The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-06
Acme of stage Reaii.m.


In the latest dramatic success of the sea-
son. THE Heart of Maryland" at the Her
ald-sGuare Theater. writes a New York
World man, the leaosng female role not Only
calls for great histrionic ability and in
telsity, but the exercise of an amount of
physical strength and gymnastic skill that
would tax the endurance of even a trained
athlete. To Mrs. Leslie Carter, who plays
Maryland Calvert, belongs the unusual dis
tinction of being generally acclaimed a fin
ished actress in this. the third role she has
assumed during her stage career.
The most dramatic scene in THE Heart
OF Maryland occurs in the third act, and
is based on the familiar poem OF 'Curfew
Must Not Ring Tonight" The hero has es-
capped from an old church, where he was
held a captive by the confederates. and the
pro,ost-sergeant gives orders to toll the
church bells to notify the pickets of the
escape.
The heroine rushes up the winding stairs
of the belfry. and. just as the great bell
has to.led once. she grasps its brazen ham,
Ller and swings out over the church below.
The pel swings furiously as the ringers
pull the rope, but emits no sound as the
tender hands OF the brave woman muffie
the ciapper. IL IL an extremely effective
scene and never fails to arouse the audi
There have been many conjectures as to
how Ii was worked, and the belief is gem
eral that Mrs. Carter Is fastened to the
bell by Invisible wires and belts, and is,
therefore. practically in no danger in this
trying scene. This idea is entirely erroneous,
as q reporter found ON investigation. He
assembled the thirty-two winding stairs of
the raimtc belfry last Friday afternoon. and
found himself on a narrow platform. thirty
eight feet above the stage. IL seemed none
too secure. and was hardly the place any
one would choose from preference for exer-
else. The sides were open. and a single mis-
SteD would send a lucklpzS heinz fumhlipU
below.
Above hung the great bell of papier
inches on either side of the tongue. There
were no wires, no belts. no clasps for The
wrists, and no artificial supports of any
kind. The reporter took hold of the clapper
and hung suspended for a moment. Then,
concluding that swinging at that height
would not be pleasant he released his hold
and descended the belrry stairs.
BY invitation OF Manager Max Blieman
the reporter watched Mrs. Carter still the
toll Of the bell from the stage Friday
night. The powerful scene between the
heroine and the drunken Colonel was i'm
progress. eliminating in the escape of The
prisoner, Then rang out the hoarse tones
OF Ode1 Williams as the provost sergeant:
Ring the beliP'
Mrs Carter seized a lantern and sped
for the belfry stairs. Then the stage was
suddenly darkened while the stage hands
shifted the scene TO the tall belfry tower.
ran swiftly by the reporter and crouched
at the foot of the belfry stairs. The change
was CotuDitlrQ dnu tue rays OI TIE cdlclu1nS
fell upon the bell tower as Mrs. Carter
began the rapid ascent. Climbing swiftly.
now In full view OF the audience, She
reached the first landing and tossed her
lantern TO the ground. Upward she toiled.
reaching the top GREATNESS, but triumph
ant.
Up shot the powerful, shapely white
arms, and the muscular, white hands took
nrm hold or the crossbar on the tongue
Just as the bell changed. Then four mus
cular men on the stage tugged at a rope
and the great bell rolled and rolled. as
the breathless woman chung by main
strength 10 the small bar. Far out over
the tower and back again, and out over
the other side she was swung. while the
udieI sat breafhless. To loosen her hold
for the fraction OF a second meant instant
death or maimin for life for the adven-
turous woman. The swinging continued as
the curtain descended in a storm OF ap-
plauxe.
Then the bell ceased to swing, Mrs. Car
ter l0osened her hold and dropped tremb-
ling TO the landing. and then made her
way quickly down the narrow stairs. When
she reached the stage the actress was
hystericai from the nervous strain and
the fatigue. Her breath came IN quick
gasps and she was unable to talk and hard
1y able TO walk.
Half dazed. she was taken before the
eurfain twice by Maurice barrymore. Then.