Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-05-04
BEN-HUR.

Ast the clock struck s last night, the clear
and well-trained voice of the reader, Miss
Cornela May, stilled the audience at the
Opera House as she began the story CT
Ben-Hur. The curtain rose upon the tab
leaux of the wise men before Herod. The
| king seated upon his throne listens with
| doubt, uncertainty and grave concern as
the wise men unfold the wonderful story.
The second scene differs only in the posi-
tions. The story goes on, the curtain rises
on Ben-Hur and MESSIAH in garden
scene. The light scorn OF the naughty
Roman and the earnestness of the Hebrew
is shown IN the faces. Then as the story
, progresses the scenes between the sleeping
Ben-Hur and his nurse Amrah are given;
then comes B9n-Hur and his mother, a
touching and beautiful picture, as the son
kneels for his mothers blessing. Next is
seen Ben Hur, and his little sister Tirzah
who sits and sings for him llt6le song
The thread of the story is never lost, for
the reading goes on, and Ben -Hur is seen
standing before Simonides and Esther tel.
ling the story of his birth and wrongs
Then in wooded garden upon divan,
sit Ben-Hur and Ilderim, servant is
seen bringing them refreshment, and in
the next scene the venerable Balthazar is
with them and they are in the act Of in
voking the divine blessing upon their
meal.
The interest deepens and the story
riaoG
upon scene of great beautY-Iras the
magnificent seated in boat with her
faithful slave. holds up her hand to Beu-
Hur to beckon him into the boat; in the
next scene he is sitting in the boat with
her and she sings him her Egyptian love
song.
Now comes the two scenes of the
Chariot Race. IIderim, Balthazar, ST.
monides, Iras and Esther, with Malluch
in attendance, are watching the race with
almost agoniz8d expectancy. In the second
scene Ben-Hur. the victor, is running to-
wards his friends with the emblem OF the
conqueror, laurel wreath in his hand.
And now is presented the sad scene OF
Ben Hur asleep upon the doorstep Of his
desolated home His mother and sister,
lepers, are watching him; the little sister
wishes to touch his hand, the mother
draws her back with gesture that almost
gives the words, mot for thy life, Tir-
ZAh," SO graphic is it. The lepers are
across the street ia the SHADOW, and Am
rah stealing up finds it is her darling
is ,oi,on in hot aba n9p cd
attitude. The curtain falls, the story goes
on, and it rises on Ben-Hul telling to
Simonides and Others the story of the
NaZarene. who has done SUCH wonderful
acts Of healing. Amrah hearing of This,
goes after Eer mistress and IIiZah, bag
ging them to go to the Npzarene and be
healed. The next two pictures are wonder
fuI in their beauty. The sound OF 4 great
multitude chanting h0sannah is heard i'll
the distance during the flst scene and in
the second picture, the thanksgiving and
JOY OF the healed and reunited family is
most graphically shown. And now the
story draws to a close. Esther overcome
by WEAKNESS gees to sleep in her fathers
chair; Ben-Hur leaning over the back, is
struck with her beauty aud Innocence.
The story passes now over a period of
five years. Esther, with her children and
Ti!zsh, is visited by the unhappy Iras;
and finally the curtain fails on the beauti-
full scene of Ben-Hur, Esther, Simonides,
and Mallucb.
L. is impossible to describe the beauty of
these pictures; they must be seen to be
appreciated. Bu1 we can heartily Say, it
is the most beautiful entertainment Of its
kind eyer seen by our citiz7ns, and those
who miss it will have cause for regret.
A WELL SPENT LIFE ENDED.-The
Warrenton True Index" noticing the
death of Mr.. Hampden A. White, the ven-
cradle father OF Commonwealth Attorney
Meade F. White of Augusta, says:
The deceased was the eldest son of the late
John White of 'Milfed'' He was educated
in Warrenton schools of the olden time, train
ed to mercantile life in the town, and made
this place the theatre of his business activities.
He was most prosperous merchant with un-
limited credit at the outbreak of sectional
hostilities, but suffered losses by the war
beyond repardtion. He bore his misfortune
with manly fortitude and turned his classical
education to practical account by teaching
both private and public schools here SO long
| as physical strength permitted He succeeded
! as few men do in this honorable calling, and
leaves behind memory revered by many
pupils. His remains reached War enton by
cars Thursday night under the escort of one
of his old pupils, Mr. F. Muller of the Uni
versity, and were buried from the Episcopal
church, of which he was for many years a
communicate, at II O'clock Friday morning.
Thus terminates life that leaves to devoted
children the legacy of a good name.