Hans-Ravene-74704

Obituary

Cleveland Ohio...Hans Ravene, a well know German actor, was instantly killed today by falling from a stairway at his boarding house. His neck was broken. Ravene was formerly a lieutenant in the German army. Eight years ago he became editor of the Burlington, Iowa, Tribune. Subsequently he went on the stage. His father is a millionaire manufacturer in Berlin. To the many Burlington friends of Mr. Hans Ravene and family the news of his sudden death comes as a terrible shock. A few months ago this affable, courteous gentleman was daily upon the streets of Burlington and among his Burlington friends, greeting them with his customary pleasant smile and interested salutations. his pleasure in the prospect of again going on the stage, which had been the choice of all professions to him, was so genuine and wholesome at the time last summer when he contracted to go to Cleveland that it afforded his friends and acquaintances a sympathetic pleasure. He left Burlington at the beginning of the theatrical season last September with a thousand wishes for his success and good luck ringing in his ears. He went to take charge of the German theatre in Cleveland, Ohio, as stage manager and to engage as a member of the stock company playing there. His wife and three daughters remained for the present at their comfortable home on South street, just west of Summer, and if the new position was profitable and promising enough to interest Mr. Ravene permanently it was his intention to remove them to Cleveland. His letters home have told of excellent success financially and have contained glowing accounts of the delights and inspirations which came to him anew when behind the footlights again. Hope grew in the hearts of his fond wife and loving little daughters and they fondly dreamed of the time when they should remove to the city las adopted by their husband and father. The shock contained in the telegram today of Mr. Ravene's death was heavy and one which is taxing the strength of mind and body of Mrs. Ravene to withstand. Mr. Ravene was the kidnest of fathers and the most devoted of husbands. In few families in Burlington does the absolute harmony and enjoyment exist as it did in the family of the German actor. Mr. Hans Ravene has had a checkered and interesting career, which few of his acquaintances were fully cognizant with although they may have surmised something of it from the manners and speech of the gallant and genial gentleman. He was born into the lap of luxury and wealth and in his youth was surrounded by the environments most desirable in this world. Culture, the graces of music and all of the other arts, business and social influences, and the many other opportunities which wealth and position make possible to their possessor, were his. His birth occurred in Berlin, Germany, about 54 years ago. His father was a large iron manufacturer and exporter, and was also engaged in the banking business. Young Hans Ravena was educated in the best schools of the city and had the advantage of superior German universities. He graduated from a university with honors, being naturally quick and brilliant intellectually. But within him was born a love for an art which is in itself most honorable but the ranks of which are overcrowded in the old as well as the new world. He aspired to honors in the histronic art and refused the opportunities for a brilliant life in the business world in order to pursue the calling of his own choice. He went on the stage in a Berlin theatre when a very young man. His success was fair and for a time he travelled with a troupe through Germany. After some little experience he secured a lease on a large and fashionable play-house in Breslau, which he managed for several years. But his efforts in this line were unsuccessful and he lost a considerable sum of money at it. While playing with a troupe in Germany he became enamoured of a certain pretty little actress in the same company and finally married her. She is the same faithful and brave woman who was so painfully shocked upon learning of his death today and she now resides on South street, in Burlington. About twenty years ago Mr. and Mrs. Ravena came to America with a company of German actors and actresses. They toured the United States for a number of years, the manager of company being Mr. Alex Wurster, the present manager of the Cleveland theatre with whom Mr. Ravena has been associated. Mr. Ravene later managed a German theatre at Davenport, coming thence to Burlington in 1888. He was employed as solicitor and traveling agent for the Iowa Tribune, and later bought an interest in the paper. He was recently president of the company and manager of the paper. When the Tribune sold out to the Volksfreund company last summer Mr. Ravena accepted the offer of his old manager and went to Cleveland to again assume roles behind the footlights. During his career he was an actor of ability and a singer of good repute. Besides his widow, he is survived by three daughters, Hattie, aged 17, Mon, aged 13, and another daughter of 5. His father died several years ago in Germany, but his mother, a very wealthy woman still lives. The news of the death of her son in this far away land will be a painful shock to her also, for he was dearly loved by her. His sister is the wife of one of the most prominent generals in the German army. No further particulars than are contained in the above dispatch concerning his death are to be had today. The remains will be sent to Burlington for burial.