New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-03-24
6 Den. Student U,as Uz2,s. =

81 !
Mr.. N. Epple may consider himself
endorsed. He has been. instrumental
in putting play on the boards in this
City that drew q larger crowd than
could possibly be slowed away in Tur-
ner Hall, an accomplishment no other
man has ever dared to attempt. We
refer to the five act drama entitled
der Student Won Ulm,'' produced last
Sunday evening under the auspices of
the dramatic section of the Turnverein.
Long before the time designated for the
opening Of the doors a steady stream
of people set in towards the hall, all in
tent on securing seat in the front row.
At 1880 word was passed out that every
available space was occupied and at
least two hundred who came after that
hour were unable TO gain ingress to the
hall and retraced their steps disappoint-
ed. The cause for this unprecedented
outpouring of the people was partly
due to Mr.. Epple's exertions and part
ly because the drama is based upon a
historical fact, the scene of action hav-
ing been the birthplace of quite many
residents of New Ulm and vicinity, Mr..
Otto Scheli, Mr.. A. Oclls, Mr.. Epple
and others having been visitors at the
grave of the principal actor in the sor.
rowful drama. The plot runs about as
follows: Some three hundred and fifty
years ago there resided in Ulm, Wur-
temberg, two gentlemen named respec-
lively Thilebach and Ullman. The for
mer has an only daughter whom the
latter estranges from her father. Sud.
denly Ullman inherits vast riches, and
he spurns from him the woman whose
ruin he has wrought under promise
of marriage. She dare not seek shelter
under her parental roof and so fees to
convent, where she gives birth to a
boy and soon after dies. The boy lives,
grows up to manhood and becomes a
student. In his wanderings he meets
and greatly befriends a young man
named Rudolph EUR Linde. The stu
dent visits Ulm, seeks and receives
employment within llman, who has in the
meantime married. Ullman wants his
daughter, Agnes, to marry Rudolph
EUR Linde, she demures and asks for
more time. Ullman accuses the Stu
dent of stealing his daughters affec-
tions; the stndent becomes indignant;
they quarrel, and the student leaves
Ullman's house. The student meetsThile-
bach and is recognized. The unnatural
grandfather avenges the wrong done him
by Ullman by deliberately planning the
students death. He invites him to his
house; the invitation is accepted; a SER
want acting under instruction from his
master places a silver goblet in the
students knapsack; the student takes
his departure; he is apprehended on
the highway for theft; he protests his
innocence; but the cup is found in his
knapsack and he is imprisoned. Agnes
and Rudolph visit the student in his
cell and ask him to flee; he refuses to
go out in the world with charge of
theft resting upon him. He is brought
to trial, Ullman assisting Thilebach in
the prosecution; he is convicted and
sentenced to be beheaded; the sentence
is carried out and there in the presence
of the headless corpse and the populace
of the city, Thilebach announces to
Ullman the indemnity and innocence of
the student. While this is going on a
servant rushes in and announces the
sudden death of Ullman's daughter,
Agnes; Ullman becomes raving mani
&C and is led away to prison with Thi-
lebach, who glories in his horrible deed
and announces his readiness to suffer
the death penalty. The leading char
acters in the play we're we'll brought
out. Agnes, personated by Miss Fran.
els Muller. was perfection, as also was
the student, personated by Mr.. Gust.
Fischer. Their fine acting was com.
mented upon by all, and the prison
scene brought moisture to many an
eye. The heartless characters of Thile.
bach and Ullman were we'll portrayed
by Mr.. R. Fisher and Mr.. E. G. Pahl, res.
pectively; but it was not in their pro.
vince to enlist the sympathy of the au-
dience. Geo. Scherer, in the role Of
Rudolph EUR Linde, was faultless and
he received the thanks of the entire au.
dience for offering his services to his
good friend, the student, and thus de-
lineating the character of true noble.
man. Fully forty persons participated
in the play, hut neither the stage mol
the REVIEW have the space to bring