The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-25

Edward Vroom, a praiseworthily ambi-
tious young actor, managed to secure the
American rights to the play, For the
Crown by that French master of trag-
edy, Francois Coppee- Mr.. Vroom thought
he saw an opportunity to elevate the stage,
and the fact that he hoped to be rewarded
for his efforts by the ''well DONE of sensi-
BILE peoplaShould not detract in the slight
ost from the commendability of his effort.
Mr.. Vroom issued circular letters to the
most prominent advocates of the dignified
drama in this city. There was liberal re-
Spouse, and For the Crown was finely
produced at Palmer's theater, with an ex-
cellent cast, Miss Rose Cogh lan supporting
Mr. VrOOm. Two or three of the best
critics spoke fairly of the production, al
though thGy agreed that Mr.. Vroom was
scarcely sufficiently robust in style for the
leading male role. The other reviewers,
however, dumped on'' almost everything
including Coppee's confessedly great play,
and some of them even added insult to in
jury by subsequent fippant, sneering or
supposedly humorous illusions. The fol-
lowing is q fair sample of what Mr. Vroom
has had to contend with. 1t is taken from
The Evening Sun:
Gan injustice was unintentionalIy done
to Mr.. Edward Vroom, the young actor
who attempted to elevate the stage at
Palmers on Monday night. By a mis-
print in The Evening Suns criticism it
was said that neither as an actor nor as a
dervish did Mr. Vroom score a great sue
cess Some friends of Mr.. Vroom have
Indignantly resented the 'dervish.' There
was nothing in his part, they say, which
called for the use of such an epithet. This
is quite true. The sentence should have
read Neither as an actor nor as derrick
did Mr.. Vrcom score a great success in his
attempt to elevate the stage. "
Are not such inane idictic specimens of
rubbish which are allowed to masquerade
as criticism in this city enough to discour-
age holder men than Mr.. Vroom from
conscientious efforts toward the better
ment of the tone of our drama?
Min, the Preacher-Actor.
George G. Min, the actor who compare
lively few years ago was one of the most
eloquent and Woodworking ministers in
New York and afterward in Chicago, is
to be the central figure in an elaborate
ShakeSpearean revival at the Broadway
theater in this city next month. Julius
Caesar will be the first play presented,
and hear that Richard III'' will be it's
successor. In the title role of the latter
and as Marc Antony in the former Mr..
Min has won high communication from
many careful critics. His stage career has
been remarkable one in many respects.
According to his biographer, it was in the
fall of 1882 that he made his first appear
ance as an actor. The part he selected
was Hamlet, which he has since played all
over the world, and the theater was crowd
ed with those who had known him as
preacher and orator, intent upon observing
the result of his new venture. One who
was familiar with him at the time is au-
thority for the remark made by Min just
before his first entrance upon the stage,
fMy dear fellow 1 can say this evening
with Iago, This is the night that either
makes me or fordoes me quite. - The
,l0A Ind &Ir
day the entire press of Chicago was warm
and unstinted in its praise. This was the
more remarkable as the newspapers had
anticipated a fiasco.
From that time forward Mr.. Min set
tied himself to the task of mastering the
technique of his new calling. He Travelled
necessarily throughout the west and
south, Canada and British Columbia, I'M
til he had thoroughly exploited the United
States and the British dominion of North
America. In 1888 he made his initial ap-
pearance in Australia. There he stood
purely on his merits an actor, and his
success was immediate. Two misfortunes
befell him in Australia. As the result of
overwork he was stricken with brain
fever. When he arose from his sickbed,
he found himself poor man again. Dur
ing his illness the business in his theater
had fallen away to almost the vanishing
point, and mining speculation in which
he had embarked his earnings proved q
total failure
Since then Mr.. Min has appeared with
success in the Shakespearean drama in
India, China and Japan. He also played
a brief engagement in romantic work in
London, where the critics We're surprised
by his freedom from manneris1n and his
clean cut elocution. His New York debut
is awaited with much interest.
Buses Self Advertising Methods.
What an artistic press agent Eleonora
Duse, the wonderful Italian actress, would
make! When she was last in this country,
she got columns of newspaper space by the
simple announcements that she would not
submit to an interview. This year she
accomplishes the same end by declaring
that she positively hates America, and
only made the second visit because she had