Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-22
POEM IN PICTURES
DR.. Clement B. Shaw Gives
Unique Presentation of
''Fritiof's Saga
ARE MORE THAN 200 VIEWS
Dramatic Portions Are Recited by
Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson-TranS-
Iation True to Original.

A unique and highly artistic enter
tainment was afforded last evening in
DR.. Clement B. Shaw's scenic represen-
tation at the Barrymore theatre, Mo
line, of the great Swedish epic, "F>rit-
iof's Saga" by Esaias Tegner. Assist
ing DR.. Shaw were Mrs. Elizabeth
Johnson. reader, of Chicago, and Miss
Edna Mitchell of Moline at the piano.
More than geo stereopticon views, pic
turing the beautiful love story of the
north and the beauty and grandeur of
the northern landscape were also pre-
scented and lent additional charm 10
the narration.
DR.. Shaw himself explained in out
line the story of the poem, while the
dramatic parts were recited by Mrs.
Johnson The translation which DR..
Shaw has made of the famous epic is
wonderfully true to the original, both
in form and in spirit, and reveals
thorough knowledge of the Swedish
exactness with which the rhythmical
A noticeable feature is the marvellous
exactness with which the rhythmiral
and poetic sweetness of the original
saga is brought out. Tegner, who is
generally regarded as the great ma
tional poet of Sweden, has in this stir
ring and noble poem reached the sum-
NIT of his powers, and it is generally
conceded to be one of the worlds
greatest poems.
Based on IceIandic Saga.
iaI, G
based on an old Icelandic saga, re-
lates how Fritiof and Ingeborg, hero
and heroine, the former a peasants
son and the latter daughter of King
Belle of Norway, grow up together and
their childish affection ripens into love.
King Belle dies and is succeeded by
his two sons Before them the war
rior Fritiof sues for Ingeborg's hand,
but is repulsed because of the lowness
of his birth In anger and resentment
he urges his love to flee with him, but
her sense of duty and obedience re-
strain her. and Fritiof embarks alone
upon the sea. Returning, after
many adventures. to his native
land. he finds it devastated by the
old King Ring, who has also carried
away his Ingeborg. In furious rage he
sets the great temple on fire, and it
soon lies in ashes To King Ring he
goes, and after many adventures be-
comes an influential adviser in the
Kingdom. At the kings death Fritiof
is awarded IngebOrg as wife, but he
has offended the gods. and before he
can obtain his desire he must rebuild
the temple which he has destroyed.
With its completion the gods are ap-
peased and the final reconciliation
takes place.
More Vivid Comprehension.
To one who had previous acquaint-
ance with "Fritiof's Saga" the rendi-
ton last evening afforded opportunity
for a greatly more vivid comprehen-
sion of the story and of the living
scenes of old Morse mythology, and it
is to be regretted that so small an
audience greeted Dr. Shaw in this in
structive reproduction of Tegner's
great epic.
The wild, rugged and beautiful
mythology and saga literature of the
Mortimer is not, as a rule. so well
known as that of the southern coun-
tries, but last evenings entertainment
ought to stimulate greater interest in
this great field of literature and re-
search.