The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-12
THE STORY OF ADZUMA."
ARNOLD'S NEW PLAY FOUNDED ON
ANCIENT JAPANESE LEGENDS.


tend the Production at the Worlds
Fair-Outline Of the Plot and Its
Origin.
From, the Philadelphia Press.
The manuscript of Sir Edwin Arnold
new play, The Story OF Adzuma." which
will be produced at the worlds fair. has
been sent to Washington for copyright, and
the authors rights will probably be per-
fected this week. Sir Edwin, who has for
the time being abandoned his contemplated
trip to India. will arrive in San Francisco
next month, and, it is understood, will de-
vote himself to securing a theatrical COM
pany competent to bring out the drama. He
has taken the greatest pains TO obtain corr
rect scenery and costumes. He has colored
photographs of oil the scenes mentioned in
the play, also Of the costumes of the period
in which it is laid.
Sir Edwin has impressed upon Mr. .Deakln,
his manager in San Francisco, the tmpor-
tance Of Withholding any extracts from the
drama, as he had fresh In mind the viola
tion of professional etiquette which gave
many startling passages of the Light of
the World" to the public several months
before the poem was ready for the press
However, Mr.. Deakin has furnished for
publication Sir Edwin's Introduction and
notes of the plot Of the play, which are OF
much interest. when his careful study Of
Japanese literature is considered.
MOTIVE OF THE PLAY.
The poets Introduction to the play, which
explains its source aud motive, is as follows:
This true, tender. noble aud pathetic
story, by ali its incidents in the highest de-
gree dramatic and heart stirring, has never
yet been told in English, although for 30
many years popular in Japan. Those
scholars who have given 10 the western
world other famous pieces from Japanese
history have either feared to deal with the
tragic particulars OF the tale or have not
found access to good versions of 1t. The
present author has spared no pains to OBJ
tain full narratives and has written his play
with the double purpose OF composing a
literary work in the dramatic form worthy,
if it may be, of the beautiful heroine, who
is pure and true type of the highest Japa-
nese womauhood, and also of supplying for
the modern English and American stage a
tragedy in oil respects 'actable' and illus
trating with close fidelity the manners and
motives of the japanese people. There is
designedly left room Tor the judicious stage
manager to cOndense portions of the text.
which is not, however, TOO long by single
line for the poeticaI elucidation OF the
story"
DuuOulAG "a
background of mystery 20 the facts that
compose the play. Adzuma lived in the
reign OF Yori Mato, the great shojun Of
Japan, IN kiOto, the former capital OF the
empire. Her first life was that of a serpent,
and she was instinctively drawn to Komor
Gawa, who afterward bore her, as q woman
o child, and for her sake helped kill the
Yamato, which eagle was afterward born a
man called Morito. Thus the destiny of the
tO In hn-
came fatally linked.
ADzUBIA WEBS.
Morito's parents dying he is left to the
guardianship OF Dozen and afterwdrd of his
son Kameia. The play illustrates the
fidelity of these retainers, a characteristic
OF medieval japan. Gu ded by q dream
Adzuma wed a knight, Wataru Wetandke
friend of Morito, and dwells with him in
happiness, never having known Morito, for
whom she had been vainly asked in mar.
riage. Morito pursued his knightly exer.
cises at the shojun's court.
The william, Sakemune, is a crafty design
ing friend Of Morito, who had been rejected
by Adzuma. Knowing that her virtue is as
impregnable as her beauty is irresistible,
Sakemune lays traps and snares 10 entaugle
her with Morito. Morito has never seen
Adzuma, and Sakemune plays the role OF
Mephistopheles, bringing him into her com.
her, but his virtue at first rsvolts from
wronglug his friends wife.
Sakemune tells him OF the bitter wrong
done by his aunt, Adzuma's m 3ther, in re-
jectiag Morito and adds an element OF
hatred. The villain oontrives another meet
ing and makes Morito believe that Adzumn
has fallen in love with him. A generou:
deed of the husband arouses Moritos better
nature and he puts aside his uuholy love, or
thinks he does. Morito rescues the husband
Wataru, from robbers and the beautiful
wife ls innocentiy grateful to her husbaCd IL
reseuer. The wicked Saksmune alters a
verse which Adzunla had written about the
beautiful landscape aud suspended to ma
pie tree, making 1t appear that she has ex
pressed dislike for her husband.
HEROIC RESOLUTION.
This mehes Morito cast conscience to the
winds. He reveals his unholy love to Adj
zuma's N other nad threatens to kill her un-
less she forces her daughter to accept him
She summons Aazuna and the girl, seeiug
no hope Of saving her mother, forms a
heroic resolution. she agrees TO give her
self TO Morito. but he must first kill her
husband. She arranges the details Of the
murder aud tells Morito that he will know
Wetaru by his wested hair.
Morito accepts. With sleeves pushed
back and naked sword in hand he enters
the apartment, finds the sleeping form and
strikes off the wetted head. Hurrying To
view his ghastly trophy he rolls from the
cloth the head of his dear love, the beauti-
full Adzuma. She has lulled her master &c
sleep, wetted her own head and laid down
to die to prove her honor and TO save her
husband and mother. On the blood-staine |
pillow is letter, tender, true aud noble, ex-
planning it all.
Morito, conscious stricken, begs Wataru
to Stay him, but the husband refuses, and
the two enter the priesthood. Snkemune is
killed by a retainer of Morito, Adzuma's
spirit ascending to the world of the purified.
ORIGIN OF THE PLAY.
Sir Edwin Arnold gained his idea Of his
play one evening at reception, over two
years ago, in conversation with Ammener-
moi, the japanese scholar and linguist.
The latter told with fine dramatic effect the
story Of Adzume, which so appealed TO Sir
Edwin that he had the ancient Japanese
records searched for the original version Of
the story. The play is based on this version.
The time of the story is 1900 A. D., and
the scene is laid in Toxic. Sir Edwin has
spent much time and effort 10 getting pho
tographs of Adzuma's house, in which the
tragedy took place, and has bad all the
scenes colored, as well as the costumes of
the characters
The play is in four acts and has twelve
chief characters, besides scores of retainers
-Tsa4c savaA