Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-02-11
THE BLACK CROOK.
Synopsis of the Great Spec
tacuIar Play.

1
many to whom il is unfamiliar. For
their benefit and that Of those whose
memories need refreshing, we reproduce
a synopsis Of the main incidents Of the
play.
The Black Crook is story Of sorcery
and demonism, in which Herizog, n ne
cromancer, grown desperate with the
knowledge of his declining power, makes
a compact with Zamiel, the arch fiend, to
win over to perdition one soul in every
year, as payment for the prolongation of
his life. The play opens in quiet valley
at the foot of the Hartz mountain, with
night and sunrise effects. Rodolphe, q
poor artist, betrothed to Amina, vii
lage maiden, receives intelligence that
Count Wolfenstein, the all powerful lord
of the domain, has seen and fallen in
love with his (Rodolphe's) afiianced, and
proposes to bear her off to the castle to
fill the place of the late mistress of Wolf
enstein. To this arrangement Dame
Barbara, Amina' foster.mother, joyfully
consents. The grand escort arrives,
headed by the Counts major domo, Won
Puffengrutz, and followed by the Count
himself. Rodolphe suddenly appears
upon the scene, braves the fierce lord,
and for his temerity is waylaid and i'm
INJURED in secret vault beneath the
towers of Wolfenstein, while Amina is
conveyed to the castle.
Hertzog, surnamed the Black Crook,
with the assistance of his poor, half
starved drudge, Greppo, having at mid
night worked an awful incarnation in a
weird spot in the heart Of the Broeken,
known as the Serpents Glen, and bound
himself irrevocably to furnish one soul
for each year granted him, is told by
Zamiel to begin with Rodolphe. He
accordingly visits the captive in his cell,
tempts him in various ways, but fails to
move him until he shows, in an illumi-
iiated tableau in the walls of the dungeon,
Welfenstein kneeling at the feet and
pressing the hand of Amina, when Ro-
dolphe, in frenzy of revenge and jea-
lousy, consents to listen to the sorcerer
Hertzog deplores Rodolphe's humble
birth, but tells him that "gold can buy
nobility, and give him power to cross his
enemy" Then artfully instilling into
the mind of the desperate youth two sins,
the thought of vengeance and the lust of
gold, tells him of the wondrous grotto of
stalacttes, gives him talismanic ring
that will guide him to the secret entrance
to the cavern, within the compass of
whose glittering walls his wondering
eyes may feast on wealth far greater than
the Golfers of the world can boast" but
neglects to say, tits death to seek it"
Then summoning the drudge, Greppo,
whom he wishes to destroy also, he gives
him to Rodolphe as henchman, and
sends them, as he thinks, upon their
fatal journey.
In wandering through the forest, Ro-
dolphe discovered serpent about to de-
YOUR white dove. He kills the serpent,
rescues the bird, and gives it liberty.
The dove proves to be Stalacta, Queen
of the Golden Realm, who having heed
lessly trodden in one of the charmed cir
cles of her enemy, the Arch Fiend Ia
miel, has been transformed Accordingly
when Rodolphe and Greppo appeared in
the dazzling grotto of Stalacta, instead
of meeting the fate of all the unfortunate
gold seekers who had preceded them, they
were received with the widest manifesta-
tons of delight by Stalacta and her sub
jects, festival is given in honor of their
arrival, they are loaded with countless
wealth of gold and jewels and sent with
a guard of honor on their way rejoicing;
previous to which, however, Stalacta
gives to Rodolphe talisman, by power
of which he may summon her in the
hour of danger.
Shortly after this, Wolfenstein gives
grand fete and ball masque. Rodolphe,
disguised gains access to Amina, and
finding her true to him, is about to bear
her of, when he is surprised by Hertzog,
Wolfenstein and horde Of savage re-
tainers. Destruction seems inevitable,
when Rodolphe uses his talisman. In an
instant the scene is fixed by Stalacta, and
a host of Amazons, Gnomes and Am
phibea appear in glittering armor.
Wolfenstein, Hertzog and retainers
shrink back appalled,, aud Rodolphe
bears Amina off in safety.
The next scene is the retreat of Ro-
dolphe in the forest of Bohemia. While
out hunting with Amina, and having
wandered from their attendants, Ro-
dolphe and his fair companion are en-
trapped by WolfensteiH, Hertzog and
Wulfar In his extremity, Rodolphe
again uses his talisman. Stalacta and
her Chief of Amphibea spring upon the
scene, grand triple sword combat en-
sues, in which Wolfenstein and Wulfgar
are slain, and Hertzog, disarmed and
dismayed, flies. The discounted sor-
cerer, calling in the aid Of the imps of
Zamiel, then fires the forest, with the
infant of cirding the lovers with belt of