The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-01-10
E HUR COMING.
The Great Spectacle To Be Seen In
Kansas City.

The principal topic of interest and
conversation just now is the famous
spectacle 'sBen Hur,n which is we'll
known to all, and which IS coming to
Kansas City for a 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 greatest
and most impressive religlo-historic
drama OF modern times. Special &C.
commodation and reduced rates will be
arranged on all roads leading to Kan
sas City during this important week
and everything is being done to pro-
vide fer the accommodation of ont-of-
town patrons.
The production which 10 to Kan
sas 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, camels and ornate electrical
effects. 1t is a sermon Of varied speech,
illustrated by art and music. The pur-
pose of the drama and dramatist is
wholly good and the play begins most
adroitly, yet r%everently.
There are few bars of music-serving
the anne purpose as a voluntary before
divine service-and when the curtain
rises, 1t dlscloses the illimitable waste
of desert; the tired camels; the three
wise men gathered from Greece, from
Egype, from Hindustsn, to greet the
appearance of the star, ga focus OF
dazzling luster.n His star proclaims
His birth. The play opens with His
birth and closes with %hosannas and re-
joicings over the last miracles He was
to perform before His pointed end.
Following the prelude comes the
brilliantly collored pictures of the
house tops of Jerusalem, the terrace Of
the palace of Hur. Next is one of the
great scenes of the %play-the dim in
terror of the Roman galley ship-the
muscular, grim vlsaged slaves tugging
in rhythmic motion at the oars. Then
the wreck, with Ben Hur and his cap
tain struggling in the waves.
Then comes the thrilling and reahs-
tic effects ever presented on the stage
the great chariots ace. A rumble Is
heard In the background, the hurrying
clatter of horses hoofs and then the
race is disclosed. Two Roman charlots,
each drawn by four horses, form the
centre of the marvellous picture. The
animals with far stretched necks and
dllated nostrils run like mad, urged on
by the whips Of the charioteers-Ben
Hur and his enemy, Messiah. The
wheels of the chariots rumble and sway.
Now Ben Hur is ahead, nov MESSIAH,
then Ben Hur and the race is ended.
The last scene is one of fitting beau
ty and impressiveness, revealing the
Mount eff Olivet, where a great multi
tude gather to greet the Nazarene and
where the Savior performs the miracle
OF cleansing the lepers. Christ's per-
sonalitY is neve represented IN the
flesh bnt his presence Is indicated by a
ray Of marvellous brilliancy which is
reflected by a shaft Of pure white light
from the halo over his head.
To present the Marvellous spectacle,
no less than 800 people are required.
10 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 morning,
January 9th, at nine O'Clock. The
management of the Willis Wood
Threatre that all out Of
town orders, II accompanied by cash or
money order, will be filled before the
regular box Office sale opens.