The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-01-20
-BEH HUR. "
seastifcs osseriptisa sf It's Produe-
tsoa By - ex-0esiiss

Beatrice Narean, of this city-Ep. BAxsEkl
AFTER good deal of persuasion
finally resolved to leave Marean at
home with his aunt and accompany
Mr.. Bernard flo Mobile to witness
the2greatest productionfever staged.
namely, ben Hur, Lew Wallace's
story of Christ. We left:bome Sum
day night and arrived in Mobile at
O'Clock on Monday ,morning; went
to the Battle House, which is the
most elegant hotel in the city and as
large as the Tampa kBay hotel
at Tampa. Blair had left orders that
we were not to be called early and
when we came down to our dainty
prepared and tastefuliy served break
fast the hour hand was nearing 10
O'Clock.
'iAfter breakfast we drove out to
cake look at the city; as it was my
first visit there was much surprised
at its immensely. We had taken pride
in the thought that our Pensacola els
getting TO be quite large .city, but
really. when compared to3Mobile it
seems little more than a country svil-
lage.
Eight O'Clock Monday nightifOund
US in our seats in the opera house
ready for the play, and most assured
liz we found it all that is claimed
for it.
1.-The company carries four hum
dred and fifty people, nine horses,
two Roman chariots and one camel.
The chariot raceEbetween Ben Hur
and Massala was the most exciting
and realistic thing ever saw on the
stage. Each hadsfour horses in his
chariot; those of Ben Hursbeings coai
black, and those of his rival milk
white. and all were beautiful be-
yond description.
The scene where Christ passes
through Jerusalem and heals the
lepers is overpowering in its grandeur
and solemnity. One never sees
Christ in person in the play, but cone
knows instinctively when He is sup
posed to be on the Mount of Olives
and then the lepers flock to Him to
be healed, and chorus of three
hundred voices, male and female,
with the characters dressed in the
artistic Grecian costume, and leach
character carrying beautiful palm,
sing, Hail to Jesus of Nazareth and
the lepers kneel in the shadows until
the anthem is finished.
''Then a light so radiant that for
moment it is dazzling in its effect is
thrown on the scene and the lepers
joicing, and the applause from the
vast audience sinks into a low deep
murmer. while the music is SO soft,
sweet and impressive that for few
moments one imagines oneself any
where except in theater, from the
sacred emotions the indescribabie
scene has inspired
National Bible coaterenee to DO Held
in Game ss,ile, Feb 5th to 9Th.
The city is making great prepare
tons for the coming bible conference.
The conference of last year was a |
great success, many visitors attend
ing from all parts of the country. |
Among the many great preachers |
on the program are: D. J. Wilbur |
Chapman (Presbyterian) DIR. Len G. |
Bronghton tBaptistl Atlanta, Ga;
Dr. d. V. Gwilym tEpiscopalian) |
New York; DR.. W. D. Blackstone |
(Meshodist) Chicago; Prof. j. r. C. |
Brown, Virginia; DIR. z. 1. ID. Pepper,
Philadelphia; Rev. Geo. r. Stuart |
tMethodist) Tennessee; DIR. A. c.
Dixon tBaptist) Boston; DIR. Clarence
r. Strouse and many others.
The railroads have, \
rates to the conference. Tickets on
Tuesdays, Thursdays and SATURDAYS.
A very cheap rate for board is of
fered.