The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-06
CUPID ON STAGE
Roundup" Leading Lady and
Star Engaged.
They Met at First Rehearsal
Last August.
WILL BE WE'D AT BRIDES HOME
Mr.. Holmes Played Miss He
MUS Piano Accompaniment.
Her Father Was Knighted by
Danish King.
WILL BE WE'D At BRIDES HOME

A romance has developed in The
Roundup" company, which played
the first of a three nights engage
ment at the Grand last night Miss
Gerda Henius, leading woman as Ecno
Allen, and Mr.. Rapley Holmes, star
as Slim Hoover, are engaged and VIII
be married at the girls home in Chi
cagO in May at the close of the season.
Miss Henius and Mr.. Holmes met last
August. The girl-she is not more
than 20-was given a trial Tor leading
lady. She was without professional
experience, just from a chicago dra-
matte school The manager wanted
a woman who could sing At her first
rehearsal she sang "Old Kentucky
Home" used in the second act. Mr..
Holmes accompanied on the piano.
Thus they met Friendship and love
followed.
Amateur Gets Lead at Start.
The bride-to-be had come from Chi
cago with her mother three days be-
fore she Joined the company. She
looked the part of Echo Allen, and
the manager was glad to get her, al
though non professional So Will
Mr.. Holmes, although ne mas Deen u
bachelor for-wen, ever so many
years.
Miss Henius is a descendant of Jo-
hanna Pouisa Heiberg, a famous Dan
ish actress, to whom a statue is erect
ed in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her
father Prof. Max Henius, head chem
list of the Wahl & Henius FermentoI-
Ogy institute in Chicago, was recently
knighted by the Danish king, accord
ing to Miss Henius.
She studied in the dramatic schooi,
conducted by Jack Gilmore, a retired
actor in Chicago. Mr.. Gilmore also
trained Mabel Turner, a New York
star. Miss Henius had taken part IN
amateur plays and assisted a little in
plays put on by professionals. She
showed such talent that Mr.. Gilmore
advised her to go on the stage. And
it happened that she got a position
as leading lady after only three days
search in New York.
Will Be a Home Wedding.
Mr.. Gilmore did not give me any
encouragement for two years. said
Miss Henius this afternoon. AT last
7 went to him and asked what he
thought about me and he advised ne
to go on the stage. I was lucky in
finding a good part SO soon-and il
meeting Mr.. Holmes. We have been
engaged for some time, but have de-
cided to wait until the end of the sea-
son before getting married so that the
wedding could take place at my
home"
Actors Relatives Are Preachers.
Rapley Holmes, the star in THE
Roundup is the son and nephew of
Methodist preachers-With ministers on
all sides of the family. He is the first
actor known in the Holmes He was
born near Winnipeg, Canada, and
learned printing. He went on the stage
through John Jack of the old Wallace
street stock theater in Philadelphia
This theater is said to be the Oldest one
in America still standing-erected over
100 years ago.
Mr.. Holmes has been identified with
cowboy parts for several seasons as
Big Joe in THE Cowboy and the Lady,
as Candy in Arizona" as Big Bill in
THE Squaw Man" and as Virgins in
1.-The Virginian.'' But it was of Miss
Henius he talked more than of himself
or his work-strange for an actor, even
for one in love.
"a Pretty Home Wedding
Did I tell you that Miss Henius and
I were engaged2" asked Mr.. Holmes.
Yes, I feel for her-and I was the
champion bachelor of the lambs club
in New York. Had sworn by a property
skull never to marry. Wen be married
at her home at the close of the season
"a very pretty home wedding as the
papers say.
Gunner in Frisco Earthquake.
Besides being in the Philippines ard