The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-05
JEPH1HAH AT
MT. CARMEL
Many Visitors From Wichita
and Abroad Attended.
RARE MUSICAL TREAT
Pretty Operetta Given With
Charming Effect.
REAT


| many times heretofore of entertainments
OF beautiful conception and execution,
surpassed its former record last night in
the rendition of that charming operetta.
| nJephthah and His Daughter" More than
100 guests from the city and some from
abroad attended and were literally COM
rensated for the faith and hope they had
of seeing something rarely inspiring.
The operetta was given in the audito-
rum of the academy-a spacious room
dedicated entirely for frequent auto
entertainments and occasional public en-
tertainments. The room itself is on the
third front floor facing the campus, and
is of pretty design and proper acoustics.
The floor is of polished hardwood OF i'm
maculate cleanliness and is seated with
enough comfortable chairs TO seat an
audience of two or three hundred persons.
The stage is fully equipped with opera
house scenery of artistic design and
lively colors, the drop curtain, a gift from
Bishop Hennessy, being especially beau
tiful. 1t represents a view of St. Peters
and the Vatican palace at Rome. with
one of the famous bridges OF the Tiber
in the foreground. 1t shows a srrikingly
precise perspective of the most historic
great interest to the audience, who have
read within the past few days of the
visit to the Vatican of two heads of the
strongest empires of the opposite hemis-
phere-Edward of England, and William
of Germany.
But the greatest revelation of all was
the training of the students under the
Sisters Of the Blessed Virgin. 1t can be
said that from a standpoint of personal
he cir 10 Of ant I'm al
mel are flowers of the great southwest,
and this being reinforced by the personal
graces and accomplishments received in
the training of their academic life, the
results were marvellous.
Miss Ella Lahey, a beautiful girl with
a face of shining intellectually and hair
of raven black. delivered the '.argu-
ment" of the operetta in a manner both
mastery and winsome.
The first scene represented the Jewish
place of assembly in Mizpeh during the
Israelitish and Amonitish wars. The
Jews were mourning the expressions of
Giead and lamenting the absence of
leader. The army Of Israel was under
Elon, represented by Miss Helen Good
year. prophet in long, flowing hair and
beard of snowy whiteness-Miss Cora
ThompsOn-appeared, and upon his sug-
gestion the elders sent for Jephthah. Soon
Arnold the messenger-Mss Agnes Sol
dani, of the Usage Naticn-appeaTed, an
nouncing that the great ninth ruler of
Israel-Jephthah-wou lead the forlorn
legions of Elon. Jephthah-Miss Agnes
Screen. a very talented young lady of
heroic figure-appeared and assumed COM
mand of the army.
The singing in this scene, as in all of
them, was enchanting, and spoke well
for the music department of the academy.
In assuming command of the military
camp al Mizpeh, Jephthah made a VOW
that If he were successful in battle with
the Amenities he would, upon returning TO
his camp. offer to the Lord a burnt offer
ing of the first one that met him. BY a
singular coincidence it eventuated that his
daughter, Iphigenia, was to be his vic
tim. lphigenia was represented by Miss
Luella De Vaughn, and the scenes that
followed afforded both her and Miss
Screen rare opportunity for their mu-
steal endowments and dramatic power
The second act opened with maidens
upon the mount2inS-sOme thirty or more
girls dressed in white flowing robes They
awaited there the issue of the battle. and
when courier arrived with the news of
success they gave themselves over to ioy
and were singing songs expressive of
the sentiment of light hearts. Jephthah
appeared with his victorious army
twenty-eight girls dressed in military uni
IorlllS OF brOWn jackets ana skirts. silver
helmets and spears-and commanded 81
lence. saying his daughter was doomed to
die. This feature of the scene was very
pathetic. especially that part % it in
which Jephthah informed his daughter of
the VOW he made to jehovah This dis
tress of the camp was universal. The
scene ended with the tragedy of Jephthah
stabbing his daughter to death on her own
invitation. she encouraging her father to
observe his vow.
Too much in praise of the quality of
the entertainment. or of the talent that
entered into its success, cannot be said
One OF the features indicative Of the care
taken by the Sisters in training their
students was the drill under the command
of Miss Screen. The precision by which
complex movements were made astoniSh-
ed everybody present. The applause was
generous, but not more so than was de
served
Another beautiful feature of the on
eretta was the scene among the slain in
the field Of battle. An angel with real
wings'-Miss Grace HoUghton-appeared
while brother was dying in the arms OF
his sister. The singing in this scene was
surprisingly sweet
One of the most interested and apnroy-
ing and applauding spectators was Right
Reverend John ]. Hennessy, bishop Of
the diocese. who is very talented rnu-
steal critic and an enthusiastic promoter
OF amateur theatricals for private enter