Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-10-23
4 OaAMAvc COMEDY
"Jane Eyre

One Of the newest and most inter
esting comedy drama offerings Of the
season win be seen at the Grand 0p-
era House, Monday October rs. when
Rowland and Clifford's powerful play.
es present Peter G. Piatti's original
| y conceived dramatic version Of
Charlotte Bronte's famous novel Jane
Eyre"
The story opensat Thornfied Hall,
England, Rochester's country home.
Jane Eyre, in the capacity Of gov
erness, meets Mr.. Rochester for the
! first time. Jane has been raised at
Lowood academy. charity school 70
girls, presided over by the Rev. Mr..
Brocklehurst, who is also rector Of
Thornfield Parish. Brocklehurst is
TYPE Of the ,asyetic hypocrite, bowling
and cringing in the presence Of his
superiors, but cruel and tyrannical
to those who are so unfortunate as
to come under his jurisdiction. The
abuse that have crept into Lowood
under his administration have made
the school by-word for cruelty. Ro-
chester, who has been watching Jane
closely, has noted her tender care OF
Adele has fallen in love with her,
and determines to ask her to be-
come his wife, in spite Of the fact
that he has hopelessly insane Whe
living. DR.. Rivers is attending the
mad wife. and to him Rochester con
fides his love for Jane, and his In
Iteptions. Rivers tries to deter Ro-
chester, but In vain.
Lady Ingram has persistently been
trying to max a match with hocns'
| ter for her daughter Blanche, much
to the disgust Of her son, Lieut., The
odore Ingram, who is in love win
Adele, Rochester's ward and Jane
Byre's charge. Rochester to rid him
self of Lady Blanche tells Lady In
gram that he is ruined. This inform
nation has the desired effect, and
Rochester then tells Of his bethoth-
al to Jane. In the second act we
find Jane preparing for the wedding,
and Theodore asking for Adele's hand
In the midst of the preparations Mr..
Mason appears on the scene, an event
that seems to startle Rochester.
Mason visits Rochester's wife, and
Their departs, but not before he has
heard of the proposed wedding throug
Lady Blanche. They then proceed to
church. The church is thronged
with guests and the tenantry. Brock
lehurst is Just about to pronounce
Jane and Rochester man and wife,
when Mason rushes in and stops the
ceremony, declaring that Rochseters
wife is living at Thornfield, and that
lhe, Mason is her brother. Jane turns
pladingly to Rochstr, hoping that
| h will dny what Mason has said, but
Rochstr only turns from hr in ST.
lence. She staggers for moment,
then falls in a faint at his feet. Ro
chester kneels by her side and promi
es to atone.
The third act takes place the day
after the interrupted wedding, and
discovers the lawn and gardens at
Thornfield Hall. Lady Ingram de-
parts Immediately, and all of Rochse-
ter's guests inform him Of their in.
tention to leave. He persuades them
to remain to see his wife. He has
her brought out by DR.. Rivers and
Grace Poole. She attacks and hurts
him. Lady Blanche, Theodore and
Brocklehurst leave, much to Rochei
ter's relief, when he discovers Jane
Is going away also. He pleads with
her to remain, but she tears her.
self away from him, not before &C.
knowledging, however, that she still
loves him. Rochester's wife, In the
meantime, unduly excited by the
events OF the day, has become violent
and Rivers. goes to get some drugs
to quiet her. He is hardly gone,
when she throws over lamp and
sets the house on fire. Rochester
rushes into the house to save her.
Rivers, attracted by the flames, re-
turns Just in time to drag Rochester
out and save his Life. The flames
and intense heat have destroyed Ro
chester's sight. He Is blind.
In the fourth act we discover Ro-
chester in his hunting lodge, with
DR.. Rivers. who is working hard to
restore his sight. Six months have
passed, and they have received no
word from Jane, although they have
advertised extensively. This irritatea
Rochester 80 much 1t retards his re-
!.