The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-07-26
GERMAN ACTORS
CONTINUED from FIRST Page)

OF soldiers and civilians in koyno3
would also be regarded with cynical
eye by most American managers.
Difficult Plays Performed.
Among those plays were:
Shakcspcarc's Much Ado About
Nothing
LeSsing's "Minna Won Rarnnelm. =,
Ludwig Fuldas The Twin Sisters"
Sundermann' "Happiness in q Cor
ner."
Much Ado is seldom performed n
america and since the retirement OF
Miss Mariowe mol, believe, at all. l
once asked James X. Hackett if lie
could not have somebody make a YER
sion Of Nina" which contains an
admirable part for him. and do few
special performances OF It Just LOT m?
sake Of good literature. He replied
that he appreciated my interest but
that the play was antiquated and con-
tanned no appeal 20 moderns.
AS il matter of fact il is an extra
ordinarily human document. Neltner
F'ulda's THE Twin Sisters nor Suder.
manns "napplncss IN Corner has
been professionally acted in our coun-
try so far as ! know. In fact the
Kovno rcperlory Of Nine. Sorma and
her company would play 10 about 81
200 week AT most theatres In New
York or Chicago. and probably 10 a
good deal less.
Agnes Sorma Is Star.
The troupe included six men and six
hands. The soldier who told ME about
il plays the good part of the faithful
servant, Just, in "Minna.
Agnes Sorma acted in America about
twenty years ago under the manage
ment of Heinrich Corried. The tour
was not as | remember. financially
successful, but the actress was muc1
acclaimed in the parts of Nora and
Rautondeein. Among the four pest
actresses | ever saw | reckon her,
Duse. Bernhardt, Sorma, and Mrs.
Fiske--wirh Sorma ranking third;
The soldier told me that though she
has passed fifty years she seems amaz'
inclv Young and that she is better
actress than ever. He added that she
had separated from her husband. the
Venetian Count MinotIo, who accom-
panied her on her American tour.
Baggage Left Behind.
Half the baggage oil one CT the
Americans in our party had been lett
behind in q remote Russian Town
through The oversight OF anolnSt
American, who had volunteered 10 col
Irr1 tho stuff for the rest of the party.
As the missing traps Of the first
American included his map case, his
hoy of timed food. and his extra pair
of shoes and as he was both hungry
and wet he was lifting up his voice
in picturesque and passionate reproach
of the second American, who respond
ed with racy self-justification. Whlle
the vivid dialogue was in progress
there came n roar Of laughter from the
dark corner Of the stuffy little Coach
of tho narrow gauge on which we Were
10 make the night ride from Godu-
zischki TO Swcnzlany.
The rays of pocket lamps were
thrown into the corner whence me
laughter came, and disclosed TALL
blonde. broad chested. mustached Oh
ficer in the uniform of the German
navy. Amusement at seeing narAi
officer in a region so remote from tAe
sea silenced the Americans Tor an
instant.
German Sings Southern Songs.
GO on. gentlemen, go on, SAID the
captln in excellent English, go on. /
like ii. 1t reminds me oil happy days
! love to hear the Americans when
they let loose.
Al this the Americans subsidized.
The captain rode with us all night
sharing with us his food. his drink
his tobacco, and also his comprehe1,
sivc knowledge of all the words OF All
the stanzas o! the old time Sentimen
tai songs of the south. He knew sc
much of "Old Kentucky Home thai
il sounded like a continued story, ano
he carried the mournful tale of ,"Old
Rlack Joe" from the cotton fields 10
the pearly gates without fumbling for
a word.
ITS marvellous, Herr kapitain,
said, how you. remember those Ole