The record-union., 1897-10-21

draws them back with lot of rapture,
as if she were drawing him in with
them to her.
Then follows a scene between Herod-
las and Salome through which the
jealous hatred of a beautiful mother
for a more beautiful daughter is al
lowed to play. For malice nothing can
surpass a few sentences interchanged
between these two. Whom we love
we stab' whispers Salome to her
mother.
And whom we hate?'' asks Herodias.
Him we kiss" answers Salome.
Child" laughs Herodias, and glee-
fully kisses her.
Mother" says Salome, "you kissed
met"
An ensuing love scene between Herod
and Herodias is interrupted by Salome,
who takes every opportunity to play
upon the passion she has aroused in
Herod, giving him glimpses of her rare
beauty by slightly lifting her veil when
her mothers eyes are elsewhere.
But Salome's real infatuation is for
John the Baptist. Herodias had sent
one of Salome's maidens who knows
him from Judea to summon him to her
presence, and just as Herod and Her
odias have departed he is led in. But
| Salome has been in ambush. and now
she tries all her sensuous arts upon
him. She sprinkles flowers about him;
to a softly tinkling harp accompani-
ment she has her maidens intone a love
song. Il have heard of a king" she
whispers, who made a compact with
the sun. l would make a compact with
you. Shall I be the sun and you my
king? Or, shall you be the sun and I
your queen?' But he sternly rebukes
her. and at last bids her 60
Then ensues a scene between him
and Herodias, in which she
seeks to win him as an ally. This,
too, he refuses She tears open the
doors and calls the guards. She COM
mands, Lead this man. but, as his
look falls upon her, the power to COM
mand leaves her and he departs un-
harmed.
A SPLENDID CLIMAX.
Act 3 reaches a splendid climax in
the scene in which Herod sets out to
lead Herodias to the temple. The stage
shows paved space before the temple
gates. The people have gathered. 1t
is night, but the fire on the great altar
throws glare over the scene
Already the Baptist's prophecies are
beginning to bear fruit. Murmuring
questions are heard concerning the Gal
ilean and the time of his coming. The
people seem stirred by a presentiment
of great events impending.
1t is known that Herod and Herodias
are about to appear. Cries of "stone
them! Stone them!'' are heard on
every side. John, grasping a large
stone, stands upon the temple steps as
If every nerve and muscle were strained
for action.
The guilty pair, Herod and Herodias,
and their followers, enter. The eyes
of the populace are upon John. waiting
Tor him to hurl the first stone The
tension is supreme. In the name Of
him"-he half raises his arm, stops as
II suddenly bereft of all power, and
continues in broken voiee-"who-
bade me-love my enemies"
The stone falls from his hand. A
deep groan passes through the people
He is seized and thrust from the tenn
pie steps. Herod and derodias ad-
vance
In the next act John is in prison.
herod has come 10 visit him. Salome
manages to meet her uncle and to fur
tner ineite his lust for her, and, TAX
ing advantage of this, pleads on polit-
ical grounds, as it would please the
people.
Herod had an interview with John.
which hn
strong influence over him. After his
departure Salome contrives to reach
Johns presence and again plays upon
him with all the arts of seduction. But
they are vain. Truly your are power
ful. exclaims John "You hold the
world in your arms. for you are SIM
Yes" replies Salome, ''sweet as sin.
so am I''
Co. commands John, and thus he
thrusts her from him.
THE FINAL SCENE.
In the fifth act Salome foiled in her
attempt to win the object of her mas
sion, executes her dance before Herod
and demands as her recompense the
death OF John the Baptist, which he
grants. IT is just after Salome has en-
tered with Johns head upon a charger
that the final scene occurs.
The curtains at the back of Herod's
court are drawn aside. The roofs or
Jerusalem are seen crowded with vo-
men, who are waving palms. The street
which rises toward the palace is also
crowded. Christ is seen advancing.
People rush up to Him, kneel before
Him, kiss His hands and give way to
others.
Herod rises, lifts goblet, and begins:
Hail to you, King of the" He
looks, sees the advancing Christ. the
goblet rails from his hand, and, turn
Ing, he covers his face with his cloak.
AS now planned the cast with which
Mr.. Conreid will give his play will in
clude Pichon or Strobel as Johannes
Schluter as Herod, Marbach as Salorne
and Vorweck as Herodias. The actor
who will personate the Christ has NOT