The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-02-08

over old Joe Morgan. the principal char-
actcr. 7 road in the book and l though,
yb,t srrnnt good could b" wrought u al
Youths could read Ten Nights III ..
l:arroom" and have impressed upon nv,
, mind the terrible havoc ocnneht "ou. ., I.
h" rum: the sorrow. rriNtt'"lI' w. ~
and humiliation in which II pays It's t"i !,
So I continued 10 act and the 'lltll" Si'lult
, voice seemed tn BE- calling me 10 l!"tttrH
tn. character Of Morgan and depict ",
; hclliSh work wrought ly rum ~
years aGu decided tn star ana lis ! 49,
II is the one play in which can 'HrNW
rry yrry soul in my work. am pa! =
II for one principal reason. that m'Eht
SAY" men from tn" drunkAra gray.
, that | might he Instrumental III kcci''i'1
Snms voting man at tn" turning P'In.
Of his liR. 20 Shun drink. NAV" my
heart and soul in this play. never 10
on :ha stage to take my part hut llrSl
ask God that He may help me- vi cor
vrrtinC at least one person Ill my aua'
rncc against drink and the many SINS
,hnt arr allied with rum drinking. When
cry on tho stage. tho tears arc real
Sometimes I almost forget that an,
playing and it seems that the Tictureo
, Morgan enters into me. ...,.,
Mr. Downing. will not TINS zen
Nights in Barroom" automatlc;I'X
BECOME obsolete when tn" country Shhli
hav,. gone dry" in about year; thcr"
will be no drinks TO be had. no intIu
cncn to confront lhr coming generation.
VIII these who now drink hr forced l"
That question has often been put 10
mo recently" sal dthr aged actor. In
the first place there will b. conSidrraoi"
drinking done before the country goes
legally dry and the old topcrs VINO SCI,
tho play will be assisted in taPcrinE or
hv cXcrtinE a little will power. IhcE
NAV realize at the eleventh hour the
folly Of drink and be ready for the exit
of John. Rarlcycorn. The mind has Il
great control over tho body. In tho sec
room play will continue. ] believe until
time shall be no moro. -tttcr the coun-
try goes dry and the coming generations
arc on earth tho play Will become MS
torical. showing tho curse or rum ~ncn
II was drunk in public. places in inns
country and the boys and girls yet un-
born will rise up and call III" Prohihitlo'l
advocatcrs blessed: that they are not Nv
ing in an age portrayed by this play.
Mr.. Downing is far past me nan ao,,
century mark. He was porn ana le'ueo
in Washington. D. c.. and as ooy ne
stood near President Andrew Johnson
and his cabinet officers and saw the
Union troops march down Pennsylvania
avenue. in the spring OF lSG0, FOLLOWING
tho surrender of Leo and his army
Since n lad he has been on the stage. he
9 one Of the last actors Of the old schoo.
before the footliEhts today. MT. down.
ing has a wonderful personality and Is
An unusually agreeable man: He sait'
that he loved 10 talk with DE nroau-
: Drained men. because they arc common
place: that they are much more ut case
| than the little would be great men. he
| said that Opie Reed. the author and q
personal friend of his. was one Of the
| most interesting and loving natures he
! had ever met in his long career before
the American public. He also paid
! loving tribute to the late General Lew
Wallace, author Of Zen Hur" who was
! nlso personal friend Of his. MT.
, Downing said there were few eminen,
! actors on the stage today When asked
why ne said that because they were
! not SO horn.
! Mr.. Downing was converted In {
! Christian church in his old home city 81
! Washington q number OF years ago. H
| has since occupied the pulpit in various
cities while on the stage 1ic is an or
| dained Christian minister and is one {"
| the few actor ovangelists IN this coun
| try ut present