
'haTness' work convinced him that in that
way greatness did not lie for him. He vas
very intimate with his felloW-actors who
were little afraid of him because of his evil
dent superiority of education and manner.
He was a gentleman, and though the mem
beTs of the company OF Shires' Garden The
ater 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 deep.
tor ed bell, but would never make an ACTOR"
Such was their verdict upon him. One
morning at rehearsal the jeune premier an.
nouBced that he had received letter from q
relative which would cause him to forsake
the stage and return to his home. They all
teit that his decision was right one, and he
took leave, followed by the hearty good
wishes CT all who had shared his brief theatri-
Cal career. If, like so many, Mr.. Frelinghuy
zen had refused 10 believe that his talents
were not bIstrionic, he would in all prooa-
biiity have passed his life knocking about as
q second or third-rste actor As long as
his youth and coed looks lasted he would
in virtue of them have held leading posi-.
ton; sfttr their decline be would have gone
slogly dewn the ladder. and at the foot of it
expired and been buried by the actors fund.
how little his p!syer friends at Shirss' Gar
den, when they laughed at his failures to
make traditional spoints" foresaw what
great points he was destined 70 make in an
other spere-thRt his name would De hon.
ored by a nation when theirs would not be
remembered for decade even among Their
own class.
Mr.. FreliDghuysen did not appear under
an assumed name. and his own wi ! b.
found in the programmes of Shires' Gardea
ThsstsT about the year 1s43-if there are any
ext8nt.