Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-09
PERFORMING BY COMMAND.
An AutOcratic Soldier May BE More
Terrible Than a King.

Terrible Than King.
From the New York Times
Ludwig Amann, one Of the artists from
abroad who is to take part In the opening
of the regular season at the Olympia Music
Hall, has arrived from Europe and is TAX
ing keen delight in studying types of New
York character He is an impersonator,
and theatergoers of the large cities on the
other side of the Atlantic have high regard
for him.
Il have had many interesting, many
laughable, experiences in my work. he
said yesterday. "A man who goes about
the world representing different characters
is apt to meet with odd experiences.
For instance, one evening in Rome
gentleman came behind the scenes of the
theater where 1 performing. and.
throwing his arms around my neck, eX-
claimed: All. caro- AMIGO. you have shown
me my beloved father once again! / could
not understand his meaning until learned
he was the son of the famous Garibaldi.
Il had an odd experience with Bismarck
in Berlin. The then chancellor sent for me
TO give performance in his house, the
small audience consisting chiefly of the
members of his family l gave number
of representations, and Bismarck asked
suddenly: Do you ever represent me-? AS
soon as l had recovered my wits I an
sw cred: Yes. prince you have always been
the greatest of my successes The chan
famous three hairs in your bismarck wig
l can readily understand that they bring
you good luck
THE comic papers in Germany have for
years abounded in illusions to the three
hairs on Bismarck's head, which are sup
posed to stand up when he is enraged. But
Bismarck did not ask me to show him how
he looked.
been commanded to give representations in
the presence of the originals. / was per-
forming at the Eden, in Milan, in the
spring of 1890. Count Bellinzaghi. the sin
daco-What you in America call the mayor
was immensely popular with the towns
people, and every evening when ! came
on the stage they cried out for III sinIaco >
TIE king, Cmberto, heard of this, and one
evening he came with the sndaco and a
party of courtiers and occupied a box near
the stage.
II was ordered to open the evenings en-
tertafnment, and the Duke of Visconti came
behind the scenes and requested me not to
forget to impersonate the sindaco. 1t seems
that the joEial king had brought the MAYOR
there as a joke, and they afterward told
me that when the mayor was being i'm
personated the king turned to him and said
laughingly: Look. count. for now you see
yourself as others see you
another representation I was ordered to
give did not leave such a cheerful impress
sion on my memory. Every one must have
| heard of the late Gen. Gourko the terrible
J autocrat of the Russian army who if he
| had had his way abroad much as he had
| 1t In Russia, would have exterminated
everything German. 1 was performing
| about eleven years ago in Odessa where
! the general has a palace. Though I am a
| German, I never expected to attract the
| attention of so powerful persopage.
! "One evening l received a mysterious
| message. which read Study Gen. Gourko
| In Russia it is better not to inquire too
| closely into matters that one does not I'M
| derstand, so, although 7 could not imagine
I for f1n
| hour before going to the theater in study
| ing and impersonating the autocratic Rus
| sian.
Just as the performance of the evening
| was about to begin, a body of police
| marched behind the scenes and presented
| an order for the immediate arrest of myself
! and the twelve men in the orchestra. The
| oder was signed by Gen. Gourko.
| without any explanation, we were lee
| through the streets to the generals palace
| and into an apartment where the terrible
| man was seated
They tell me that you impersonate cele-
| brated men, he reared Impersonate me!
| The police had seized all my properties
/ and so they were near at hand. Giving a
| last look at Gourko. 1 turned to a mirror tc
| make up 1t was an anxious moment
| assure you, for if the general should take
| exception to my representation of him. he
| had unlimited power to punish me.
| Il dragged myself together and turned tt
| the general a copy of his own face anC
overbearing manner. What seemed to me 6
long time. but was probably only a SECOND
| or two, elapsed, and then Gourko burst
into roar of laughter The ordeal for me
| was over.
| He ordered me to give him some more
| approximations The musicians played fol
him, and we had an altogether jovial even
| ing.
Though have since performed by com
| maEd of the car. that impersonation by
| military command was the most tryins
piece of work l ever undertook