The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-12
BUTTE NEWS.
CHARACTER OF CAESAR
Last OF DR.. Eisenberg's Shakes
pearean Lectures.
AN ELOQUENT PORTRAYAL
Speaker Held the Closest Attention Of
His Audience Throughout = The
Series Has Been Treat
for the Intellectual.
AN ELOQUENT PORTRAYAL

despite counter attractions drew a
large, intelligent and appreciative au-
dience. Applause was frequent, save
when the people, anxious to catch each
expressive word of the speaker, sat
silent beneath the magic spell his elo-
quence had wrought. If the people of
Butte have formed a favorable opinion
of DR.. Eisenberg's profound Shakes
pearean attainments that impression
was emphasized last night. Seldom, If
ever, have Butte people heard so pro-
found presentation of a mastery Gre
alton. Historical comparisons were
drawn with accuracy and ease. Roman
politics, with all its devious complica-
tons, was explained and new light
thrown upon the thoughts, deeds and
actions of the public guards of that
eventful period. Motives were brought
out in vivid cearness, and characters
were drawn with a keen perception of
and insight into human nature that
gave evidence of Incompatible native
genius and study on the part of the
speaker of the most profound charac-
ter.
The lecturer first alluded to the his
torical accuracy Of the great bard and
his acceptance of historic data as laid
down in Plutarchs Lives, and he row.
ed by various quotations not only in
the play itself but in others, that
Shakespeare did not undervalue the
character and ability of Julius Caesar
What shall one of us who struck the
foremost man of all this world?'
With cunning eloquence the speaker
plants his dramatic personages before
the audience. First, Caesar, who puts
away at the supercal the kingly
crown. Naughty, yet as he gazes upon
Cassius with the lean and hungry
look" one also could imagine that a
dull presentiment of impending fate
swept over him. The orator causes a
mighty burst of pity to pass over his
hearers at Caesars end, and yet it
seems to have been necessary in the
- aggregate destiny Of Rome.
Towering above all about him star DIS
the philosophic, patriotic, noble Brutus.
Wrapped up so strong in his own in
tegrity of purpose, he fails to appre-
ciate the method of the unscrupulous
Cassius, who leads Brutus on to the
assassination of Caesar. DR.. Eisen-
berg here, with sharpened knife, has
dissected the hidden motive of the two
men. Cassius hates Caesar with VEN
omous personal loathing, actuated by
envy that the great Julius has grown
so great, and that he, Cassius, has, de-
spite his ability as soldier, remained
but a common man. He cannot see
chow a man of such feeble temper
should so get the start Of this majestic
world and bear the palm alone" EX-
ulting he laughs inwardly when the
great, calm, honest Brutus is caught
in the tangled web of Cassius weav-
ing. Nothing more cleverly illustrates
Shakespeares mighty and lesson teach
ing. contrast drawing as the difference
between the character of Cassius and
that of Brutus. No wonder that as
Marc Anthony stood sad though victori-
Gus over the dead body. of Brutus, ''this
was the noblest Roman Of them all"
HE did what he did for the general
good The orator presented Brutus
as an intense lover of Rome. His en-
trance into the conspiracy could not
have been productive of any good to
himself, for he stood high and rhighty
in the affections both of Caesar and
of the citizenship of the Roman en-
pire. His ancestors had shed their
blood for liberty of the common people.
When he was made to believe that
Caesars growing power threatened
Roman liberty he became ready to
slay his best loved, for Brutus loved
Caesar, and greatly admired him for
the bravery and ability which the great
soldier Enthusiastically possessed.
AS an illustration of his tenderness,
see his treatment of his dearly beloved
wife and his boy, Lucius. His scorn
of fear lies in his permission to An
thony "to speak at Caesars funeral
If Brutus had permitted Casslus to
kill Anthony as the latter knelt Weep
ing over Caesars corpse the history
of the entire world might have been
changed His life and stoical death
81 lsy,,n DC hnfn
day and generation. If one could
search into the hearts of men it is
little to be doubted that in the grim
hours, when his army dwindled and
Philippi doomed up, the heart of the
great Brutus cracked with grief in the
knowledge that the ''murderous taking
off of Caesar" had been fatal error
and had probably cursed generations
yet unborn.
Cleverly, indeed. did DR.. Eisenberg
picture the glowing. painting, Gcma-
gogic Anthony. There can be no man
ner of doubt that at first when An
thony saw his friend bathed in his
mighty grief and that he was indeed
entirely willing to die with Caesar
He, however, played upon the pliable
nobility of Brutus and gradually form
ed ''in his minds eye" the plan of
sending the Roman mob against Bru
).
Here came the orators wondrous
exhibition of dramatic genius. He
graphically and with intense power
transformed himself into a CASH
ing young Roman and ren lered
Anthonys orations with magnificent
histrionic force and virility. There was
no ranting, but the finale was an cut
burst of qualification that compelled
vociferous recognition from the audi
ence.
Dr. Eisenberg also rendered in the
most efficient manner the quarrel
scene between BrutuS and Cassius,
again showing by work a keen appre-
citation of the calm, dignitied equipoise
of Brutus, and the passionate, ira
tional, Inscriptions conduct of Cas-
sius. How caustic was Brutus upon the
hint that Cassius did "sell and mart
your offices for gold to undeservers."
Yet, despite all this, Brutus forgives.
The entire lecture was a masterpiece
full Of genuine criticism, graphic elo-
quence and lofty sentiment. At its
lyar a6