Telegram-herald., 1891-02-03

A Fine Historical Proinctioa 1t
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The strange career OF Joan Of Are.
the nall OF Orleans. WAS faithfully rep
resented on the stage al Powers orand
lass night. IA the person Of Margaret
Aather. Tie presentation MAS aotahle
lof the correct aud elaborate seeaery
and conscientious attention 10 historic
details. The production Is, in fact,
costly and lavish one, and II is claimed
that the Offering last ssening Mss rs
faithful as that iirsl given in New YORK
few months since. Ina the reducing
and Transferring OF hisioriea. subjects
and seenes TO the stage. the dramatlst
has scarcely any opportunity for draw
Ing on his fund Of Imagination. tie
must adapt, eondense, and AT the same
time contine himself " the accuracy OF
the facts with which ne deals. This is
noticeable IN Joan of Arc" There IS
much IN il TO awaken the thought.
much 10 stimulate the recollection OF
the dark events which were occurring
when these characters now on The
mimic stage were alive and in the flesh.
1t recalls AN unfortunate period IN the
history OF France. A period when
priests monopoiized the learning and
intelligence, aud the great mass of the
people were awed and terrolzed by that
monstrous ally of the church, super
stltion. Miss Mather's production is
fruitful If not beneficial in the fact that
it recalls something that is material and
substan sial.
AS the dramstist defines very dis
tlnctly in his arrangement, the unfortu-
nate adventures OF this remarkable
character. an outline OF her career is
introduced.
joan of Arc was in her early youth
noted Tor her simplicity, her modesty
and devotion 10 her religion. She was
simple sheplerdcss, aud while at
tending TO her flocks in the fields OF
Domreniy, imagined that she heard an
unearthly voice calling TO her and uig-
ing to 60 and fight for the Daup.in.
| She was at this time IL years uf age. In
the year 1929, Joan lett her country
home, and sought the King at his
court, and related her divine lnsplra-
ton calling upon her TO 90 to the wars.
1t required considerable perseverance
to persuade the King, bat she event
ually succeeded IN securing commits
sion, and at once placed herself at the
head OF the army and marched TO Or
leans.
This place was then invested by the
English, under the Earl of Salisbury,
and on April 90, l429, Joan captured
and entered the city, and III two months
the English were driven beyond the
Lore. On July Is, after this great vic
tory, Joan of Arc stood in the cathed-
| ra. III Rheims next TO the king with the
sacred banner, while he was crowned
Charles VII. of France. She was sur
rounded and taken prisoner on May "a,
| l430, while assisting in the defense of
Compiegne against the Duke OF Bur-
: gundy. The ungratful Charles, whose
coronation she made q fact, made no
! effort to effect her ransom or to ASSIST
her In any way, and on March 20. 1431,
she was brought before the inqu!sltion,
accused OF being a sorceress and hereto.
! After long trial, during which she
was subjected to many shameful lndig-
mites, she was on May so, burned at
the stake in the presence of the entire
populace of Rouen. The career OF this
unfortunate girl, with her triumphs,
| the ingratltude of those she had be-
! frlended and elevated, together will all
the atrocity and attendant honors,
which only could exist in bigotcd age,
are lucldly shown in this dramatiza-
ton.
There is so much in the way of an at
tempt at historic detail in this presenta-
ton, that it would be impossible to re-
fer to it at this first writing. In the
! various and elaborate pictures, upon
! which the lights bring into conspicuous
prominence, we see Joan of Are, a vir-
tuous girl, uniiinching and stubborn IN
| the defense OF her honor. For this
beautiful principle, aside from all OF
the terrors of history, this character
should live on the stage. Miss
! Mather represents the spirit of
7 the supertutlous guided maid OF
Orleans, with fine and penetrating
| feeling. She was the ideal leader
| in her habiliments OF war and conflict.
Mather carried on: the spiritual idea of
| the role incoherently, but molly ana
conscientlously. She was earnest and
| fervent. The whole Offering was inn
! pressive and solemn, and the chorus
| well trained. the music OF which was 10y
| Gounod, contributed IN great meas
ure to the serious and thoughtful mood
with which the production was received.
/, The company is excellent and includes
such competent and prosperous players