Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-03-31
CLOSES COURSE
WITH . DAVID"
Frof. Clark Delights Large Aud
fence in Reading OF Ro.
mantle Drama.
HAS TINGE OF TRAGIC IN IT.
Amounting of tie Young King and the
Hard Road Over Which He
Travelled to the Throne.

Barratt hall was well flied again last
night by most attentive and appreci-
atiyo audience IN attendance on Prof.
Clark's last lecture recital for the sea-
son In this city. His theme was "Da-
vid, romantic drama by Gale Young
Rice and the presentation OF this now
noted literary work was made SO ef-
/ fectivcly and impressyely that the lee
turcr easily held his hearers attention
firmly TO the close.
As Introductory, the professor said
| THIS is a poetic drama, a romantic
! dr0nIn, with tinge Of the tragic, and
Is the only really American poetic dra-
ma OF recent years Of any particular
merit We are glad TO welcome to the
| cause OF literature any new American
| Wl.ier MI Rice Is now putting in his
/ test EFFORTS ON new dramatic work
| for which We have great hopes. True
| ne has been more or less imbude with
the faults and the fancies of the Ro-
setti clique, but he Is drawing away
from their influence, and we shall have
better hopes than ever of him IN con-
sequence. Mr. Rce takes the Bible
interw eavlrg with Il with poesy and
the fruits Of a fertile imagination. The
first scene opens I'm the hall of King
saul Of Israel at Gibeah, and through
the porch We can discern I'm the dis
tance the camp Of the Phllistines. the
traditional enemies OF the Israeltes.
The author introduces dancing girls re-
cllnmg in the hall and exchanging COS
sip over the situations occasloned by
the stirring exigencies of the times"
The lecturer then read from the play.
with skilful elocutionary descriptive OF
the conversation of these dancing girls
who Included in their talk plentiful
gossip about David the young shepherd
king whom the Prophet Samuel had
very lately Amounted as the future
king of Gods chosen people. Then the
scene was Just previous TO the shep-
herds conflict with Goliath Of Gath
and the intensely dramatic surround
ings at the time We're admirably por-
trayed by Mr.. Rice, and as admirably
presented by Prof Clark. The plot
of the drama introduces lively amatory
passages in which Mchal, the daugh-
ter Of Saul and David figure in a
treatment which seems to be true to
oriental experiences, and yet involves
a flavor of the modern that lends
uniqueness and pquanoy to the
whole. The passage in which Michal
IS mentioned IN portcnt as the coming
queen OF Israel, and the CONSERVATION
into which Sau's court is thrown I'm
consequence, Is n dramatic gem. the
value of which the talented lecturer
fully impressed upon his audience
Then the introduction Of Jonathan, with
the subsequent exhibitions OF that
model of brotherly affection which
of t1tn ,,Iz, i.,., ALL
of Old Testament story. Is cleverly
handled by Mr. Rice, and this, too,
Prof. Clark presented IN a taking and
effective way.
There is great merriment I'm Sauls
court when Il Is announced with mock
gravity that the boy David proposes
TO fight the gigantic Philistine, mer-
rlment made the more realistic through
the lecturers natural Interpretation OF
J.. I'VE all know the story of David
and Goliath, said the elocutlorist "The
Phillistines were routed, and Israel
was victorious. But this only increases
the difficulties OF David for success
in battle results in events which puts
Michal further from him. The Choir
isters sing. Saul has slain his thou
sands, but David his tens OF thou
sands" And this is used by David's |
enemies to embitter Saul against him,
and Michal IL thrown into doubt and |
painful perplexity as to the possible !
outcome. 1t IL true the king is finally !
soothed by the harp of the shepherd |
BOY but his wrath returns by an un. !
fortunate interposition OF Michal who |
mlsunderstands the future king. though |
she subsequently is rlghted, and fees |
from the court when Saul proposes to |
make her marry some one else than |
David, whom she loves. The death OF |
Samuel, the pursuit OF David by Saul, |
the cutting OF the latters skirt In tho |
cave, SauPs contrition, ana the dIa-
logues Incident thereto form OF dra-
matte grouping, the recital Of which
was listened TO with intense interest.
And not an unimportant feature was
the deliberate ana cold blooded orders
given by Saul that Micha should be
assassinated We're he killed In battle |
with the PhilliS'lnes. The visit 10 the
habtS Of the Witch Of Endor, one of
the most exciting episodes I'm Old Tes-
lament history was an event OF the
evenings recital which held the entire
audience almost breathless. Prof. Clark
showed his elocutionary powers To adj
vantage In portraylng this scene with
the ghost OF Samuel rising from the
earth, and Sauls agnnized anxiety. Tire
last scenes include love passages be-
tween Michal and David. and the ex.
citing environment OF the last day Of
Saul before Joining samuel and David's
ANXIOUS movements Al the close Of the
dav that was so disastrous 10 the Is
raelitish forces