Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1896-03-02
''Faust."


1t is obvious to all who haye studied
Goethe, the great philosopher whose
clear, penetrating eye could pierce the
innermost heart of humanity, and by
the aid OF his own manly mind, could
create character SO preeminenty
human as Faust, that he must, from
the very philosophy of the creation,
have had in his mind a special office
for this character. For what then was
this Faust created-or re-crcated-foi
Faust was an old man and a doctor oi
philosophy, until Goethe's philosophic
mind gave to him a new birth and
clothed him in the warmth and glow OF
youth. 1t is clear then that Faust
was either re-created for the downfall
of the pure and lovely. Marguerite, or
that Margarite was, the yirtpoqs image
whoselpurity and sloyeliness gave the
very suggestion of,the character that
was to- be strong enough to effect her
downfall, and prove complete tri-
umph of wickedness over that which
was pure and holy.
But Mephistopheles! Had he moth
ing to do with this Faust and Margar.
ite?
Mephistopheles, or the devil, as We
will call him, to be lucid, had a great
deal to do with them, as we we'll know.
But, think We. the devil himself was a
re- e-created being in the grasp. of this
Briareus Goethe, for did not this phil
osopher strip him of all his mythology
cal appendages: horns, hoofs, harpoon
tail, birthstone. blue fire and every
title that went to make up respect
able imp of the middle ages and invest
him in the clothes of gentleman,
with all the grace and polish of the
nineteenth century? There was
Martha, the weak thing, who was in
charge of Margarite; but who had not
the strength to resist the diabolical
smile of His Satanic Majesty and
readily became an aid in the ruin of
her fair charge. IT'S true Siebel was a
friend of Margarite's, but the poor
faithful boy was powerless against the
world, the flesh. and the devil.
The operate setting of this wonder
full story of Faust, by Gounod, the
great French composer, is full of pas
sionate and glowing effects. 1t is like
one great golden belt, with a diamond
centre; and the garden scene is the
diamond. In this scene are the two
songs that are probably better known
than any other part of the opera-the
Flower Song, by Siebel, and the Jewel
Song. The Jewel Song is the climax
of the whole conception, and marks
the fall of Margarite, who yields to the
glittering jewels placed in the garden
by the willy tempter. The long Cava-
tina, by Faust, sung outside Marguer-
ties cottage, is u calm and beautiful
song in praise of the dwelling pure and
lovely, that holds an angel fair and
holy. The weakness of Martha in her
Irritation with the evil one is so evident
that eveA the devil thinks it absurd
that she should wish to marry him.
Perhaps the essence of the devils work
is pronounced in his prayer to the
silent moon, and odorous flowers;
praying that they may aid the entranc-
ing charm to beguile the senses of
Marguerite, that she may believe her.
self dreaming in heayen. The subtlety
of this scene is beyond description.
Then follows the duet by Faust and
Marguerite in which the daisy peatls
prove, "He loves me, he loves me not;
he loves me-" AT the end of this scene,
as Marguerite falls from her window
into the arms of Faust, we hear once
more the awful, the eXultant DEVILS
laugh and the garden scene is ended.
rhe coming of VIM. Sherwood, Amer
ica's greatest pianist, with his grand
concert company, affords one golden
chance of measuring the artistic taste
of Marietta by the seating capacity of
the Auditorium. j. b.