The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-04
BIBLE LIVING PICTURES NOW.
IN PARIS AND MAKING \ Bic
SENSATION.

Drawing Enormous Crowds-Face-
tiOus Suggestions by the French.
Many Converts Already Due 10 the
Spectacle.
From the New York World
Paris has a new fad. and the salvation
Army new feature In the latter's hall
and headquarters, located in the very
midst Of the much-traversed Rue Auber.
there are now being introduced as a nov
city and innovation, Giving pictures OF
the Biblical events
From the Partisan populace's point OF
view. this new departure Is Immensely
popular. When the Saivationists came
across the channel from London and Cal
hcized themselves. turning their ballads
into chansons, and putting Just the proper
French twist to them, the bourgeoisie
and the canaille howled with Interested
delight and all came out to see. Wisely.
so 1t would seem. the army now figures
that popular songs and active marchings
are not in themselves enough
The French branch of the Salvationisis
IS under the charge and commanded bv
Mime. Booth. the daughter-in-iaw Of the
famous and virile old general She is
known from one end to the other OF
Paris as La Marechale," ana she thor
oughly understands the character ana
The lives of the people she works amonc.
Latterly the attendance at the Partisan
headquarters has fallen off to quite an
extent and it came to La Marchale" ms
an inspiration that she must do something
original and effective 10 MI once more the
benches
Iableaux wants and pantomimes have
always been favorite diversions of the
Parisians, and they never were more popu-
lar than they are to-day. Paris was cleo
trlIled, therefore, and pleased beyond
measure when II was flooded with hand
Dllls one afternoOn-hand bills of brilliant
ana gaudy design-7in the we'll known Sal
in great letters:
That which will come to pass on the
l LAST Day' or the Demonstration of the
Zen Virgins; Tableaux Nivants"
The new departure had been cunningl,
lHau urated. From the point of view Of
stage settings, costumes and spectacles
Wise and Foolish Virgins was the nost
euectVe ana picturesque to be found i'm
sCrlptural narratives Nine La Mare
chaie mad at first thought Of the Prodi-
sal con, but wisely laid II aside in favor OF
ny, lne uraihalc story OF the maidens of the
amps The crowd that strue-
geo Tor admission on the first
night of the spectacle bore
her Judgment Bouievaiiiere a,t,ss,,s
working girls and cocottes crowded the
~, aI hta,, Army auditorium as 1t had new
er Deen crowded before
a blue curtain concealed the stage that
so long has served as a platforn1 Tor -
n1orIatlon and prayers. When this was
1IdWh aside 10 the accompaniment Of "A
SYRIAN melody, played by the Salvationist
band the asset bage saw. as thew craned
Onward their necks ten maldens dressed
IN muslin of Durest white their feet in
cased In the sandals of the east ana tbair
heads surmounted with copDer crovyne
ornamented each with a single star Tbe
~. ,ackground was deftly painted and 'draped
70 represent n country dwelling in the
Palestine Of the ante-Christian era
through a doorway shone moonIiebt ef
Iects ana hint Of undulating plains faint
The virgins held little lighted lamns IN
their hands, grouped picturesduelv. thew
sang an old scriptural ballad or a clever
imitation of one that La Marecha1e'' bad
somewhere found Then, in eastern fasb-
Ion, they laid themselves down and dis
posed themselves to sleep as the curtain
fell together. '''i''
The next scene showed the virgins IN
the midst of slumber A knock loud ana
thrilling, sounds on the open door ana az
cry is raised outside; BEHOLD. the BRIDE
groom comethP' Hastily the virgins
spring to their feet, snatching their laTnns
TO trim them But FIVE find only bfaclsenid
Wick and the empty vessel Five alone
have been wise. Their lamps burn briobt
~, and they stand forward, ernbodimSnte
of thrifty housewives. 80
Disconsolate, half crazed, fearful the
five foolish maids gather about their han
Ply sisters, begging few drops of oil an
the wise ones shake their heads ana eav.
go, go and buy" At this the foolish
women sink back in despair. The stars
shine bright in the Judean night and
there is nowhere that they can secure he
oil they seek.
Celestial music sounds. and a voice from
the wings cries again. stirring the mic
turesque group Of women clustered on tbe
little stage, Behold the bridegroono -
There is a CLINT of angelic wings without
the doors, and lighted lamps in tbsiy
hands. the Wise Virgins rush forward
and without. With a clang like thai az
destiny the door closes, and with lament
tons, sobs and woe the five that are Ieft
throw themselves against II. Upon their
limp figures, crouched and prostrate a.
the door, the final curtain falls
A number of representations Of this have
been given since the initiatory one. and
always with the greatest success. The
prettiest female privates and officers
among the Salvationists of Paris havs
been chosen to play the parts of the Vir
gins, and as La 0Iarechale' has baep
careful to supply all the congruities and
to put artistic touches on each tableau and
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