The St. Louis Republic., 1904-07-31
LOUZsT
DREssEn
E0PE5r RARK
HIGHLANDS.


Mr.. Frohman takes up his burden as a
matter of course and carries it with the
same apparent ease that ordinarily marks
the handling of single attraction.
1.-The Darling of the Gods is drama
of japanese life, which David Belasco
wrote In conjunction with John Luther
Long for Blanche Bates.
"Old Japan" precisely what it had been
for thousand years. suhsisted until about
1871. Among the reforms then undertaken
was the abolition of the crossword caste
the lordly samurai. This was accomplished
by an edict taking away their swords
and committing their privileges into beg
carly pensions However. so unquestion-
ing was the obedience of the caste to
the Emperor. their earth god" that all
but the clan OF Kara Prince of Chosui,
surrendered The living soul of the sa-
muraf'-their beloved swords. And this
forms the inspiration of The Darling of
the Gods"
Prince Kara and his forty retainers are
outlawed. They have been hunted and
killed till, at the opening of the play,
there are but ten. 1t is the fortune of
Kara and his ten to rescue the Princess
Yo-San and her father from bandits
while en- route home from the convent, or
temple, where Yo-San has passed her
life.
In the light Of a lantern her father,
Prince Saigon of Tosan, recognizes the
outlaw Prince. Yo-San also sees their
rescuers face in this flash Of light.
Yo-San has been Miko-a darling Of
the gods-from infancy. In crimson
haksma she has danced to them. shaken
her little bells at them. But at II her
father. Prince Saigon, comes for ner to
set her at the head of his household,
and finally to marry Tonda-Tanji. to
whom she was betrothed in infancy.
Now though the Prince of Tosan knows
that Kara is the outlaw Prince. the fact
that Kara has not only saved his life, but
the honor of the Princess. is an obligation
which must be promptly acknowledged.
Prince Tosan observes a great feast with
many distinguished guests. called 1.-The
Feast of a Thousand Welcomes" and
paints on the blazed trees Of Hakone
forest his invitation to the outlaw. Once
within the walls. even the Emperor cannot
break the sanctuary of hospitality, yet
the terrible Zakkuri. the War Minister.
swears that Kara shall never reach the
palace. The feast Is spread and waiting,
but no one expects Kara to come. AT the
last stroke of the appointed hour he ar
rives, wearing the forbidden swords
Tonda-Tanji presses for the consent of
an immediate marriage, and Yo-San, wish
ing to delay matters tells Tonda-Tanji to
capture the renowned outlaw Prince. This
Tonda-Tanji undertakes. after being as
sured by the War Minister that his task
will be a light one.
YoSan in the disguise Of a Gesha. sees
Kara and learns that this man who Is 10
be killed is the brave Prince who saved
her and her father. She determines to save
him: and at the end of the feast. as he is
about TO go ''in the darkness as is his
right" she holds up a lantern between
them, and there Is mutual recognition and
love- But Kara is en- the verge of death.
He takes off his splendid haori. showing
his mail cut to pieces and himself desper-
ately wounded by the War Minister'S spies.
He falls unconscious, and Inu, Yo-San's
hereditary Korean slave tattooed giant,
takes him up to carry him. at Yo-San's
command. to her apartments.
Meanwhile, at the end of the feasts,
Zakkuri and his spies have gone to the
Kanzachi Forks, a wierd. CHASTITY place,
to wayIay and kill Kara as he returns.
But he does not pass. and they come back
baffied to the yashiki. The gates are
broken in the name Of the Emperor, and
Kara is traced by his blood to the stair
way leading to Yo-San's apartments from
the courtyard.
Yo-San swears solemnly to her father.
who has arrived. that the outlaw is not
In her apartments, and her father. trust
ing her, dismisses the War Minister saw
agely But Zakkuri docs not believe Yo-
San. and keeps his spies upon her. until
finally he discovers that Kara is living in
her apartments
In the secbnd act. the father Of the
Princess goes to Korea on business. Kara
RECEIVERS, and. with the return of his
strength he wakes to his sense of honor
and yearns for his comrades, so long
neglected. Yo-San tells him mis- men are,
dead and have not tried to find him. But