The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-06-08

into notoriety. Since then he has given
forth six plays and a clever little volume
of sketches and so phenomenal has been
his success that he has already come to be
regarded by the intellectual playgoers and
artists of his native land as the successor
of the immortal Goethe. While many peo-
pie fail to agree with his enthusiastic ad-
mirers to such an extent, certain it is that
since his meteoric flight from obscurity to
fame he has gained for himself place in
the foremost rank of greateat living dram
atists, of which Henrik Ibsen is recog-
niZedly the leader.
Hauptmann has been accused of initial
ing the great Scandinavian genius, but
Haupt1nann himself declares that he is
a follower Of no one, although he con-
fesscs to inspiration from Goethe, whom
he aims to emulate and by whom he
reyerently swears. But he is no more
follower Of Goethe than he is of Ibsen
His genius is individual and unique. He
is the pioneer of a new school in dramatic
art, as Wagner was in the world of music,
and like Wagner he was compelled to
fight hard fight for his artistic ideals be-
fore the public of his native land would
accept him.
Hauptmann has been claimed by nearly
all creeds. The atheists, socialists, natu-
ralists, realists, mystics, Protestants and
Catholics have in turn claimed him. If
we were TO judge by his face and dress, we
should assuredly set him down in our
minds as either a Catholic priest or
Church of England clergyman. But al
though monastic in appearance Haupt
mann is not an ascetic. He is indeed fol-
lower of no especial creed, though while
at times manifesting tendency to each
he evinces hostility To none Every creed
list can find something that appeals TO his
own particular doctrine in Hauptmann's
works. So true is this that when Emperor
William, who is Protestant, witnessed
performance Of "Hannele" he hailed
Hauptmann as the creator Of a new Prot
estant drama, while his Roman Catholic
brother monarch, Francis Joseph of Aus
tria, declared "Hannele' to be a true ex-
ponent of popery. Hauptmann himself con-
fesses to no conventional dogma. His
creed is purely one Of Rstheticism, his one
great desire being that for moral, mental
and artistic freedom-the passionate crav-
ing to be rid of all conventional letters
imposed either by church or society.
To the ordinary observer Gerhardt
Hauptmann does not convey the idea of
being an unusual man. He is absolutely
unassuming in manner. but to close OBJ
server the wonderful intellectually of his
face suggests rare possibilities in the man.
lie is OF medium height and slender; his
eyes are blue, his forehead fine his mouth
firm, the whole face radiating great con-
centration of mind, combined with GER
tain sadness and at times acute irony Of
expression.
Hauptmann, who had been for some
weeks IN America, directing the rehearsals
of the English version of 'Hannele,' sail
ed for the fatherland May 3, with the in
tention of devoting himself TO the compile
ton OF new creation, upon which for
the past two years he has been working.
1t Is trilogy dramatizing the history Of
the Lutheran reformation The first part
is already finished, and upon completion
of the whole il is TO be hoped the gifted
young playwright may once again come
among us JANE DoDSoN OHERN-