The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-07
His Famous Interview With the
Comedian Barnabee.
B0stOnIan Called on Humorist
in Tribune Office.
THE SINGERS SECRET.
Supposed to Have Taken His
Fathers Place.
HeraIded as . Dawn or Glor-
ious Lyric Epoch.

rTra e~r1-vvfr7e- interview which
took place between H G. Barraoes'
the comedian. and Eugene Field, the
humorfst. when the latter was Wrl-lIls
for the Denver Tribune, VIII ne rezl
with interest. as IL eubodies many OF
Fields characteristics Of style Wnen
he was q. contributor to the oal4y
press.I
We had the pleasure OF a call yes
tertiav from 8Lr- T. c. Barna bee I1e
er,fnanr buefo OF The BostOnians-' -
We hardly knew the gentleman 50
straDpfng and fresh and hearty he
IooEed-so different from the hagsaro
ana ther-bsateu Barnabee We
chatted with a year ago
ssF4ov7 goes It. old nam We asked
aEh vou make the popular mis-
take" he answered, laugnlnsly- 4
am not the Old man on mistake
me for my father am not my
ARE you H c. Barnabee2" We de-
rnauded-
1CertainIy I am quoth he. but
am the younger H c. Barnabee- My
father retired from the stage, L TOOK
his place, and have been filling II ever
since.
s.Can it be possible we cried Yet
y.vou are in every essential the very
image and likeness OF your 1aCher
yes connoisseurs say that favor
him, particularly from the legs up
OF course. an analytical study or eacn
feature would disclose a DISTINCTION II
not a difference but my mise en- scene
IS certainly very like pa IS.
Mr. Baruabee then told me how he
came TO 90 on the stage He had a
fonduess for the theatrical profession,
but his father discouraged IL. and e1-
pressed q determination that his boy
should enter into trade The son was
therefore sent to school and suose-
H
eter N H. Upon being graduated
from the latter institution, young
8aruabee went into business at New
Bedford Mass, his father providing
him with the means to purchase an
interest in q prosperous wholesale
whaling outfit store But all this time
the hisrrfouic genius Of the lad kept
exhibiting itself ever and anon; young
Baruabee was never happier than
when he was participating in church
concerts or in village cantatas. or IN
rableauZ wants His limitations OF
his famous father we're marvellous in
their fidelity. and the critic of the
Barusta bic Palladium who had seen
the elder Barnabee IN religious con-
CerLs forty years before neraIdeG the
younger Barua bee as the dawn Of a
glorious lyric epoch Said the Paila--
diam This young man rendition Of
The Cork Leg. IN the hall over Moses
AppIeby's general store last Thursday
evening was enjoyed by the creme de
Ia creme Of Barns1abIe society Our
audiences are notably colby critical,
but the genius Of Baruabee was ire
stsrtbIe. and saIVos Of applause re-
Ward6G the performer C6srlfVinE at
one and the same time to the discrimi-
nation Of our public and the transcen-
dant merits Of the performance
Nv hen father got back at the end
OF the season. says BaFuabee. he
sent for me, and said Hank saws
he I've bout made Up my mind to
let you take my place in our op-ry
company You ain with a durn for
business and guess you WIZ cut out
for q actor.
Then NIr- Macdonald took me aside
and said that II I went with EN-,
muslin { let on to anybody but what
I was the Old man
90 What for2f says L
Because. says he. it might hurt
Us II folks got hold Of II that the old
man had retired The public is d
queer CriCtIr, it insists on having its
own way Now. you and I know that
you re heap funuier than the old
man ever dared be, but sakss aIfvel
you couldnt make the public be-
lieve IT,.
Well continued Mr. Baruabee
I've been on the road fifty years. and
the secret has not leaked out. Every
body believes that I am the same Old
Baruabee that has been doing the
funny act ever since Washington
crossed the Delaware. Once in a while
some critic or other remarks in his
paper that our friend Barua- bee seems
20 be getting his second wind or that
the remarkable Barnabee is IoveIier
than ever this season, but nobody ap-
pears TO suspect the deception We
have lots Of fun about 1t. and [ Judge
from the tone Of fathers letter that
he enjoys the joke as much as any
body.
The only ones who are in the Sc
cret,' continued Mr.. Barnabee. are me
principals Of the company the chorus