Mexico weekly ledger., 1906-07-05

Palace, though some distance from
the steps Of the Portico, was the alter
upon which the priest poured the oil
in solemn ceremonial then applied the
lighted torch aud when it blazed up
the priest and attendants slowly re-
entered the palace and the play be-
gan.
1t is hard to distinguish any char
actsr or any part as better than the
Others for such pains taking with
every detail Of pronunciation, infection
gesture, pose and action made every
part strong one. We wearied with
the watchman as he stood upon the
palace wall and prayed the Gods for
respite from his long years watch we
felt awed as the Argive elders chanted
their solemn songs Of prophecy lament
praise, faith, OF narration and invOca-
tion. How we were thrilled with the
weird refrain "Slng Song of Woe,
Sing Song OF Woe, But May the
Good Prevail" while the pipers piped
an accompaniment almost unreal in
Its solemn weirdness And to think,
the leader of the chorus knew not a
word OF Greek! Such feat of men,
ory seems almost incredible for page
after page Of both chant and dialogue
rolled from the tongue of that rich
voiced law student as though he knew
no other language,
We sympathized a little with the
wicked Clytaemnestra but our very
blood curdled with that dispairing cry
Of the beautiful Cassandra "Oh, Woe
is me! Alasl Alasl Oh Apollo! Oh
Apollol" And when Agamemnon
rolled into the amphitheatre in his
exquisite purple toga and gold helmet
from which flowed a bright red plume
standing In gorgeous chariot drawn
by two matched horses ypked together,
we felt the greatness and majesty Of
the conqueror tie Kingliness of the
victory even though we had supreme
contempt for the man who sacrificed
his daughter Iphigema.
But l must not forget the Herald
and that magnificent run he made
across the green sward. Everyone is
talking about that run, and with good
reason. You have seen copies of that
famous flying mercury with one arm
appraised and one leg bent almost
straight back standing poised upon
the toe, so IL seemed this Greecian
Herald ran with all the swiftness the
grace, the poise Of the mercury yet not
one whit out of breath as he sank be.
side the alter crying "Now Hail, o
Land; Hail Light of the Sun; Hail
Zeus Lord of the Land" and on
through his long thanksgiving and re-
cital Of the story of conquest.
1t is hard to believe that such fine
reading Of lines and smoothnesS and
finish of acting could be accomplished
by mere college students. To be sure,
they haye been over year preparing
and drilling, they have had over one
hundred rehearsals, and yet 1t is mar
velous when we consider that with it
all they have kept up their college
work and given to the world such an
admirable presentation Of the great
classic,
The play was given under the aus.
pices OF the Department of Classics Of
Harvard at cost of $4,000, and the
committee In charge consisted Of Pro-
fessors Smyth, Gulick and Harris, who
were presented with an enormous
wreath of laurel and roses at the close
Of the performance. So great was the
enthusiasm Of the audience that each
actor was called out by name and re-
ceived an ovation as he bowed
bis acknowledgment. Mr.. j. G..
Lodge, who composed the music, and
Mr.. .uevlge kludle we're also called and
applauded continuously for several
minutes.
Then we came back to earth and to
this 10th day of June Ammo Domini
1906, and wended our homeward way,
feeliuS the experience was worth far
more than 1t cost US In time, dis.
tance Of journey or money, and that
we owe debt to these good people too
great to be estimated. NJ. L. T.