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Show interview witli Harford Those who, seduced by the namo of' Shakespeare and sensational show b lis, were so rash as to attend the de-oident de-oident performance of "Antony and Cleopatra" last Monday may enjoy con tinning their Shakespearian studies by reading an account of an Interview with Mr. Hanford. Fatherly, genial, affable, his muscular muscu-lar neck and arms encased In shining linen and fine broadcloth, Mr. Hanford Han-ford received The Republican representative repre-sentative in his room at the Palace and gavo him the following modest and dignified account of a stage career that has now attained the respectable age of twenty-six and except for two seasons has been entirely devoted to spreading the love of Shakespeare among tho masses. , History of Career. "I am a native Callfornlan," began Mr. Hanford, laying a plump hand on a plumper knee and beaming at his hearer, "but my family early moved to Illinois and then to Washington, D C. It was In the latter place that I obtained tho most of my schooling. One of my schoolmates was the son of Senator John A. Logan. Ono day at school he recited 'Blngen on the Rhine' and I declaimed 'Marmion's Farewell to Douglass.' After the exercises ex-ercises Mrs. Logan, who was present, asked to meet mo and when she had been Introduced she complimented mo highly on ray spirited recitation and advised me to make the stage my profession. While waiting for a sign from heaven to confirm kind Mrs.. Logan's Lo-gan's opinion, I began to study law, became secretary to a California congressman, con-gressman, and devoted my spare time to amateur theatricals, making my debutasCasslus at tho National theatre the-atre In Washington. Being disappointed disap-pointed In obtaining a government position I decided to adopt the stage as a profession, and In 1882 I made my first professional appearanco in the 'Merchant of Venice' at New London, Conn., playing the parts of Salaulo and Balthazar. It is a rather remarkable remark-able Incident that a few years later, when I first camo to Washington as' a star, on tho opening night of ray engagement en-gagement Mrs. Logan occupied ono or the stage boxes and tn another sat the congressman whom I haci served as secretary. In the first years of my stage life I plaed with such men as Keene, Robsoi, Crane,-Booth, Barrett, Modjeska and Julia Marlowe, but since 1892 I have been at the head of my own company and hac played Shakespeare from coast to coast and find him much more popular In Texas and west of tho Mississippi than In effete New England. New Knglanders are supposed to know what culture Is, but I grlrte to sav that they are run-nine run-nine after. such false gods as musical comedies, audcvllle performances and Shaw's p.i) . Only In Texas and Utah Is Shakespeare loved mid revered as he deserves, thanks to thcShakespcar- Ian studies of the Woman's clubs and tho high schooMlterature classes Work to Mount Play. "The work In mounting such a play as 'Antony and Cleopatra1 Is enormous. As Shakespeare wrote It, It contained fifty-four scenes and Is unstageable from the modern theatrical point of view. In my version I stick merely to the 'Antony and Cleopatra' scenes, omitting all the Pompey incidents and vague passages, and expurgating thoroughly thor-oughly all coarse Ellzabethlan expressions. expres-sions. For example 1 substitute the unusual and unobjectionable term ' bawd ' for the vigorous Saxon word that Shakespeare applies so often to fallen women and that we have ban ished from our parlor language. Mrs. Hanford superintends the making of the costumes and I myself supervise the painting of the scenery." Father to Stage Struck.- When asked for his opinion of stage-struck stage-struck young men and women, Mr. Hanford expressed himself most emphatically. em-phatically. "I know them as though I had made them, for they come tome in droves I alwajs treat then) courteously court-eously and patiently and, if I find they havo talent, I glvo them encouragement. encourage-ment. Never do I preach to them about the Immorality of the stage. Tho life of an actor need be no more ungodly than that of any other man. People of loose morals are not suffered to remain In my company. Even my ballet Klrls arc of unattackablo virtue. They get $18 a week and can easily save $10. One little dancer told me tho other day that she had already saved $100 dollars so far this season which she carried about In her handbag. hand-bag. 1 applauded her thrift but told her that her stocking or her stays would bo a better savings bank. This is my obje'et In life," concluded Mr. Hanford with a paternal smile, "to bo a father to my company and to carry Shakespeare Into the hlghwty.s and byways of our country " Dear Mr, Hanford! Hls'actors may not bo well supplied with tho divlno lire, but their morals arc above reproach. re-proach. Ho may furnish us with Shakespeare that Is mullled In ballets and blographs, that is emasculated and shorn, but It Is Shakespeare never. theless,and furnishes to many the tlrst, and perhaps the only, entrance Into tho Infinite wo Id of dreams. F.- |
