The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-03-05

Mr.. Sothern arrived in Topeka this
afternoon over the Rock Island from
large house last night. He is tour
which has been remarkable in many
respects. At Salt Lake City he scored
the biggest success ever made in the
west, when he played to a house that
was crowded to such a capacity that 1T
took over half an hour for the crowds
to file out after the show was over.
Sothern is probably better known
than any other actor in the country.
having come by it naturally. His faith
er, the famous E. A. Sothern, was one
! of the worlds greatest actors half
century ago. Mr.. Sothern is a south
erner, having been born in New Orleans
in 1859. He was taken to England for
his education and later studied paint
ing in Paris.
The first theater appearance of Soth-
ern was in 1879, when he took a small
part with his father at Abbey's Park
theater in New York. A couple of sea-
sons later he toured the country with
John Mccullough. and afterwards tour
ed England with the same company.
He was the leading comedian with this
company in 1888, his last year on the
English tour.
In 1884, Sothern turned playwright,
and wrote little farce. Whose Are
They in which he appeared in New
York Brooklyn and Boston. From 1884
to 1886, Sothern appeared in several diff
ferent productions, among them. One
Of Our Girls, "A Scrap Scrap Of Paper,
and THE Love Chase
| On May %, 1887. Sothern played his
first leading role as Jack Hammer
ton" in The Highest Bidder at the
Lyric theater in New York Since then
in Lord Chumley,'' THE Master of
Woodbarrow,' The Prisoner of Zenda, .
Under the Red Robe An Enemy to
the King THE Adventures of Ursula, .
and The Song of the Sword"
In 1898 Sothen appeared in the
great success, "A Shilling's WORTH A
year later he took up THE Sunken
Bell" In 1899, Sothern toured Eng
Richard Lovelace' achieved popular
ity with Sothern playing the leading
role. In 1902 Sothern took up eff I
Were King"
King" he has achieved pronounced
successes in his elaborate production
of John the Baptist" and his won
derful presentation of Don Quix-
ote.'' which he played in New York in
1906.
For the last two seasons he has ap-
peared in the role of Lord Dun
dreary," the part in which his father
achieved his greatest success, in the
old play "Our American Cousin The
revival of this drama of a half cen
fury ago. was pronounced success in
New York city.
Inc amDlllOn ana work or TINS ear
nest artist has been unbounded OF
the thirty-seven dramatic ;mpersona-
tions which he has given since he be-
came a star, all of them have been of
unusual moment to the drama. That
he has been able to depict the various
expressions of the drama. comedy, ro-
nance and tragedy-each with Won
derful success, has given him a posi-
ton in the theater for versatility. sec
ond I'm eTninence to no other dramatic
artist before the public today.
As Lord Dundreary, which Mr..
Sothern's admirers will see him pre-
sent tonight, the great artist will ap-
pear in a characterization different
from any with which he has ever been
associated. and it will again evidence
his wonderful versatility. Dun dreary
is a character meant only to amuse
and cause laughter, and in his rep