The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-11-22
VISION OF THE CLOCK.
SoIarst's Charming Production at
Ksith's New Theatre.
Her Beautiful IdeaIilatlon Of an Ancient
Norman Legend.

Il
and the beautiful. two OF the most es-
senliaI qualities i'm a certain class OF
theatrical attractions. and especially
appreciated i'm vaudeville. there is oc-
casionally found something that for a
time startles the public by it's origi-
nality and unusual character and by
its appeal 20 the finer senses strikes.
as Il were. new chord Of pleasure and
enjoyment.
II Is seldom. however. that an artistic
and beautiful novelty Is found which
seems so perfectly and effectively to
meet these requirements and NIoich
awakens such prompt sympathetic ana
cordial response from popular favor
as does the charming new scenic pic
ture helng presented this week by So
lar4t al Keith's. Solaret. the beNitch-
insy drapery dancer. and her electrician
Mr. II. j. Clarke. formerly chief alee-
trician for Lole Fuller not content
with the wonderful success into which
the fair dancer has jumped almost nj
a hound are constantly evolving new
IDEAS and THE Vision of the clock
which is attracting So much attention
here this week Is their latest deyelop-
ed product.
idealization OF an old Norman legend
and i'm its presentation admirably re-
tains the spirit Of the story According
10 The legend a mysterious spell had
been east upon a picturesque old Nor
man village. whose inhabitants for "A
long time suffered all the reverses of
fare. with sickness and loss of crops
and dire disaster: ana II became known
among the people thar on some New
Years eve the old clock In the church
tower would suddenly stop shortly be-
fore the hands reached the hour Of ~.
and before the dawn all the lnhablt-
anrs would sink into slumber, from
which there would be- no awakening.
TO prevent this crowning calamity OF
all. bright young farmer lad. the he
10 of the village I'm all that was good
and noble, ascended 20 the clock tower
each New Years eve and himself turn
ed the hands until the chimes rang
forth the midnight hour and ushered i'm
the new year. while below the villag-
ers rent the air with their joyous
shouts.
There came a New Years eve at
last when IL seemed as NJ Fate had
decreed that no human power should
move those hands and stay the hand
of destiny. The youth who for several
years had performed this public service
had gone 10 the market town that day.
having i'm his pocket the KEYS TO the
church and the tower: and when half
past IL came he had not returned. With
anxious expectancy the villagers gath
cred i'm front of the church and await
ed his coming. sghs and tears giving
way to means and cries OF bitter an
guish as the minute hand. seemingly
with lightning speed, moved toward
the fateful hour.
Ii lacked but six minutes Of II when
a fafr young girl the affianced bride OF
the absent youth, broke through the
crowd screaming: 1t shall not stop"
and while the villagers stood trans
fixed, she grasped a projecting stone
in the church wall and. aS If suddenly
gifted with superhuman strength.
painfully pulled ho'self up to another
vantage point. from which she climbed
up and w. toward the tower. while the
villagers, silent and shuddering, watch
ed her progress and saw the minute
hand still moving relentlessly on.
IL was fearful race literally against
time: but love and youth won the day
and when vet three minutes interviewed
between hope and despair the young
girl her long auburn tresses flowing
i'm the wind. her garments rent and her
fair hands and arms torn and bleeding.
secured a foothold on the clock tower.
grasped a project ting bit OF the orna-
mentation with one hand and with tho
either seized the Ff4i4a+it IA al
il gradually until the sweet toned
chimes rang out the fateful hour. while
the villagers below sent up mighty
shout.
The village was saved: but at what a
fearful cost Just as the last stroke Of
the chimes faded away the brave
young maiden, her energies overtaXed by
the eXertion and excitement of the
deed, was seen suddenly 10 stagger ana
fall. "A hundred strong arms were out
stretched to catch her; but 1t was too
late. The precious young life had fed;
and just as they were bearing her ten
derly to her fathers home. her lover,
who had been detained by an accident
to his horse, arrived. The shock was TOO
great. he was bereft OF his reason anI
died in the madhouse.
There was no need, however. for any
one To take his place in moving the old
clock hand. for on each succeeding New
Years eve the old clock dial was illu-
minated by a wonderful light OF many
hues. under the magic OF
which Ii became transparent. ana IN
side the tower at just three minutes De
fore IL the spirit of the young maiden
appeared, waving one hand To the VII
layers below, while with tft~- etief-si4'a
slowly turned the minute hand TO the
hour. then as mysteriously faded from
sight.
In the stage presentation, out OF I'M
penetrable darkness gradually the
graceful outlines of the clock tower ap-
pear against the background OF the sky
IN which stars twinkle and glimmer
mere and there. Slowly the great CLOCK
ulal begins To grow luminous IN the
strange. uncannV light that comes from
some mysterious source ana soon
the spectator seems to see through
the dFal and to realize that behind II
vision, SO Indefinite as 90 bc Ike the
spirit OF dream. is gradually coming
inin riaN, SIn..l.. y. -. Admin lnrIn