The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-07-07
Over The Question, To Hiss Or
Not To Hiss.
IN ENGLAND 1T IS ALLOWABLE.
Story of Den Ih)mpsOn-0ttO Hegner
Prodigy A New Centerb, q sporting
and Dramatic.

ANU nLSsil4Si Gnu tAiCtn9
The question is now agitating all the large
cities of the United States. The rumor has
often foated over the sea that in England it
is the prerogative of an audience in theatre
to very distinctly express its disapproval of
execrable acting. Why should not the same
rule apply in American
If you pay for a coat or a beefsteak you
expect it to be worth the price asked for it,
and sentimental considerations will not make
you dainty in your language to the tailor or
butcher if you are dissatisfied If you pay
for a seat in a theatre and are tortured all
the evening by the gyratings and mouthings
of a company of pulp headed players, is there
any law that compels you &c sit in writhing
agony and allow the meritless play butchers
TO imagine that their efforts are making you
delirious with joyl
Not much
Have you not an incontestable right to
give vent to your warrantable ire and let
those nerve executioners know that their
proper sphere is pounding sand or shoveling
fog2
Well, rather.
When disagreeable man talks frenetically
to you for three hours at a stretch, berating
the universe and all its creatures, don't you
feel like taking him by the scruf Of the neck
and depositing him in an ash barrel-in fact,
have you not at some time in your life done
this or something similar1 If you have not
you should have.
1t is what your natural inclinations lei
you to do.
Now what right has a theatrical company
TO demand a tribute of money from you, and
then make a total wreck of you between
5 and II o'clock?
None.
And if you are caught in such position as
this, it is your privilege to work off the
exuberance of your rightful Indignation by
kissing long and loud in the most grating
and grewsome minor key you can command.
There should be an equality of justice in all
things. If a performance pleases you, it is
your invariabe custom to ruin your gloves
and smash the ferule of your cane in
expressing your unbounded delight Why
should not the thing work both ways!
STORY OF DEN THOMPSON.
The following little story may give some
thing of an insight into Denman Thompson's
character:
Some years ago there was a beautiful
woman and a charming actress. She trav-
eled with Chanfrau; in fact, she was the at
traction. In California they separated, and
after appearing for many seasons, she became
blind Her friends sent her home to Boston,
her birthplace One day Albertine, being
led by an old friend, was on Washington
street, when she was met by Thompson, who
recognized her, and stepping up to her, said:
is not this AlbertineF"
"'Ye7, sir; all that is left of her. 1 think
know that voice; is it not Den Thompson
that l am talking tor
~ 1T is" said Den.
~ After a few remarks the actor said to her,
"Give me your address and will come and
see YOU" at the same time pressing in her
hand ten dollar bill, which was all he had
with him.
In few moments he met John Mccullough
and told him of the condition of the poor
blind actress John instantly said, Il am
very busy today, Den; but go and see her,
and whatever you do to assist her will stand
half"
Den called upon Albertine and gave her
500 for present necessities. Next day he
met Mccullough and told him what be had
done. Mccullough drew from his pocket a
$50 bill and handed it to Den, saying:
Here is my half"
''No," said Den; ''you go and give her
hundred"
1t is almost needless to add that John com
piled with Thompsons request.
OTTO HEGNER, PRODIGY.
Otto Hegner, the musical youth, who is to
be in America from November, 1889, to May,
1890, is nearly a year older than HOFFMAN,
u9 and slightly smaller, though more
souarely set. He is dressed to perfection.
Sometimes his concert room behavior is so
demurely dignifed that it is almost comical.
It IS generally stated that Otto Hegner is
Swiss by birth. He was born in Germany.
His parents were M
very poor, When SsN
the boy was years
old some visitor to CE&n
the German village WIN
discovered his tai y + HG
ent for music. He e@S 49,
was put under the NY
tuition of Franz p
{: !. I: !. !. &: !. !. !: :: !:
Fricker, a pianist N
of local repute, and ~ H.
made wonderfully D., n \ m.
rapid progress. MDS I'm | nm
When he was s MlgS-M e
years old Hans HUI IiE 81" p
=