The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-12

dent of a mile. To provide against sickness
training. The mechanical contrivance on
which the horses run at full speed and yet
emsin on the same spot from start 10
inIsh, Is worked on the principle OF
readmill. TIE development of this effect
lone cost $1,000 and necessitated the con-
struction OF an entirely new stage In the
The drama will hold to the original story
IS closely as stage requirements permit
The book reader will experience the delight
4 seing all the characters followed with
lntiring interest in the story. translated 10
he more realistic atmosphere of dramatic
yhich, even though created by the devices
Of stage mimicry, will N effect most truth
'ully mirror the period and locale of which
Mr., Young has arranged the story in fif-
ten tableaux. The first scene shows the
the curtain rises Baitfazar. the Egyptian,
and Melchior. the Hlndoo. have already
come. They await GasDar. the Greek: He
enters on his great white camel The three
go through their salutations and relate.
n pantomime. the divine inspiration which
drew them together. The star Of Bethle-
nem appears and. guided by It's brilliant pr barn
n the city of David. In this scene three
real camels, fitting the description Of the
The dramatic action of the play begins in
the scene which represents the roof-terrace
Oh the pdIdCe OF tina mar. the uea0 Prince OF
Liur. the home OF Ren,Hur. his mother and
his sister. Tirzah. This scene commands
view Of the aousetops of Jerusalem Ben
once his friend. but whom he now despises
has determined to become soldier He
would learn Of Rome the science of war TO
8en-Hur and Tir7ah are on the pal
ace roof watching the PROCESSION pass
in the street below through which vale;
RUS Gratus, the new procurator Of
.sudea. is making his entry into the city.
Ben-Hur leans over the terrace wall and
accidentally dislodges a tile, which falls on
the head OF the powerful Roman Guided
by MESSIAH. who is officer of Gratus. the
palace OF Hur is attacked. Ben-Hur and
former to be condemned to the galleys for
life and the latter ircarcerated in leprosy-
infected dungeon, where all trace of them Is
| lost for years.
| Ren-Hur is next seen as a slave at an oar
on the Roman trireme of Quintas Arrius the
| tribune. VINO commands an expedition sent
| willingness and marvellous strength. Ar
RUS learns from him the story Of the Hurs
and thai Ben-Hur is the son of an old friend.
| the Prince OF Hur. The battle bet ween the
trfranes and the pirates takes place at
night Arriuss shin is boarded and sunk
! Ben-H ur s3ves the life of the tribune In the
! fight. the sinking galley leaving them afoat
IN spar In the open sea. They are rescued
oy So Roman omar galley on the rising Of the sun
TWO acts. The third act opens In the house
Of Simonides tie steward Of the father of
adopted Roman the foeter-son of Arrtus
| meets Esther, tile daughter Of Simonides
| They are mutually attracted. He fails Ia
| sister from Stmonides. but learns that Mes
| sala. his enemy. Is to be contestant In the
Sh s5s .ro races ~ 'rd is training his
there. believing that only through MESSIAH
| can he discover the Whereabouts OF mother
and sister. The scenes which show this en-
| hx
| the author Of the story. comprise more
scenery than was once used in New York
Nights Dream" Two hundred people will
| be utilized In the professions which Ben
Hur encounters in his wanderings through
led by the devotees of the goddess Ben.
| Iur saves Balthazar and his daughter Iras
from death under the wheels of the chariot
| Of MESSIAH. for which he Is thanked by
| Sheik Ilderim the Generous. the host OF the
Egyptians. For this act of heroism Ilderiu
Hun. asks permission of the Sheik to drive
| his horses in the chariot race in the circus
against MESSIAH, and it is granted.
the fourth act ct Is presented In two
In the orchard Of palms and a barge on the
lake In the orchard of palms. Balthazar
| of Beth. chem and the Nazarene now borr
some thirty years. 1ras, the fascinating
daughter lgs ter Of, Of the Egyptian. lures Ben-Hul
in the barge charms him from the sheik':
other guests by the beauty of her voice IL
tRe conGnesf ef fnI ms hv vi t
grief and modification of Esther.
cT Ths Mr. fth a1t shows the exterior Of tn.
the corridors. laying wagers on thu
eharioteers MESSIAH is the. favorite:, San
6 6aiai1 the these secret 6 agent Of Smonides 4
Ben-Hur. lras and Esther are SEEN TIL,
former wears the colors of Messiah and Il
women of the time. Ben-Hur contrasts tn,
| bold Iras with the gentle Esther sees tn,
| error OF his judgment and his heart return.
| monides.
Trumpets summon the people to the arena
! where the struggle is on for supremacy be
tween the charloteers Ben-Hur drives tn
four Arabians. while Messala's chariot i
drawn by the two blacks and the TIVE
whites" This scene will rival anythin,
| ever before presented on the stage Eigh
horses actually run at full speed before al
| excited multitude. The smashing of Mes
sala's chariot wheel is shown, the act end
ing with Ben Hur's triumph and his crown
ing the victor.
MESSIAH, his enemy, now crippled in bod,
%ore sa f bs seaqeh B for Ii
mother and sister The first scene of tn
last act brings the audience once more t,
Jerusalem TO the interior of the Palace o
Hur. Ben-Hur, Simonides and Esther ar
there. The barrier between Ben-Hur an,
ES Esther rem S, their love Is unalloyed H
by the Nazarene and learns for the frs
time that his mother and sister are leper
entombed In the Fa-e of Hinnom. He rushe
away to find them, unmindful OF all DANCE
to himself.
The second scene shows the Vale of Hin
nom, with the cave of the lepers befor,
which Ben-Hur falls exhausted. Tn,
| tableau changes to the Mount of Olives I,
this scene $50 people are utilized. The multi
tude, bearing palm branches, come to gree
the Nazarene. the presence OF the Savio
being mercy suggested by shaft of won
drously brilliant light. A great chorus sins
hosannas and the miracle of the cleansin,
or the leprous mother and daughter is per
| formed. This incident is quickly FOLLOWED
by the reunion Of Ben-Hur and his mothe
and sister and Esther. AS the curtain fall
song OF thanksgiving swells out from tn
| hillSidpS In a LII -