The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-03-18
phIladeIphIa PublIe Ledgerl

philadelphia Public Ledger T..
la samaritaine" has attracted
much more definite and acute interest
in Philadelphia, perhaps, than any
where In the world. The presentation
of the play in Paris does not excite
especial comment The production in
New York was preceded by discussion,
and there was an attempt to prevent
its presentation, but Mayor Gaynor de-
cided that he had no authority to in
terfere with the play. In Philadelphia
the objections were voiced by depu-
tation of ministers of the gospel, and
finally the Mayor forbade the per-
Torrance, not on the ground that the
play was improper or that the subject
was necessarily beyond the pale Of
dramatic representation, but because
he held that the promoters of the play
had definitely promised him that the
play should not be given.
Rostand's play was first produced
in Paris in 1897, and has been regu-
larly given since then during Holy
Week. The play is based on the
fourth chapter of the gospel Of St
! John. The curtain discloses the well
of Jacob and the spirits of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob awaiting the coming
of the Redeemer. They disappear and
are followed by the Samaritans, who
hate the Jews and are by them despis-
ed. The crowd talks of the coming OF
the Messiah to whom Jews and Samar-
iitans shall all be alike. Then comes
the striking scene which introduces
the Savior. He enters at the head OF
His twelve disciples, all modelled after
world famous paintings - Andrew
youthful, Peter gray and sombre and
Judas forbidding and sinister. The
disciples go to buy food and immedi-
ately Photine, the woman of Samaria,
portrayed by Bernhard, appears at
the well. One version in English, from
, which extracts are given, follows:
! JESUS.
! Woman
CShe turns and regards him ;nsolentiy)
, Give me to drink. The suns hot rays
are burning. Give me to drink
! PHOTINE.
j fancied that the jews
And he is of that race his features
! Would naught of us, the people o
And looked upon us as a lowly people
4 Deeming our bread pestiferous lik'
pork,
z Like blood of birds the honey of GU
} The waters of samaria fill this well
From which L draw the jug upon m
head.
Hence thou wilt turn thy countenanc
away
No longer wishing
JESUS.
Still 1 wish to drinl
PHOTINE.
So then hen thy thirst surpasseth thy dis
Know, then; thy foot will be much lei
By Shiny ooze of venom bearing toad
Than if thou drink the water from tn
vessel
with wicked volubiIity.)
No, even II thou begged me until NOR
The jug | would not lower from m
I lift it high, and now I HE me henc
Farewell, Elisar without gift and tres
Thou art in error--I am no Rebecca
And tho tongue cleave to mouth, tho
shalt not drink!
Coming a little clOser.)
See here this water, look, how clea
how clear, how limpid
The jug seems empty, tho it overflow
See, how it sweats dew through +
open pores,
Like pearls the drops glide down {
it's round belly,
- This, water, pure and clear like un
= To thee, unclean forbidden and impur
: Woman!
p PHOTINE.
= No. thou shalt not have one drop!
A MOI OQes
Y JESUS.
Y Oh, if thou knewst the heavenly gi
q The message that the Lord sends tn
7 And who it is that asks this drink
thee,
4 Thou would'st ask him to quench t
PHOTINE.
q Wouldst thou detain me with mystic
4 Gus prattle?
Z JESUS.
He is the steward of the wells of lif
PHOTINE.
/ must admit, strange and capti'
Thy voice, thy beauteous eye, displei
me not.
< Now tell me of this water prithee, J,
OF which thou speakest with so mi
assurance,
4 How wouldst thou draw it from
cistern's depths2
And tho thou knest of another SOU
'Twould not be water clear like u
this.
They come from far to draw upon
well,
< Given to us by our father Jacob,
VI Who drank therefrom himself and
his tribe.
4 In all Samaria there is not it's equa
II WOuldst thou with boastful words
pugn its fame?
4 Art greater thou than father Jacob
JESUS.
PHOTINE.
Were l to pour into thy hollow ha
A little of this water, thou Wouldst
JESUS.
Whoever of this water woman driI
. VIII thirst for II again upon the m,
But whOsOever drinketh Of the wa
- That l shall give him, never shall
~ thirst
In him it shall become well of wa
Springing up into everlasting life!
PHOTINE.
Life everlasting? Can 1t be the wa
Elias knew of living in the deser