The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-11
HARRY KERNELL'S PLIGHT.
FRIENDS OF THE COMEDIAN FEAR FOR
MS MENTAL CONDITION.
They Tell OF Ills Rec mt Eccentricitie-. and
Assert that Domestic Troubles Have
Unbalanced His Deason-tsis Career

JhTh. anu u HsStTttl QUITO ClTCuUlSlu0lIuIIJ
that Harry Kernel. the noted Irish comedian.
had become mentally unbalanced. and that
his friends and relatives at that watering
place wero greatly concerned as to his cordi-
ton. Tho report was circulated by group OF
actors, friends OF tho comedian. who had VISIT
cd him several days ago at his scnsnoro resi-
dence. 1t Ind been rumored prior to their
visit that Kerncll had given unnIistakable
signs OF mental collapse. and these actors had
called upon him. hoping to DO able from per-
sona observation to conclusivcly deny the
distressing story. To their sorrow and sur
prise. thoy found that there was substance in
the rumor. Ono OF the actors said last evening:
Before we called on Harry We had been
told by Mrs. John Kcrhcl the wife Of his
brother. who,slso lives in Asbury Park, that
Harry was really in q bad way, both mentally
aud physically No found that to be only too
true. In tho past few mouths ho has greatly
changed for tho worse. His checks are
sunkon and his eye is no longer bright. His
demcanor has altered entirely Formerly lie
had new joke ready or new gag to spring
at any time and with all Corners. hut during
the entrs course Il our long interview he was
eithor moody or silent. He evnccd no inter-
est NJ oil in theatricas. and. considering that
oil OF US were old professional friends and as
soclatps. his failure to Talk shop was IN itself
remarkable. Instead he seemed TO havo d.
condition. and he watched ID US furtively most s
81 tho time. Eycn after we had LETT him and
pretending to read follow us withlhis eyes
over the edge Of u newspaper
e have, known Harry KcIncl nearly twenty
his iriends to hear It. think there is no doubt
that he is not all right mentally His cccen-
to his Relatives aud iriends but they have n"t
reyenled them. naturally. for tho actor has
r,lrR nj nj ~ RI Nya1l In AGI
stage affairs, For instance. at a Catholls
yolunteerei his services. together with those
tsr so Wsrs e hs G srSy sysh sf
music in advance to tho orchestra leader for
rehearsal, But no didn't appear at the show. He
had forgotten en- all about It. and he has also not
return OF the music His oeS Of his vic ' as , a
volunteer was strange enough to excite com.
Trp to 'Vs at S SsoSy
sIuare Theatre. md she could not possibly
Park only on Saturday nights. and then stays
only until Monday afternoon. iIarry's two chill
deyotes nearly ali his time to them s! But m even
with them he Is not always rational. Only a
few days ago the littie boy. Harry. was dis;
his fathers watch. and diamond pin in tho
sand. and the actor had forgotten entirely that
While we talked with him one of the party
brought up the subject OF this seasons en-
Theatrical circles that Kernel who is always
sought after. has as yet signed no contract to
play with han any troupe this year and there has
first inquirer he replied that he would eoIwith
Harry Williams. the Pittsburgh manager. for
P Pastors troupe last Tuesday in Asbury Park.
gagged him. Still later he said he wasn't going
to act this year at all, Then. almost immedi:
n,ned to Of the G
that he had recently, visited Seanlan. and he
predicted that Scanlsn would b. at liberty
j. ndmiasd' 5y bis Manages %N GUS p s%ss
George Knight few weeks before his demen-
TIA became kn9wn. and his case. think. is not
hass kerne IS at IT.
Tor the latter can enuncste distinctly and
his mind seems to wander at intervals. He
Knight. and believe he was cunningy en-.
our, visit. Wo learned whiio in Asbury lark
that he Ind acted strangely in his pecunary
New York bank and deposited it in an As
bury bur, Park bank Still later he withdrew it
ably In tn the thousants too" - "D'0O' '''''
nell npS Sse rksq bsSHt fsF
his friends had exaggerated the extent OF tho
Comedians illness, hut they admitted that ho
qupintance attributed Kcsnelrs presen, CON
f dla%R,. to caused by domese
y tho pretty English soubrette known as
Queenie 'Eassar entered suit for divorce.
time Il Was undei stood TINT there had been
many violent squubbles between the pair.
ssging seysrn Of whGh the wife
vas Very :, Jealous of her In Tier iii
Mrs. Kernel asked for nllmonv., and asserted
which no had acquired in his business us II
Performer, Before tho suitwas called for iria!
Park cottage WHICH Kernel bough, some
years ago hen he MAJ riea Ktte oNe who aas
the best liz and reel dancer Of her day, She
In demand at big wages They lived together
until about 1850; when they sSparfiteHd and
camo to this country ABOUT i've ,1 Years ago
from England; where she had heen vel! known
SsiaIusie ha!l fincer; She Is short dark,
Ksrnell Is g .Phl,adephian. apd was born in
parked success: His North Of Ireland dialect
S!s stage tai purosts has ssraaS
beon wonderfully effective. FOR Kernel has for
years been the h,Ghesf.;nricsd reriorm.r in in
m9ss-upI u" fsdats FrshmGa" IL store
whiskers. Is famous, and for years hns been
eopied by other Celtic comedians. When ker-
nell started on the stage his brother John
hpa not evinced theatrical inclinations.. and
Hurry for n number Of years worked alone.
his act being a very droll monolosue with a
song and dance attachment. His salary Il
single performer is said = have frequently
feaehed 500 week. and was seldom less
with Tony PASTORS road troupe. and has
thug vaudeville shows in, this, country. His
" SiIGwnlk yiDNS " have h,,.Ii both witty and
original, aud many OF them have become IA:
nous A. n producer OF what are, called
gags" kerneli was WncOmmoDly prolific. \
dozen years ago" moro his brother John. who
Fad boon q boiler raker went on tho stage.
stimulated hy Ifarr's success. They at once
doubled" and they made tnan which has
certainly never been eIunll"d in its class. Tho
pair were in effective contrast. John IS MS soi-
ymn and ~ pondcroms in his way as Harry is
light and chiprer and their lhsainage, was al
usual in acts OF this sort. 10th danced excel.
lentiy. but Harry was tho nimblcr and moro
eIIasssi,HL When he Illustrated %Ts,achips
enthrope had to uay him, tho tribute OF
hearty laughter, AZ, an im!tator, also Harry
was cons pcuOCsly clever, Three or four en-