Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-30
fitting the description Of the story. are

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The dramatic action of the play be-
gins In the scene which represents the
roof terrace of the palace of Ithamar,
the dead Prince Of Hur, the home OF
Ben Hur, his mother and his sister,
Tirzah. The scene commands view of
the housetops of Jerusalem. Ben Hur,
tainted by Messiah, the Roman youth,
once his friend but whom he now de-
spises, has determined to become SOL
der. He would learn of Rome the
science of war to aid him to bring about
her downfall. Ben Hur and Tirzah are
on the palace roof watching the pro-
cession pass in the street below through
which Nalerius Gratus, the new procu-
rator of Judea, is making his entry into
the city. Ben Hur leans over the ter
race wall and accidentally dislodges a
tile which falls on the head of the
powerful Roman. Guided by MESSIAH,
who is an officer of Gratus, the palace
OF Ben Hur is attacked. Ben Hur and
his mother and sister are arrested,
the former to be condemneds to the
galleys for life and the latter incar-
cerated in a leprosy-infected dungeon,
where all trace of them is lost for
years.
Ben Hur is next seen as slave at an
oar on the Roman trireme of Quintas
Arrius, the tribune, who commands al
expedition sent to exterminate the
aegean pirates. Ben Hur attracts the
attention of the tribune by his willing
ness and marvellous strength. Arrius
learns from him the story of the Hurs
and that Ben Hur is the son of an old
friend, the Prince of Hur. The battle
between the triremes and the pirates
takes place at night. Arrius' ship is
boarded and sunk. Ben Hur saves the
| life OF the tribune in the fight, the sink
| ing galley leaving them afioat on a spar
| in the open sea. They are rescued by a
Roman galley on the rising of the sun
The scenes described make up the first
two acts. The third act opens in the
| house of Simonides, the steward of the
father of Ben Hur, in Antioch Ben Hur,
now an adopted Roman, the foster son
| of Arrius. meets Esther, the daughter of
l4Simonides. They are mutually attract
| ed He fails to hear anything of the
1 fate of his mother and sister from ST.
monides. but learns that MESSIAH, his
lenemy. is to be a contestant in the COM
! ing chariot races, and is training his
/ horses in the Grove of Daphne. He goes
/ there, believing that only through Mes
1 sala can he discover the whereabouts of
/ mother and sister. The scenes which
| show this enchanting place, so graphic
Ial!y described by the author in the
story, comprise more scenery than was
once used in New York in famous
production of "A Midsummer Nights
1 Dream"
Two hundred people will be utilized in
the professions which Ben Hur encoun-
ters in his wande1ings through the
grove dedicated to the life of pleasure
He'd by the devotees of the goddess. Ben
I Hur saves RalthaZar and his daughter
Iras from death under the wheels OF the
4 chariot of Messiah for which he is
4 thanked by sheik Iderin the Generous
the host of the Egyptians. For this act
4 Of heroisn Iderim proffeis to grant any
favor asked of him. Ben Hur asks per-
/ mission of the shiek to drive his horses
in the chariot race in the circus against
i Messiah, and it is granted.
The fourth act is presented in TIVE
4 scenes the interior Of the tent of Sheik
i IlGerim in the Orchard of Palms. and :
\ barge on the lake in the Orchard ol
4 Palms Ralthazar. the Egyptian, re-
slates ihe story OF the Star of Bethlehem
A and the NaZarene, now born some thii'
= liz years Iras, the Fascinating daughtel
n of tils Egyptian. lures Ben Hur from hi.
Il love Of Esther and his duty, and, IN tbs
barge. charms him from, the shiek 9th
sr guests by the beauty of her voice II
i song. sinlonedes and his daughter wit,
= ness the conquest of Ben FIur by lras
10 tho grief and nortification of Esther
4 The fifth act shows the exterior Of the
Circus aiaxiInus at Antioch. Crowds
A thrang the corridors. laying waGers OF
4 the chariateers MESSIAH Is the favor
ite SanDalat, the secret agent OF 81
a monides, is placing Wagers on the Ara
j bian chariot and Zen Hur. lras anf
F,stf ~ are SEEN. The FORMER wears th'
colcrs Of MESSIAH and is unveiled, con
trdry TO the custom of modest women o
the time. Fen Hur contrasts the bol'
Iras with the gentle Esther. sees tn
e error OF his Judgment, and his heart re
turns 10 its allegiance 10 the daughte
of Simonides.
Trumpets summon the people to tn
arena. where the struggle is on for su
t prernacy between the charioteers. BE
; Hur drives the four Arabians. Will
: Messala's chariot is drawn by the tw
) blacks and the two whites. This seen
E Mil rival anything ever before pre-
! sented on the stage. Eight horses act
/ uaiiy run al fun speed before an *
cited multitude The smashing Of Mes
sala S chariot wheel is shown, the ae
: ending with Ben Hur's triumphs an
g his crownins as the victor.
$ MESSIAH, his enemy being now cril
: plec in body and broken in spirit an
o., IJ,,,. ,p1rl. q ssllTnas hi