The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-30


Of a natural grace, and the sweetest
musical voice, her added training to her
art made all her movements, every spo-
ken sentence, something difficult TO i'm
prove upon. She seemed to rise to the
situation in each OF her more tragic poses
and left nothing that one could wish
In act third, when called upon by the
barbaric chief TO define love, her charm
ing voice sank to the gentleness Of the
delicate tones which might come from
finely attuned bells when drawn upon by
dainty finger tips. Again, when ad-
dressed as Slave" by her captor, she
Indignantly denies the cutting insignia
and says in a voice that awakens the
whole barbarian camp. I am no slave,
but an honorable hostage
In the first act the appeal Of the girl to
the miser Polydore and its unsuccess-
ful outcome; the appeal of the daughter
again in the second act, this time to the
chieftain, both were intense in their ac-
ton, touching in their simplicity. The
wierd contrast between the purity and
helpdessness of the girlish creature kneeI-
ing before the warrior chief, the settings
Of the environments of savagery around
that angel form; the maddened bai1ed
wrath of the heather giant, followed by
his threat 10 kill her; her meek lowering
OF that finely poised head before the
stroke Of the uplifted sword. these and
more showed exquisite skill in acting,
ennobnng Interpretation Of the situation.
Then comes the gradual winning of the
heart Of the wild huntsman, the master
the mountains. Through many exciting
episodes this subtle battle goes on;
struggle of mute but elegant helplessness
against sheer brute force and giant
power. Twice the followers Of the hand
some chieftain determine to mutiny and
desert their leader, even to an attempt
to kill him by treaehery. But the cunning
Of the wilds, united with the watchful-
ness and intrepidity OF the quasi-slave
girl frustrate all these, and finally Alas
tor as spokesman seeks the perplexed
and brain racked chief and tells him that
the tribesmen are grieved and disgusted
with his femininity, his puerile weakness
in the voluntary subjngation before this
slave girl, and threaten disloyaIty, re-
minding him that they had elected him
chief only 10 find themselves denied the
spoils of war, Of the chase, and ridiculed
by all the tribe. He revokes all his
claims as to the spoils, but claims the
girl. Then he gives her her freedom, but
insists on going with her as her guide
through the mountain fastnesses. and at
last reaches the hills overlooking Massil-
liza There they endeavor 10 part, but
each feels that indefnable drawing. The
separating paths are plainly defined. One
must take his way back TO his mountain
woodland home in disgrace; the other to
her home, her parents, her freedom. She
gives him back his own sword which she
has carried all the way. They enter the
city; he is accused by the consul Of being
a spy; the army Of the outlaws is en-
camped even then at the walls. The
mother of Parthenia, woman-like, views
him as an aggressor; the Timarch comes
with his retinue and offers riches, honor,
Greek citizenship. and, most of all. Par
thenia herself. but the price for the latter
is treachery to Ms kinsfolk, and this
Ingomar refuses in a speech suroharged
with vehement indignation, and he
chooses to return TO his people and give
7
him his sword but adroitly withdraws it,
saying as she has carried it before, so
she VIII carry it again, this time to ac-
company her former captor, now her
lover, back 10 the rugged home OF the
wilderness. But the Timarch again inter
feres. this time TO oecree complete am
nesty to the suspected spy, and he gains
his honor, his fortune. his bride.
Between the third and fourth acts a
specially was introduced by Miss Lizzie
Johnston. which was a most well
come relaxation from the stern and
well represented scenes of the drama
This was a song entitled My Father Was
a Sailor on the Maine the several verses
Of which were pictorially displayed by
scenes thrown on a canvas by a hydro
gen-gas lighting plant. This was encored
and Miss johnson sang on the return
Just q Picture of Girl I Used to
| Know"
/ Col. Toler has been untiring in his ef-
| forts TO provide a midsummer series Of
first class entertainments for the public,
and would not make any move until he
could secure the very best talent. This he
has now done. and his efforts are meet
/ ing with well deserved appreciation. and
/ from now on the very nnest productions
VIII be given and by such well trained ar
/ fists as so successfully entertained last
| evening. Yesterday Col. Toler placed
an order for s., 600 worth Of new scenery,
which viii be placed as soon as it ar
!