Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-22


Here we have another story OF garrison
life In IT IL blended a love story and a
mysterious murder. 1t is bright ana
readable book. Price - cents.
"Judas."
Judas" drama. by DIR. J. Leslie Hall,
augurs favorably for the effort to rein
state the drama into its legitimate posi-
ton az vehicle of moral. and even
of religious truth. There is nothing here
calculated to corrupt the moral man.
rather. we seem to breathe an elevated
atmosphere, far removed from all that
is base and grovelling. There seems no
reason why the drama should be devoted
TO the service of the world, the fesh anu
the devil, and why ii should not be
baptized with a new baptism, and its
allegiance transferred to the cause OF
truth and OF God. II 1t be a representa-
tive of human nature, acting itself out
according to the laws OF human events,
amid the ever-varyIng circumstances or
human passion and interest, 1t should be
capable Of presenting the conflict between
the good and the bad, and in such way
that what is high and holy should appear
I'm oyerpowering attractions TO the soul,
and vice should meet with its own con-
demnation. We congratulate the author
that he has succeeded SO well In this good
work.
Some may start back at the idea OF
a drama whose position is located amid
the scenes Of the last days Of the Son OF
Man. TO such we would say, "Read the
al
moved" Human nature there displayed
itself I'm its best and its worst aspects,
and the author has drawn "A veil over
the Master Himself, and even over Ills
Twelve Apostles, save only the great
traitor The author. while not siurrinS
over the aydrlce OF Judas, has given
him a less abstract and more concrete
character. by bringing out his groVelinS
worldliness, disappointed pohtical amDl-
TONS resentment at the reproOfs OF the
Master modification at a sense of his
own inferiority to Jesus, and at the loss
of confidence which he felt that he was
more and more mourning. The author
has involved Judas In a marriage engage
ment with the daughter of one of Christs
religious opponents, so that not one Dut
many motives goaded him on To treach-
cry. How true this IL TO our common ma
ture, for 1t Is hardly possible that one
motive should sway mans whole being
and make him run counter to his previous
life, with its hopes and fears. The thirty
pieces of silver were but a spark thrown
into a magazine previously prepared. As
a skilful showing of the thoughts that
weighed down the mind of Judas, while
he moved on toward his end. We would
INSTANCE Act /. Scene 2. page 10, COM
mencnS:
no hot oht - al my
To wander DER the fields. the moors, and
Through valley, forest, brake-in aimless
To-day mid acclamatlons such as thrill
With hopes ecstatic. and tomorrow
BY rout and rabble, aud the gaping
throng.'
Harmas, the high priest. figures largely
in the dramatic unfolding of the great
events. His worldly greed, political am
bltion, and shrewd use Of religious means
for selfish ends are strikingly shown IN
the presence OF the Sanhedrim which
meets in his palace to concert measures
for the destruction of Jesus. (Act B. Scene
2 page ~ For their interview with
Judas and a page of vivid description
see Act 3, Scene (. page 62. Here Harmas
addresses Judas.
Consider friend. that thou must surely
have
A place OF honor on the rolls OF them
That Israel loves. THY name will be en-
balmed
In Israers memory till the end of time;
And lsping infants will be taught TO trip
Its honored accents on their 'witchlng
tongues:
While men and matrons and the fairest
maids
or all our race, will name thee In the
hours
OF fondest feellng--ls not this enough
To thrill thy soulY''
The interview (Act2. Scene 2, page 81
between Plate and the Jewish represen-
tatiyes, scorning one another. yet scorn-
ing no union that would further any
common interest. shows how politicians
and churchmen can hate one another
with the hate of hate. and yet fawn
upon one anther and play into one an
others hands for some common object.
These and others passages show how we
are all made in the same common mould
and that history repeats itself. Many
a reader will see more clearly how II
was that Christ's life. grand and glorious
as II was. yet terminated amid scorn and
execration on the cross.
The darker passages In this tragedy
are relieved by the Introduction OF such
a wild and rolicking character as the
Roman Caius, who Is ever full or Jests
in seeming earnest, and rattles out
continually poetic and love sentiments.
like as merry sunbeams troop forth and
dance full Of jollity upon the brow OF
some angry cloud. The play OF words
between him and Judas respecting Re-
becca. the object of their common admi-
ration. is positively bewitching. See the
conversation (Act 2. Scene z, page %
which Caius closes by singing:
"Dark-eyed maiden. why. oh, why
Droops the window OF thine eye!
Raise those lashes; let me look
Into that mysterious book;
oh, what mighty magic lies =.
Hidden in those beauteous eyes.
There are again scehes which are apt
to live In the memory. as where, In the
opening Of the play. the mother and sister
of Judas are found discussing his course
in following the Nazarene. The sisters
and mothers feelings are here contrasted
In strong relief Or. where, at the close
OF the drama, the body OF Judas Is borne
IN 10 his mother and sister and the truth
gradually unfolds itself. Perhaps. how
sever. no scene will more impress many
than Act 6, Scene 2. where Simon OF
Cyrene, after bearing the cross OF Jesus.
PUSHES along the street frantic with
grief. striving to get as far as possible
from the Crucihxion. and crying:
NAY, nay, cannot go; for even now
His face doth haunt me with Its burrows
ploughed
BY agony untold. o. God! that tree.
IL dogs me STILL lon. Simon. on and on.
Forever and forever"
Simon reminds one Of the Wandering
Jew.
II the drama requires tor its perfec-
ton a well-constructed plot, scenes. and
situations TO the life. men and women
clearly drawn. poetic sentiments that al
the imagination. we ind here one that
deserves high praise. Il u W.