The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-09
ADJUSTMENTS
Blanche Walsh in "The Daughter of Ham
e. T. y @sIlcar,' at the MstropolitanaI ~

Blanche Walsh in "The Daughter Of Ham
. sllcar," at the MstnropolitanaH, :s#
When the power and glory, Of the ancient
Phoenieian: city of Carthage ,is.fconsid-
cred, it seems remarkable. that SO little is
actually known of her manners, her gov
ernment and her religion. It has been
pointed, out that nearly: alE-the knowledge
we have has come down to us through her
enemies, the Greeks and the Romans, and
is therefore neither impartial nor reliable.
Gustave Flaubert. the French writer, de-
voted himself with great industry and cru
dition to the study Of Carthage and his
famous historical novel, "Salammbo," en-
bodying the results of his labors is a
sombre tale Of the War Of the .Mercenaries
following the first Punic war with Rome.
Literary critics consider the work more
valuable for it's historical accuracy than
for it's interest as a work of fiction But
Stanislaus STANCE who has hitherto de-
voted himself to opera, has found in Flau-
bert's novel the material for a barbaric
tragedy in which the elemental passions
find fun play in a strange and bewldering
environment ~
f Students. Of ancient history, savants who
have delved amid the hieroglyphics of
hoary 5old civilizations long since passed
away, have been struck with the fact that
thu1aananature in its general aspects is the
same yesterday, to-day, and tomorrow
George Ebers, one of the most learned OF
the psychologists, illustrat es this in his
novels Of ancient times whose characters
are men and women actuated by motives
and torn by passions perfectly intelligible
to the modern mind. SO with Flaubert $
FCarthaginians and barbarans-they are
despite their unfamiliar environment rep
resented as very human.
The. chief difficulty with Mr.. STANCE
tragedy, however, IS identically the same
as that which relegates the hectic produc-
lions of Sardou to5a place far below the
great tragedies of literature bloody
denouement is the result Of no great DER
| mastering fate, such as Sophocles and
I Shakspere pictured Jas pursuing and finally
overwhelming their heroes. The Greek
conception Of Nemesis expressed concrete.
| ly this idea Of an inscrutable Fate thai
| rules mems affairs. Used as he:motive fO1
| a tragedy. it has produced the nobles1
phase Of the drama But "The Daughte]
OF Hamilcar, intense though itsbe in stu
alton and fierce in action, lacks the en-
noblfng touch. of such "a motive. It i.
rather a. feverishly, theatric recital Of the
wreck Of "a Womars love and life on thu
rocks Of. g. cruel and superstitious religion
And The embarrassing frankness of some
I Of the, scenes, notably that in the tent O
Matho, is thus not justified Or even ex
tenuated by a great purpose.
MISS Blanche Walsh's representation Of
/ salammbo, the priestess, is the most i'm
/ pressiye. piece Of acting this woman OF
undoubted talent has yet given us. It is
dlgnified, poWerful and lucid Indeed
the lucidity of Miss Walsh's character
izations has ever been their chiefest
charm. Her expressive features and hel
clear, sympathetic voice are. the -principa
contributory factors in this quality OF
her work. The various phases Of her feel.
ing toward the barbarian chief-1ove al