The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-18

temple and def1le IL with their marriage.
IT am a priests son, exclaims John, and
with the words that ne will protest in the
name Of Him who shall come and for
whose coming / prepare the way with
my body against this sacrilege, he de-
parts for Jerusalem.
The first act opens before the palace OF
Herod. The Jewish populace are be-
moaning the tyranny OF the Romans.
The Roman soldiers mock them. Priests
enter and proceed toward the temple.
John appears upon the scene with his
disciples. The populace crowd about
him to be baptized. Gradually ne arouses
them against Herod and Herodias. The
crowd criesAout, @"Down with Herod,
Death to Herod.' Gradually, however,
as the soldiers come out Of the watch
room the shouts subside, and when
Herod, Herodias and Salome enter quiet
has been restored. Some one has askel
John, sWhere IS the King of the Jews.
Of wnom thou shoutest?" and he replies,
pointing TO Herod, There comes the
King Of the Jews whom You deservep'
At signal from Herod the soldiers ad-
vance upon the crowd. All give way
save John, who remains proudly stand
ing in his place. Here We have the first
intima ton Of Salome's passion for Jonn.
Mother see that mani" she exclains 10
Herodias. lightning flashes from his
eyesl''
A scene with Salome and her attend
ants in the court Of Herod's palace OPP
ems the second act. Here again we have
an intimation OF her strangely passion
ate nature OF her bearded countrymen
Of Jerusalem she will have nothing. But
the smooth pink faced Greeks whom she
saw in Antioch-"When they smiled l
| thrilled" She throws herself upon a
couch. II am pleasing the sight o my
| uncle Herod," she eXclaims. HE casts
eecret glances upon me. When my moth
er scolds me 1 know how 10 make her
angry. 1 am a flower in Sharon and
rose in the valley
SALOME'S PASSION FOR JOHN.
Through the window she can see the
real object Of her passion. not Herod. but
John the Baptist. did you ever see
rock bend in your valley?" she queries
| Of her Judean maidens. He" pointing
| TO John, never bends! Ha ha! ha! No.
| he-only perhaps if'-And she reaches
| out her arms and draws them back with
a look Of rapture. as IL she were drawing
| him in with them 70 her.
Then follows a scene between Herodias
and Salome, through which the jealous
| hatred Of beautiful mother for a beauti-
| full daughter is allowed TO play. For
| malice nothing can surpass a few sent
| ences intercnanged between these two.
| Whom We love we stab" whispers Sa-
| lone TO her mother.
| And whom We hate?" asks Herodias
| "Him We kiss" answers SaIome.
| "Childw laughs He, odias, and gleeful-
| ly kisses her.
| Mother" says Salome. you kissed
me-"
An ensuing love scene between Herod
| and Herodias is interrupted by Sabine.
| who takes every opportunity \ play Up
on the passi0n she has aroused in Hs-oi
giving him gances OF her rare beauty
i by slightly lifting her veil when her
mothers eyes are elsewhere
| But Salone real infatuation is for John
| the Baptist. ierodias had sent one o.:
! Saloma's maiisns who knows him from
| Judea 20 summon him = her presence
and Just as Herod and He-odias have de-
parted ne il led in But Salone h5z
/ been in ambush: and now she tries az
| her ssnsuous arts upon him. She sp-!nk-
| les f1owers about him; 20 a softly tink-
| Ing harp accompaniment. she has her
maiiens intone a love song. Il have
| hesrl os a king" she whispers, who
made a comPac; with the SUI I would
make a compact with yen. Shall BE
| the sun and you my king? "Or. s5al
you be the sun AMI your QUEEN But
7 re sterniy -e5ukes he-. and a; last :. is
/ ae- g.
Then ensGes scene between him and
( Hero5ias, IN which she seeks % xln him
/ as an ally. This. ;o3. he Tsf1se~- SEE
tears open ne doo-5 AMI Gals the g1zr.s
! She commands Lad this nzn'-5lt.
as Ms oak .als upon her and ne ts7s-;s
unframed
A SPLENDID GILMAN
Ac. } reaches a splendid climax n re
scene IN xaIea Heroi SETS olt = lead
Hero5iss % th-s temple. TIE sage shove
a paved space Before t5- tempe CATER
TIE ps5p.e have garas-ed !, Is niza-
bu. the fire On ne g-ea: ala throws a
g.z-e over the scene.
Alrsai TIE Bsp;iscs prophecies are Se-
ginning % ssa. :-s.;- N.--.l---g S-e-