The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-19
THEOSOPHISTS IN
MYTHICAL ROLES
"EumenideS" Presented
on Point Iona.
By MRS. II. II. SOMERS.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN DIEGO. April 1S.-The site of the
School for the Revival of the Lost Mys-
teries of Antiquity presented a busy
scene on Monday while the last prepara-
tions for the presentation of the Greek
play "Eumenides" were in progress.
New features have been added by Mrs. Ting
ley in the last few days TO better develop the
beauties and power of the drama. Inc large
audience was collectively prepared, more or
less some by study, some by natural in
stinct some by curiosity to receive its mean
ing To say that it great success would
by no means convey an adequate conception.
A new era in the drama is being inaugurattd
and II will become powerful instrument in
the interest Of human advancement and prog
ress
The presentation Of "Eumenides," given
last night by the Isis League Of Music and
Drama. demonstrates beyond all dispute the
capacity of the drama a purifying infiu-
ence. Mans nature, his origin, the purpose
of his lie the true relationship which must
be maintained among those, one 10 another,
are all touched upon to an extent that Is truly
wonderful, actually brought out into the I'M
trilogy or set of three plays, with one plot
running through the set. In the first Aga
bringing with him Cassandra, a native pro-
phetess. He finds that during his absence
his Queen, Clytemnestra, has been ruling the
Kingdom in conjunction with her lover, Aegis-
thus. Clytemnestra welcomes her returned
lord but. when she discovers Cassandra, she
treacherously murders her husband and also
Cassandra
In the second play, the "Chaepharae.' Ores
ties, the son of Agamemnon, is ordered by
Apollo TO Stay his mother Clytemnestra, and
does 50, urged on by his sister, Electra. In
'Eumenides, the Eumenides, who are the
agents of the avenging Nemesis. appearing
Mucous hags, pursue Orestes for the murder
of his mother, but Apollo protects him. Orestes
being Apollo's suppliant and having acted un-
der the gods orders The Eumendes being
obdurate, the matter is tried before a jury
Of Athenian mobiles, with Athena. the goddess
of wisdom, as Judge The votes for and
against Orestes are equal and Athena casts
her vote in his favor, declaring that in future
all people shall be similarly acquitted, The
Eumenides rage in bafhed spite and VOW to
blast the earth with barrenness and pesti-
ience. But Athena soothes away their anger
perlty ana oenehcence, so that hencefortb
these avenging furies become the bestowers OF
happiness and peace.
Mr.. Basil Crump essayed the part of Apollo
the god himself.
Mrs. Southwick of Boston was Athena in
person. The most striking feature of the pro-
duction was the entrance of Athena in a
chariot of blue and gold. drawn by magnih-
cent pair OF pure white horses, which in
answer TO the supplication and Invocation Of
Orestes. who was on the verge Of being over
come and torn to pieces by the Furies
Ii. L Patterson OF New York. Of the
students OF the Isis League, Orestes, gave
the decided impression that he had had eXpe-
rience with Furies and could appreciate the JOY
Of being released from their pursuit.
All the minor parts were we'll sustained. All
the actors are members of the Universal Broth
erhood except three ladies of San Diego. The
scenery was symbolic in color, and was paint
ed under those laws an understanding Of which
der the lamplight the effect of It was very
beautiful The music was archaic, and though
somewhat unusual in some parts. was pecu-
marry attractive. In fact, in this play the
combined forces Of color music and dramatic
action needed 10 fully express the under
Mrs Elizabeth c MAYER directress of the
sic and Drama. deserves much credit for the
manner in which she and her department per-
formed, under the guidance of Mrs. Tlngley
its function in helping to develop the concep-
tion OF the old Greek master.
The presentation will be repeated again on
Tuesday night at the same place and hour
theater on Point Iona on Sunday afternoon
general discussion Of the philosophy of life
took place, brief addresses being made by va
rious international representatives 70 the
Brotherhood. One Of the best of the addresses
was delivered by DR.. Herbert Coryn of Lon
don England. He said in part
1t is not easy to compress ones ideas on
the philosophy OF life into five minutes. Those
Of you who hear the name Of our organization
for the first time Will naturally ask: Well
what are you getting al, anyhow? Have you
anything new TO say Now, the philosophy
Of life to which we want to call your attention
is perfectly simple to speak Of. easy to under
stand and capable Of reforming the world and
making it a pleasant place to live in. Every
religion has gradually got itself Overgrown
with a lot of dogmas and men attention is so
fastened on these that they forget the root At
last they come to disbelieve and reject the
they throw the Brotherhood idea overheard
along with the dogmas. At some time all great
religious teachers have been asked to compress
their teachings into a sentence and they all
did so in nearly the same words or ideas Love
thy fellow man" So claim that that is the
way to go II a man wants to be either happy
wise.
What are men pursuing from day to day -?
Happiness. When they have got It, it does
not satisfy. and 1t is painful to look back upon
the time when they had got 1t. So no one of
the desires that men have give any pleas
ure when it is satisfied. But let each man look
the only really satisfying pleasure comes from
acts of brotherly kindness. Clearly we have
got hold Of the right philosophy OF life. This
IS the way TO pleasure. It is also the way to
getting free from disease and to proong life
than to have the soul and body drenched with
pleasure.
once in a while when some desire for your
own personal comfort or convenience comes up
just. for fun try the trick of putting 1t aside
in favor Of another desire for other per
SON 5 good or comfort. BY this simple method
you viii find that your mind has gradually be
grow too big to be wholly packed into your
body Becoming mentally clear, you will easily
perceive this and viii understand what all the
teachers Of humanity have said, namely, that
the body does. You will no longer fear the
simple practice and philosophy of brotherhood,
that of the Universal Brotherhood organiza-
ton
Admirers Of Wagner have seldom listened to
a better and comprehensive lecture on
the great man than that which was delivered
on Sunday evening by Mrs. Alice Cleather and
Basil Crump. both celebrated members of the
representatives to the Universal Brotherhood
congress.