The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-24

and the fact that he hoped to be rewardco
for his efforts by the "well done" OF sensi-
BILE people should not detract In the slight
est from the commendability OF his effort.
Mr. Vroom issued circular letters TO the
most prominent advocates OF the digniiied
drama in this city. There was liberal re-
sponse, and For the Crown" was hnely
produced at Palmers theater, with an ex-
eellent cast, Miss Rose Coghlan supporting
Mr. Vroom.9 Two or three OF the best
critics spoke fairly of the oproduction, al
though they agreed that Mr.. Vroom was
scarcely sufficiently robust In style for the
leading male role. The other reviewers,
however, Jumped on" almost everything,
including Coppee's confessedly great play,
and some of them even added insult To in
jury by subsequent flippant sneering or
supposedly humorous illusions. The fol-
lowing is fair sample Of what Mr. Vroom
has had to contend with. 1t Is taken from
The Evening Sun:
can injustice was unintentionally done
TO Mr.. Edward Vroom, the young actor
who attempted to elevate tho stage at
Palmer's on Monday night. BY mis-
print In The Evening Suns criticism II
was said that neither as an actor nor as
dervish did Mr.. Vroom score great sue
cess Some friends of Mr.. Vroom have
Indignantly resented the 'deryish.' 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. Vroom score great success In his
attempt to elevate tho stage.
Are not such inane, idiotio specimens OF
rubbish which are allowed to masquerade
as criticism In this city enough to discour-
age bolder men than Mr.. Vroom from
conscientious efforts toward the better
ment Of the tone OF our dramae
Min, tho Preacher-Actor.
George G. Min, the actor who compara-
lively few years ago was one OF the most
eloquent and hardworking ministers in
New York and afterward In Chicago, is
TO be the central figure in an elaborate
Shakespearean revival Mt the Broadway
theater In this city next month. Julius
Caesar" will be tho first play presented,
and hear that "Richard III' will be its
successor. In the title role Of the latter
and as Marc Antony in the former Mr..
Min has won high commendation from
many careful critics. His stage career has
been remarkable one In many respects.
According TO his biographer, 1t 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 rs
preacher and orator intent upon observing
the result Of his new venture. Ono who
was familiar with him at the time Is au-
thority for the remark made by Min just
before bis first entrance upon the stage,
"My dear fellow, i can say this evening
with Iago, This Is the night that either
makes mo or fordoos me quite. The
new Hamlet was Endorsed, and the next
day the entire press OF Chicago was warm
and unstinted in its praise This was the
moro remarkable as the newspapers had
anticipated lasco.
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, un-
til he had thoroughly exploited the United
States and the British dominion of North
America. In 1888 he made his initial up
pearance In Australia. There ho stood
purely on his merits as an actor, and his
SUCCESS was immediate. Two misfortunes
befcll him In Australia. AS the result of
overwork no was stricken with brain
fever. When nc arose from his sickbed,
he found h.mself poor man again. Dur
ing his illness tho business In bis theater
had fallen away TO almost tho vanishing
point, and a mining speculation in which
he had embarked his earnings proved
total failure.
Since then Mr.. Min has appeared with
success In the Shakespearoan drama in
India, China and Japan. He also played
brief engagement in romantic work in
London, where tho critics 1Cro surprised
by his freedom from mannorism and his
clean cut clocution. His New York debut
is awaited with much interest.
Duse's Self Advertising Methods.
What an artistic press agent Eleonora
Duse, tho wonderful Italian actress, would
makel When she was last In this country,
she got columns of newspaper space by the
simple announcement that she would not
submit TO nn interview. This year she
accompishcs tho same end by declaring
that she positively hates America, and
only mada so second visit because she had
l:-sN)