The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-11-08
ACTRESS SWINGS IN MID AID.
srasps the Clapper of n Big Bell in Order
to Mufie IL.

New York, Nov. Tin the latest dra-
matte success of the season, 1.-The
Hearts of Maryland" at the Herald
Square theater, the leading female role
not only calls for great histrionic abili-
ty and intensity, but the exercise of an
amount of physical strength and gym
uastic skill that would tax the en-
durance of even a trained athlete. To
Mrs. Leslie Carter, who plays Mary
land Calvert belongs the unusual dis
tinction of being generally acclaimed a
finished actress in this, the third role
she has assumed during her stage car
eer.
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 escaped from an old
church. where he was held a captive
by the Confed crates, and the Provost
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 tolled once she grasps
its brazen hammer and swings out over
the church below. The bell swings flu
riously as the ringers pull the rope. but
emits no sound as the tender hands of
the brave woman muffle the clapper. 1t
IS an extremely effective scene and
never fails 10 arouse the audience to
enthusiasm.
There have been many conjectures as
TO how il was worked. and the belief is
general that Mrs. Carter is fastened TO
the bell by Invisible wires and belts,
and therefore Is practically in no dan
ger in this trying scene. This idea is
entirely erroneous, as reporter found
on investigation He assembled the thir
ty-two winding stairs of the mimic bel
fry last Friday afternoon. and found
himself on a narrow platform thirty
eight feet above the stage. 1t seemed
none too secure. and was hardly the
place any one would choose from pref
erence for a place for exercise. The
sides were open and a single misstep
would send a luckless being tumbling
below.
Above hung the great bell Of PAPER
mache. with a wooden bar projecting
eight inches on either side Of the tongue
There were no wires. no belts. no clasps
for the wrists. and no artificial sup
ports of any kind. The reporter took
hold Of the clapper and hung suspend
ed for a moment. Then, concluding
that swinging AT that height would not
be pleasant. he released his hold and
descended the belfry stairs.
BY invitation OF Manager Max Rlei-
man. the reporter watched Mrs. Car
ter still the toll Of the bell from the
stage on Friday night. The powerful
scene between the heroine and the
drunken colonel was in progress. cul-
ninating in the escape Of the prisoner.
= Then rang out the hoarse tones Of Oden
Williams as the Provost-Sergeant
Ring the bell,'
Mrs. Carter seized a lantern and sped
for the belfry stairs Then the stage
was suddenly darkened while the stage
hands shifted the scene 10 the tall bel
fry tower. In the darkness a painting
female figure ran swiftly by the re-
porter and couched at the foot OF the
belfty stairs. The change was complet
ed and the rays OF the caiciums fell
upon the bell tower as Mrs. Carter be-
gan the rapid ascent. Climbing swift
ly. now in full view of the audience. she
reached the first landing and tossed
her lantern 10 the ground Upward
she toiled. reaching the top breghless
but triumphant
Up shot the powerful. shspely white
arms and the muscular hands took firm
hold OF the crossbar on the lounge just
as the bell changed. Then four muscu-
lar men on the stage tugged at the rope