The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-28

love among the hills Of New England,
Its scenic establishment is beautiful and
appropriate, and its mechanical effects
are masterpieces Of stage realism.
The, story tells Of the love of Bob Fer
rest, an honest young farmer, for Lettie
Saunders, a village belle. Their dream
OF happiness, however, Is destined to be
shattered. Bob Is somnambulist. His
dissolute half-brother, Floyd Preston, to
whom money has been refused by his
father, quarrels with the old man in the
dooryard Of the old homestead, and stabs
him to death. Bob appears at this juno
ture walking in his sleep. Floyd stealth
lily places the knife in his hand and tip
toes into the house. Bob stumples over
the body, wakes, and thinks he killed
his stepfather. Floyd returns to accuse
him. Lettie, who has been witnessing
balloon ascension, now enters waving a
farewell with her handkerchief to the
balloonist, who has passed overhead. Hor-
rided at the scene, she asks what has
happened. Floyd repeats his. accusation,
| saying there was no witness but himself.
Lettie replies holly that there was.
Looking about with guilty fear, Floyd
inquiries who could have seen the MUIR
der For answer Lettie points upward
to the balloon. The aeronaut, how.
ever, is not heard of again and Bob is
convicted and condemned to death. On
the day set for his execution his faithful
sweetheart secures reprieve. She then
undertakes a perilous journey through
wild snow storm from the governors
office to the prison yard. Her horse falls
exhausted at hilltop and the pucky girl
essays to complete the journey on a
bobsled secured from a yokel who is
waiting for the limited express, which is
late, to pass by at the foot of the slope.
AS she dashes down hill the thunder
of the rushing express is heard. Willie
Wi16fnwor "a Poo x,,1,o 1.,-,
been tramping along the track, sees the
girls peril and tries 70 flag the train.
The iron horse is brought to a stand
still just in time to allow Lettie to dash
across the tracks in safety.
Miss Julia West, a pretty and vivacious
maiden, and her clever, spirited work
invariably gains for her high place in
the affections Of her audiences. The title
role is capitally taken by Hal Brown,
while Miss Gertrude Swiggett presents a
most amusing portraiture of a gawky
country girl. The numerous remaining
characters of the play are in capable
hands. -,
ToIstoy's "ResurrectIon."
Next week the Ferris Stock company
will be seen at the Lyceum in the new
sensational drama, Resurrection by
Count Leo Tolstoy.
Lie play OpoLSQ at the FlClOrla new
| York City one month ago with Blanche
| Walsh in the leading role, and she has
| made the greatest success Of her life.
Dick Ferris made a special trip to New
York to study the production and secure
| all the details Of scenery and costuming.
| His artist has been busy for two weeks
getting out the scenery. The company
will endeavor to make this the best and
most complete production of the Ferris
season.
The scenes are laid in Russia at the
present time. The central figure is Katu-
sha, a girl Of humble parentage, who has
long been favorite servant in the aris-
tocratic household Of Prince Nekhludov's
aunts The prince returns after long
absence and becomes enamored Of Katu-
sha, who falls a ready victim to the liber-
tine. The first act in reality a prologue,
closes with the scene of the seduction.
The second act shows the jury room in
court. Katusha (now known as Maslova)
| is accused of poisoning client to rob
him. Masloya protests her innocence, and
declares that she was but passive in
strument of the real criminals. The jury
has retired to deliberate, and this is one
Of the most novel and striking scenes
ever seen on the stage-the jurymen chat
| ting and joking among themselves and
giving only minor attention to the fate
Of the wretched prisoner. Among the
jurymen is Prince Nekhludov, who has
recognized in Maslova the unhappy girl
he has ruined. The audience learns from
!, his lips how Katusha, driven from his
aunt's house when she was about to be-
/ come mother, was reduced to the vilest
prostitution, until, finally she faces the
Echarge of crime. He knows she is inno-
cent, and tries to convince his fellow
jurymen. They shrug their shoulders and
agree up on a verdict of guilty. Nekhludov
). feels that he alone is the real .culprit. His
duty is to save her. The next scene shows
| the interior of the female prison at Mos
/ COW. Uelshludov has obtained permission
to visit Maslova In prison. He finds her
a moral and physical wreck amid a lot Of
wretched women who are quarreiing and
drinking. Maslova refuses to speak of
what she has been-she wants to forget.
Her memories are the cherished relics OF