The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-04-25

The Worlds Triumph: a Play. With
ERro9sm ETe James Fsa slocf Rnd PsheS 3" Sy
J. Il. Lpplncott Company, Philadelphia.
The theme of this story is that n
woman. rather reconditc of mind,
writes play which is to be presented
as n Christmas masque. The scene pre-
scnts the drawing room IN large coun-
try house, and the characters represent
ed are Mrs Herbert. a widow; Robert,
her son; Edith, her elder daughter; Ed
mund Hcathcliffc. engaged to Edith;
and Angela, the youngest child.
In the play the characters represent
cd are the Duke Of Modcua; Fra Gia.
como, Franciscan monk; Alfarabi. Sar.
acenic astrologer; Pope. court Jester;
Fietro. father of Fiordimonda; Giosuc.
son of Pietro; First courticr; Second
courtier: Messenger of the Pope; Dow
ager Duchess of Modcna; Fiordimonda,
peasant girl; Liza, mother Of Fiordi-
monda; Susanna, bctrothcd of Giosuc.
The action Of the play goes to The point
of the relief of the people from op-
preston, The Duke is not so much n
bad man as victim of custom, tradi-
tion and ignorance. There comes To
him, however, chastc peasant maid Of
inspirational force, intelligence, and
persuasive. power. who leads him in the
right way aud puts his mind in the
proper frame to meet the demand of his
people, uprisen against want and tvran-
ny. Fra Giacomo is the spokesman of
the assembled multitude to the Duke.
And very nobly he cites their griev-
ances. receiving, through the mouth of
tho maid, Fiordimonda, complete ac-
auiescencc in his demand; the demand
and answer being nobly stated, as fol
lows:
Fra Giacomo. First we demand a COM
plete change OF rule:
There is nor high nor low in perfect free
dom.
Each blossomed into all he may become,
And grt by the same universe tina. is
His adjutant, and each as master holds
Equal prerogative with each, and gives
In his own place his due submissivcuess
And help unto the rich uplIft of all;
Each voice is therefore needed in the
which is the states best life and utter
ance.
Fiordimonda The fair republic rises
with your words
And builds itself strong block on we'll
hown block
Into large home where all men dwell
secure:
What is OF regimen shall pass away,
And your desire be nobler than itself,
And so all is arranged according TO
the demand of Justice and of humanity.
The epilogue sees the characters in
the prologue discussing the play. and
agreeing that humanity must eventually
come into It's own through the abasc-
mcnt of prideful folly, tyrapuous pow.
er. aud the wrcaking of injustice; and
"Mrs Herbert closes the play in
these moving words:
The way is long and the difficulties
many. Which OF us has not his hours OF
darkness and his moments OF sharp ap-
prehension, when his highest hope ap-
pears to abandon him. and his deepest
thought to be lost TO him? Climbing, how
ever. gives strength. the upper air be-
comes healthier to breathe; the clouds
arc left below, and the undimmed sun
shines. The heart of man feels itself
akin TO all that is or may be; it lies ever
bathcd in the sweep OF the manifold cur
rents; thought alarms with the false
a>rcation of q separation that is not final,
life moves to unity complete and trans
parent; with faith a guide. and love
to uphold and cheer, the end Of the jour
uey is already glowing before us. tho
| JOY springing from the blcssedness Of al
| men. The wisdom belonging TO the knowl-
| edge which is the labor Of all men. the
| energy which wells from the beneiicent
activity of all men. the heaven of desire
| the reality OF search. the completion OF
| the work whose secret. whose movement
| whose termination Is assurcdly divine.
II is noble conception, strongly apC
| worthjly expressed. The book is one
! Of uplifting power, and should have
leavening effect in the intellectual
| world.