In 1914 after the meeting of the Society board he announced his retirement, that also ended his theatre path – later he worked as a theatre critic in Tallinn and represented the Republic of Estonia as a diplomat.
1914. aastal pärast seltsi juhatuse koosolekut teatas Menning oma tagasiastumisest ning sellega tema teatritee lõppes – hiljem töötas ta Tallinnas teatrikriitikuna ning esindas Eesti riiki diplomaadina.