Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-17

through the breach In the walls OF Con-
stantinople, and there found in the street
the body OF the murdered Constantine XI,
the Genoese pilot and photographer gave
10 the world a new continent. Columbus
died believing he had discovered Cipango.
but that mistake on his part does not de-
tract from the importance OF his work.
The course OF civilization was changed
by the fall Of Constantinople. 1t will not
be contended that the discovery of Amer
lea would have been long delayed, had the
monarchs Of Europe lent the last Of the
Greek emperors the succor needed to save
him from the Turk. Just at that time
humanity was taking on a new birth.
Thought was breaking the chains that had
bound Il for so long, and bright minds
were seeking new adventures in all direc-
tons. The spirit that a few years before
had found an outlet in deeds of knight
errantry was expanding Its forces on en-
terprises that were achieving tremendous
results for humanity. John Goosefesh,
who was later permitted 70 change his
name to Gutenberg, had invented the art
of printing from movable types, and
knowledge was being disseminated faster
and wider than ever before. Men in all
ranks OF life felt the impulse of the new
growth, and freedom of action and con-
science received a greater impetus than
since Constantine the Great, more than a
thousand years before, had declared for
the freedom of conscience in matters Of
religion among the peoples OF his mag
nificent empire. II may have been that
let flioque" was only a pretext; 1t may
have been that the jealousy OF the Roman
for the Greek had nothing TO do. with it.
II is only certain that the West held back
when the East called for help. and the
unspeakable Turk established himself in
the seat where for over a thousand years
only Christian rulers had sat- and that
for over 400 years he has held that seat
through the disagreement of the rulers OF
Europe. II is also certain that his con-
quest of the Byzantine empire fastened the
discovery and settlement of America, and
that the course Of civilization was turned
westward and the culture Of Europe is
reaching Cipango through America instead
of through Turkey. This is the matter
which was kindled by the small fire of re-
ligious difference that allowed the Mus
sulman TO plant the Crescent instead of
the Cross above the Church of Saint
Sophia.
e A weak spot in the play made by Mr..
Clarke from the novel by General Wal
lace Is that in seeking to surround his
characters with an atmosphere of human
interest he has lost sight Of certain his
toric values It might have taken advantage
of. In Ben Hur" General Wallace fore
casted the theme he enlarges' upon In
"The Prince Of india" the possibility OF
all tribes worshiping at the shrine OF
one God. Religious warfare and strife
~ 10 Ia
thought that is spoken by the Prince of
India, and the despair with which he takes
up his new century Of wandering Is the
despair that was felt by the author after
a survey of the conditions. Convinced OF
the hopelessness OF his dream, despite the
unanimity of the teachers whose followers
strive so fiercely, General Wallace sent
his prophet Of Mans brotherhood and
Gods fatherhood TO wander on amid scenes
Of desolation and woe due to bigotry and
stupidity. The Cross has waxed since that
day, but so also has the Crescent, while
the followers OF Buddha and Brahma have
increased in numbers, and the Zoroastrians
stu flourish. All the Bibles present in
the council by the wanderer have their
readers yet.
The play itself presents considerable ele-
mental strength. 1t lacks the tenderness
and the intensity of interest of Ben Hur."
II is impossible that the love of Mahommed
for Irene should equal in its hold on popu-
Iarity the romance of Judah, son of Hur'
and Esther, daughter of Simonides. The
Wanderer is a poor substitute for Simon
ldes; for, while he may be taken as
prophetic and type of the persecution OF
his race, he not so sturdy a representative
Of the virtues of that race as Is the aged
and crippled merchant OF Antioch, the
faithful servant OF the Prince Of Hur.
Nor do the tableaux of the newer play APP
peal to the artistic sense as did those of
the first. The opening scene OF Ben Hur,"
the rising OF the Star OF Bethlehem,
visualized the faith of the followers Of
Christ while that dream of Judah's, as
he lay on the doorstep of the forsahen
palace, in which he saw the miracle per-
formed in the Vale OF Hinnom. and wit
messed the cleansing Of his mother and sis
ter by the plying Jesus was a realization
Of a wish that none who witnessed could
help but feel. The course OF love in The
Prince OF India" is very human, and while
all may feel the Joy that comes with the
knowledge that two fond hearts have been
united, the satisfaction is tempered by the
thought that the marriage follows only on
the overthrow OF Christianity by Moslem-
ism. It is historically accurate, but II is
not more palatable because OF 1t. Mr..
Clarke has done his work well. just as
did General Wallace, and Messrs. Klaw &
Erlanger have given the play a wonder
fully artistic setting and have provided
a competent company OF actors for the In
depreciation Of the parts. but even the
most earnest advocates Of the play will
not claim for It the success that ben
Hur" achieved
While the whole world stands aghast
at the revelations OF the Thaw tragedy
one OF the questions that naturally arises
in the minds OF the public is the oft-dis-
cussed influence of stage life, its tempta-
tons and effect OF womankind III this
regard Miss Amelia Bingham, who was at
the Boyd recently, says;
Generally speaking a woman has more
protection on the stage and is safer there
than in the life OF a gay social set. The
door closes on the personal life of an
actress and no door Is so hard 10 pass az
the stage door. Behind that the woman
who Is really serious in her purpose Gun
make her life as exclusive as she wishes
and she will find shelter and sympathy and
announcement.
II is narrow and unjust to say that the
morals OF actresses. as a class, are diff
ferent from those OF other women. / do
not care what the circumstances may be;
blood. virtuous or. otherwise will tell. Il
will tell as well In any other vocation or
rrho .ts.o H,st a. tha ,.,oria a. v..A.