The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-05-09
AN INTERESTING TALK
With Mr.. Frank Hounlg NOW Rost-
Z Ing ut Homo
PRIOR 10 HIS OWN STARRING TOUR.
Ills Sister aud Mr.. Kcone's Company
will Support him-uo Thln<s tho
Stage Keeps Abreast of Human Pro.
cress-Somo False Notions OF tho
Players Art-iiis Coming Tour.

Players Art-ilIs Coming Tour.
Mr.. Frank uonnIG, tho we'll known
actor, 10 enjoying vol carnod, though
brief rest, At his homo In this city,
aitor the hard labor Of his season "a
Thomas ". Kocnc's leading man, and
priorto tho commencom cnt Of a oh ortsup.
Elementary season nsxt Friday evening
at tho Opera House. 10 representa-
tive Of tho ISrELtlGEScER Mr.. uonnic
replied to tho question. care you Elad
to DO back in wheeling'"
"oh, yes, indeed. After an abscnco
OF two years, Wheeling looks brighter
aud more prosperous than ever. have
a warm regard tor Wheeling aud her
people, aud shall never forget tho sub.
stan,ial encouragement given me IN the
past On every hand old friends greet
me with hearty shake OF the hand
and words OF cordial welcome. very
gratifying, and which touch very re.
spnnsIve chord"
"WNs Mr.. keene's season success
full" Dir. Hennig was asked. .
Remarkably SOL understand tho
most successful OF his career. His
health has been boiter than II has been
for years. and his ro6us: appearance
suggests new lease OF liio. We travel.
cd over 10000 miles during tour
which embraced nearly every state in
tho Union, British Columbia and Cana
d."
"wcre you affected by the prevailing
business deprcssion?"
10 certain extent in tho silver
states. The most prosperous section
OF the country visited was the south.
: particularly in Texas, where, at ad'
vancei prices, even standing room was at
apremium. Tho legitimate drama seems
TO be more appreciated in the south
than In the north and east-a peculla:
but stubborn TACT, which can only at.
tribute to greater love and reverence
for Shakespeare. than is evidenced by
their more tlippant and irresponsive
neighbors."
do you think. Mr.. HeuniC. the lcgi.
innate drama is on tho waue%
Most emphatically, No! Shakes
pearc will live as long as the English
Language is spoken, both in the library
and on the stage. They are inseparable
and indispensable. Tho stage by its
pictorial illusion awaSens the magma
ton and desire for greater knowl'
edge, which only the library can supply.
As an educational factor the stage ex.
er,s crea. and wide influence, which
should be commended and encouraged" "
"How do you account for so few tragic
actors%
"Well, there are numerous reasons.
The chief one is, TO become proficient
classic player, one must devote indetat-
igable time and study to the profession.
Few actors are willing TO make the nee
es.ary sacrifice, particularly rs the mon
e,ary returns are slow. and not SO
great at first. as in other professional
branches, where less work, study and
rick are entailed. But when success i.
attained, it is more lasting, dignitied
and satisfying"
what are your ideas abou. the al.
Il do not believe the stage is on de-
cline. Ever since the theatre existed
/. ha. been subject to fluctuations, &C.
cordirg to the moods and caprices Of
public taste. There has always been q
lime when the stage wac finer than it i:
to-day. Aged play.goers OF the period
OF Edmund kean and John Philip KEN
BILE were firmly persuaded that the
drama had been buried with the dust
of Garrick and Pog Wellington. never &c
rise again.
II believe the stage is keeping ster
with the progress OF human thought
and it will continue to advance in every
direction. While We may Geprecate the
existence OF the Spectator who deals in
dramatic art precisely as he would dea
in groceries, still he has his uses, anC
frequently entertains md amusGs
large class who would otherwise not at
tend the theatre. Such meretviciou:
examples, think, do not warrant the
frequent assertions tina. the stage ha.
declined. l believe there are Just a.
good actors now as have ever lived, and
there is just as fine an appreciation O
70 elhlutblG AL kbC i' CFSi
existed in any Of the 'palmy dave Lei
Us recognize what is good in our OWL
time and honor and admire 1t with
grateful hearts.
"Much is heard about nature in act
ing. and about the necessity OF feeling
on the part OF an actor. This point ha;
TOO often been ob.cured by iynoran.
or careless reasoning. 10 yield TO CT
unchecked feeling is to 90 to pieces. The
actor who makes the audience weep il
no. no who himself weeps. but no who
seems to weep. lie will have tho true
feeling, undoubtedly, but pcr:cc. ar
, will control it and give to i. the casy
seDbance o: nature"
allow long will your tour last?"
"About four weeks, OF towns in Wes'
Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ooio.
shall be supported by members OF tn,
Thomas ". keene company. Ny sis
ter, Miss Lima ucnnig. vi! DO my lead
ing lady, and irrespective OF brothcrly
pride, | think her work n. rehearsal,
gives promise Of a very bright future.
Mr.. Eiennig will no doub. receive
warm welcome here Friday and Satur
day. The sale OF seais opens ut G. A
Houses this morning. "OthclIo" viii
be given Friday night. "liamlc" Satur
day afternoon and Orchard Ill" Sa.