Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-09-02
KINGS and QUEENS
UPON THE STAGE.
HOW "STAGE SFRuCK' ROYAL FOLK
HAVE BUILT THEATRES FOR
THEIR OWN DRAMATIC
EXPORT.

Acting has always had a great fas-
cination for many people, and from
the earliest times plays, representa-
tons and tablaaux have been among
the favorite amusements at Courts.
I'm Germany every little sovereign
had his residence town, with his thea
tre,the theatre being under the special
protection of the sovereign. 1t mus.
be said that thesdrama, and, in fact,
art, science and literature, all owe an
immense debt of gratitude to the rul-
rs of these small principahties, who
from time immemorial have been the
patrons OF struggling genius. At the
more important of the European cap
itals the theatres were often of great
dimensions, and the fittings and all the
arrangements were of tn most gorgeous
description; but ait the smaller Courts
it was not the case, and very simple
were the meanSsused for the production
OF q piece ON the stage.
Weimar was at the commencement of
the nineteenth century the great CEN
tire of intellectual life in Germany, and
here Schiller, Goethe and many other
famous men found due recognition Of
their genius from the then Grand Duke
and Duchess of Sake Weimar. Many
less well-known men of talent were
also helped upwards by these sover-
eigns, and to the present Gay Weimar
is regarded with reverence and respect
by the literary world
by IL Royal Amateur.
One of the best, if not the very best,
royal actors of the present day is the
Grand Duke Constantine
witch, of Russia, whose recent appear
ance in the Hermitage Theater at st.
Petersburg, in the role OF Hamlet"
has caused the greatest admiration,
and has given him a place amongst
the most talented actors of the present
day. His Imperial Highness is not
only an actor. he is also poet and an
author of considerable reputation. 1t
was he who made the beautiful trans
lation Of Hamlet" into the Russian
tongue, and he is now engaged in trans
lating another of the works Of Eng
lands greatest poet.
The Grand Dukes rendering of the
much discussed part of Hamlet has
caused great interest in the theatrical
world. as he made several important
alterations in the usual manner or
playing the character. and his acting
was as finished as 1t was original.
In the English royal family we have
more than one member who is clever
in the histrionic art, and most people
have heard of the talented acting OF
the Princess Henry Of Battenberg, who
is also famous for her skill in arrahg-
ing theatricals and in selecting who
shall play the various roles. Her roy
al highneSs would have made an ex-
cellent actress or manager of thea
ter had her lines laia in other plains,
and as 1t is her talents have often
given the Queen herself and the other
members of the royal family great
pleasure
In the Australian Imperial house
theatricals are amongst the favorite
amusements of the younger members
of the family and many are the chazui-
ing pieces which are played during the
winter During the life of the late
Archduke Casl Ludwig, of Austria, his
younger children always arranged the
atricals, in which they took part, in
honor of all the family festivals. The
Oldest daughter OF his late Imperial
HighnesS, the Duchess Albredat of
Nuremberg. Is an especially clever
actress. as is also her youngest brother,
the Arcn6uke Ferdinand Carl LuGwig,
who is as good in comedy as he is in
tragedy, s-tI who lately acted the role
of 'Walleussein' at PressAurg. the res
iaenae DE- his couasr. the Archsslka
FrsssdTlcH. when he gave an excellent
rcrsderirE of ,aai most difficult rart-
Another talented Royal actress IS the.