The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-12-05

Old TINE
/ ! \ CHINA i! 4 A
Sam Rowley, Well known on Range,
Returns from Trip to Old Home
-. and the Orient. -
Sam Rowley, old-time actor, well
known to managers and theatrical
folk generally as well as to many OF
the patrons Of amusement houses on
the Mesaba range, especially among
the Masonic fraternity, of which he is
an enthusiastic member, was in Vir-
einia the first Of the week, work
ing on the bill at the Royal theatre.
Rowley has just returned from a trip
to his old home in Australia and from
a professional visit to the Orient,
during which he worked in all the
English theatres in China including
the best houses in Hong Kong, Picking,
Han Chow and Canton, besides many
of the theatres in the smaller cities.
Mr.. Rowley, during his professional
career has appeared in every civilized
country on the globe. He has amassed
a considerable fortune and his pres
emit tour of America will probably be
his last. Upon completing his present
booking on the Sullivan & Considine
time he will 60 to Chicago, where he
will remain some time and where he
will have conferred upon him the rites
of 32nd degree Masonry. He has
something Of a collection Of Masonic
emblems, picked up among his travels
about the world, among the most in
teresting Of which is an emblem ring
of Chinese master mason, a square
and compass emblem used in Chinese
lodge rooms and other things of like
nature.
Mr.. Rowley last visited the range
two years ago. While appearing at
the Orpheum theatre at Hibbing he
suddenly lost his voice. AS his sing
ing was one of the principal features
of an especially good character act
he was occasioned considerable ankle
ty, but his many friends will be glad
to know that he is quite himself again
and in the best of voice. Mr.. Rowley
was stricken while working his turn
on the Orpheum stage and was COM
PEELED to close his act. A brief rest,
however, restored him.
Widely travelled and a keen OBJ
server, Mr.. Rowley's views of the
Orient are especially interesting. Dis
cussing his visit to China Mr.. Rowey
said. Knowing pictures have invaded
the Orient. There is not city of
consequence in China today, except
Thibet, which does not have moving
pictures theatres. Most of them run
three reels and vaudeville. The
Chinese are an appreciative audience
too. They are liberal with applause
and a Chinaman always rises to his
feet to applaud you. The republic Of
China is a much different country
than was the old Chinese empire.
Chinese customs centuries old are
passing. In the chief Chinese cities
Cinnamon no longer wear cue. The
Chinese celebration of New Years is
fast becoming American. There are
no more paid mourners at Chinese
funerals. There is hearse but the
body is not carried in it. The hearse
is filled with flowers and the corpse
follows behind born up on a litter.
Nearly always there is a band. It
plays but one tune, the same at all
funerals, "Rule Britannia" The city of
Shanghai has modern American
newspaper. It sends reporters and
correspondents far into the interior.
The venture was at first ridiculed. but
it is today proving a fine financial
success. During my tour of nine
weeks through China I had three
servants. They cost me about $1S
in American money. The progress
made by the Japanese was not more
rapid than is that being made by the
Chinese today. The change of ten
years is marvellous"
Mr.. Rowley spent some time in his
old home in Australia and before he
leaves the range hopes to have a
visit with Editor Frank Harris. of
the Chisholm Tribune-Herald, who is
also an Australian.
"The Australian government is do
ing good deal to encourage immi-
grafton" said Mr.. Rowley. zone of
the inducements is big tracts of land
which may be paid for on reasonable
lnstallments in periods extending over
81 years. The government furnishes
every actual settler with a home to
live in, gives him a span of horses
and otherwise assists him in pettinp
started. For all this the payments
are arranged on easy installments.
Mr.. RoWley is an admirer of Huphia