The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-26
Cragedy Of Life
Hdam, Eve and Eaeiter
On the Stage in Cendcn.

VII StNSN SIS 1<SbsWNHs
AN~-~O~-o-o~~O-~O0-~~O~
London, March 25.-An extraordinary
dramatic performance IS attracting much
attention in Berlin. Il is an aEegorical
representation, entitled, THE Human
Tragedy by Imre Madach, the Hungar-
ian musician.
The central figures are the man, Adam,
whose spirit inhabits the bodies Of the
great figures in the history Of the world;
the woman. Eve; and the Spirit Of Mega
ton. Lucifer.
The first tableau shows US the Deity
and Lucifer in Heaven. The heavenly
choirs praise the power of the Almighty,
but Lucifer challenges the greatness and
goodness Of God. He declares that if he
were possessed of but one foot of earth
wherein to plant negation. he would cause
Gods universe to crumble. The second
tableau presents Adam and Eve in the
blessedness of Eden, tempted by Lucifer
TO eat of the Tree of knowledge that they
may learn the means of becoming as great
as their Creator. The next scene is laid
in a beautiful region outside Eden. Adam
and Eve are dwelling in huits, finding a
new happiness in human joys. To them
Lucifer sends a vision Of the triumphs of
science and a prescience of the future.
Then their love of home pals upon them,
and they desire to know all things.
The fourth tableau brings us to Egypt,
under the Pharaohs, with the pyramids
in the course of construction. Adam is
Pharaoh. Lucifer is his counsellor; but
the power and pomp bring no JOY TO the
man. Eve is the wife Of a slave who has
been whipped TO death. Adam. partly
from sympathy, partly from love, raises
her TO the throne; and, fun of infinite pity,
determines to live forever forsfh he good Of
the suffering millions. Lucifer's sophis-
teal attacks on Liberty DO not affect the
intentions Of the king. The next epoch is
that of Athens in the days of Miltiades,
again Adam: who after saving the citya
falls a victim TO demagogic fanaticisrS
And after that comes Ancient Rome, I'M
der the Empire, where we see the orgies
OF a Roman banquet and a gladatorial
contest. Adam is the host. Eve a hetaira.
St. Peter warns the jewellers against the
outbreak of the pestilence, which kills
many Of the people and leads others to
conversion.
The seventh tableau has its scene in
Constantinople. Adam. as Tancred, is re
fused shelter, because he is hereto,
though he comes to defend the city. 1t
is a fierce satire on ecclesiastical bigotry
one of the chief characters being a Pa
triarch, who is personally conducting an
auto-da-fe. with his attendant monks.
The eighth division OF the poem shows
Prague in Keepers time. kepler the
great natural philosopher, is, of course,
Adam, who. conscious of creative genius,
has 10 exc out a living by casting horo-
scopes. and is suspected of sorcery. He
signs for an era of liberty, when free in
Quiry viii carry everything before it like
an avalanche He hears, as in dream,
the Marseillaise, and, in the succeeding
tab,eau, is transported 10 Paris in 1871
Adam has become Danton-an idealized
Danton, truly-the demagogue of the hour
1.ucifer IS the headsman, and Eve appears
alternately. as the sister of a brave young
aristocrat whom Danton vainly tries to
save. and as a fanatical woman of the
people, who offers Danton her embraces
as the persOniication OF the Revolution.
The denouement comes dramatically.
Danton, deserted by the mob. being
bounded TO death by St Juste and Robes
pierre. The next scene reverts to Prague,
with Kepler d,sillusioned of freedom and
the benefits Of science.
Tim comes London-a crowded market
between the Tower and the Thames.
Adam, an old man. is with Lucifer, on
a bastion of the Tower Adam rejoices
in the spectacle of a free people, but
Lucifer shows him the misery and the
charlatanism beneath. An execution adds
to the horror Of it. Eve in this scene is
a young girl, whom Adam. Faust-like,
would deceive, but she is saved by an act
Of piety to the Virgin, whose statue she
adorns with a posy.
The finest part Of the poem is the next
tableau the twelfth. We are projected
centuries ahead Of the present day. Adam
and Luc:eer stand before a huge U-shaped
phalansterion, or communistic dwelling
house. on the right workmen are busy
with rotary machines; on the LEFT we see
a savant busy in a vast museum
Adam-What land is this? What people
90 [ see?
Lucifer-
You speak of ancient notions. long since
dead,
a father,and, How misersbly narrow
\ past ideal, OF prejudices born,
And by the greed and sword Of man de-
Tended.
Now the whole world is one vast father
land.
And every man strives toward a common
goal
And Ger the fair, smooth stream of per-
feet order
Stands Science, high-enthroned. as senu-
mel
Adam-so would have it. My ideal is
won
But he Is soon undeceived. in this I-topia
Of perfect science verything-beauty. gen
Jus, love-is sternIy subjected 10 the test
of utility. Punishment is melted out "a
any who exceeds The rules of uniformity.
y Michael Angelo. whose life work is 10
carve the -egs o. chairs. is imprisoned for
artisticaly embelishing his work. The
irony Of the whole thing is wonderful. and
Adam sorTowfully admits that Science
herself has deceived him.
Ta5leau l3. Space. \ seEmer, Of the
earth is visible in the distance. Semi
gloom gradually passes into complete
darkness. Adam. an old man. hears I.uci-
fer seek TO convince him Of his utter moth
inEness ay confronting him with the i'm
mehsity of eternity. But Adam. though
appalled,. declares his defiance af -,,.-,