The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-20
:-:Plays at the Theatres This Week.:
Acndemy-Dnnte'x "Inrernov Pictures
all the week.
Lubin--yaudcvilIe.
pante's "Infernor piaure..


Al the Academy tomorrow and
throughout the week will be presented
Tor tho first time In the South. Dante's
inferno in the same cinematographic
reproduction which was witnessed and
cmphatically praised by the King of
Italy and the royal household. A spe-
clal musical program has been pre-
pared sublime in character and well
adapted to the spirit of the poem. The
pictures VIII be accompanied through
out by an explanatory lecture. and a
Dante student has been engaged to
direct the production and deliver the
lecture.
al the incidents in the journey
Throughout the Inferno told with un-
exampled power by the poet. are re-
produced in most lifeiike manner
1t is one or the greatest monuments of
the worlds literature and the story
Ia well known.
Dante, when boy. at a festival of
Movers and prayer met little girl
named Beatrice. Dante was a little
more than nine, Beatrice scarcely nine
Danto's intensely poetic soul his pas
zion for tho good. tho truo and the
beautiful. was set afire b. the deeply
spiritual charm In Beatrice's face In
this love there was no alloy of sensual
ahection. To Dante as he grew older
Beatrice became a living incarnation
OF "omanly purity, a type in flesh and
blood OF tho uplifting influences of wo-
manhood. Tho poet saw her only j
fe" times and then only for brief mo-
menfs after their first meeting at tho
festival. Beatrice accepted tho tri-
bate OF Dante in the spirit In which IL
was offered. as a homage not 10 her
eek but 10 the virtues Of her sex. II
Is said thai she recognized his excelling
genius and urged him to leave to tho
world an undying memorial OF his lofty
Ideals. Dante early felt the inspira
;ion that came Of this urging and
planned 70 make Beatrice immortal as
en- embodiment OF womaniy perfec-
ton IN spiritual sense. To accom-
piiah this H. made her the central fig
urc in the "Divina Commedia." In the
Divine COMEDY Dante Journeys from
earth into hell through purgatory into
paradise. Beatrice gives him as his
guide through the Inferno a pioua
pagan poet OF Antiquity. Virgil. the
writer az the immortal "Aeneid."
TIC opening scenes In the picture at
once convince the spectator Of the high
artistic standard Of the whole pro
ducticn The wandering of Dante
through the dark and gloomy forest,
the appearance OF the three beasts inn
pedins his way toward the summit his
meeting With Virgil. are depicted with
r!vidnces and loyalty to the poem
which defy description. All through
the country about the valley TO the
portals with the fatal legend. down
into the circles between the Acheron
ami the StyN are seen wonderfully ex-
act reproductions Of The scenes In Dan
II The Stygi1n Lake and the adven-
lures on It's shores are marvcis OF pic
torlnl art The descent into the city of
DIS after the conquest Of tine opposing
nsnds again closely follows the poem.
Virgil and Dante pass through the city
Of Malcboige, down into the lowest
circles of Judss and Lucifer. in the
AYE of ice. Words are quite lnadequa to
20 give an idea OF the splendors OF the
iilns