The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-01-08
BEN HUR" COMING.
The Great Spectacle to Be Seen in
Kansas City.

Kansas City.
The principal topic OF interest and
conversation just now is the fam GUS
spectacle "Ben Hur", which is well
known to all, and which is coming to
Kansas City for fortnight at the
Willis-Wood Theatre, commencing
Monday, January 18th. This will be
welcome news to all in this vicinity
as it now brings within our reach an
opportunity of witnessing the great
est and most Impressive religio.his-
toric drama OF modern times. Spe-
cial accommodations and reduced
rates will be arr anged on all roads
leading to Kansas City during this
important week, and everything is
being done to provide for the accom-
modation OF out.of.town patrons.
The production which comes to
Kansas City is the same original
Klaw and Erlanger organization
which was seen in Chicago and St.
Louis last year with the same cast,
scenery, equipment, horses, cam els
and ornate electrical effects. 1t is a
sermon OF varied speech, illustrat ed
by art and music. The purpose OF
the drama and dramatist is VIII oily
good, and the play begins most
adroitly, yet reverently.
There are u few bars of music-scr-
wing the same purpose ns yolun-
tary before divine service-and when
the curtain rises, it 1iScl0Ses the
illimitubie waste OF desert; the tired
cameIs; the three wise men gathered
from Greece, from Egypt, from Hin.
dustan, to greet the appearance OF
the star, "a focus of dazzling luster
His star proclaims His birth. The
play opens with His birth and closes
with hosannas and rpjoicings over
the last miracles He was to perform
before His appointed end.
Following the -preluda comes the
brilliantly colored pictures of the
house tops of Jerusalem, the terrace
ofthe palace Hur. Next is one OF the
great scenes of the play-the dim in.
terror Of the Roman galley ship-the
muscular, grim visaged slaves tug
ging in rhythmic motion at the cars
Then the wreck with Ben Hur and his
captain struggling in the waves.
Then comes the most thrilling and
realistic effect ever presented on the
stage-the great chariot race. A
rumble is heard in the background,
the hurrying clatter OF the horses
! hOOfS, and tden the race is disclosed
/ Two Roman chariots, each drawn by
/ four horses, form the centre OF the
III mlryeluus- picture. The animals
with fHr stretched necks and dilated
nostrils run like mad, urged on by
the whips OF the charioteefs-Ben
Hur and his enemy, Messiah. The
wheels Of the chariOts rumble and
sway. Now Ben Hur is ahead, now
Messala, then Ben Hur and the race
is ended.
The last scene is one offitting beau
ty and impressiveness revealing the
Mount OF Olivet, where II great multi
tude gather to greet the Nazarene
and where the Savior performs the
miracle OF cleansing the lepers.
Christs personality is never repre-
sented in the flesh, but his presence is
indicated by a ray OF marvellous bril-.
liancy which is reflected by shaft OF
pure white light from the halo over
his head.
present the marvellous spectacle,
no less than $50 people are required.
In the chariot race eight horses are
used, while four more are kept in
training for emergencies.
"Ben Hur" will remain in Kansas
City but two weeks and the advance
sale of seats opens Thursday morn
ing, January Sth, at nine O'Clock.
The management of the Willis Wood
Theatre announces that all out OF
town orders. il accompanied by cash
or money order, will he filed before
/ the regular box office sale opens.
While tre flood of this season +
| books seems to have crowded out