The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-09
TORY OF "THF
! JEWELS OF THE
MADONNA"

Even as Charpentier's story nf
Louise" sets forth the life of the
streets in Paris. SO this later work is
life in Naples, as lived by THE peo-
pie" The following synopsis is taken
from the story given in the Chicago
Evening Post:
All the n%eighbors are gathered in
h piazza for the fiesta of the Madon-
ma, when IL girl PUSHES from the house
half dressed demanding the right to
Join in the spirit of tho day. One
secs in her look, from her attitude,
from the color of the music envelop-
ing her. that the ever%-returning out
hurs, of the springtide is throbbing
through her veins, while her foster
mother and brother seek to protect
her by keeping her away from the
crowd safely locked in the house.
Her foster-brothers is a sober
minded young blacksmith who knows
full we'll h a only sorrow can come
from tits wild child, but the mystic
touch has fallen on his heart. She,
with hair streaming, dress but half
together, sings But do they not know
that l am young, thai ] am pretty
and in the madness of youth she will
n from the sheer boiling Of the
blood that knows no law. With the
merry, g~ood-natured Neapolitan
crowd abetting, off she rushes, caring
not why nor whittier.
She Is seen by one of the powers
of the underworld. Rafaele, head OF
the Camorristi, who responds to the
call of the wild. But her demand
for kisses was as the crying of he
child and now, facing the fact, she
mas terror, scorn, yet fascination. He
demands Il kiss, which she denies with
all the tierceness of the animal, stab
bling him rs he holds her in his arms,
at which he kisses the blood, dedicat-
ing his passion in it's w symbol. AS
she seeks to draw herself into the
house the procession of the Madonna
passes. While they kncel he whispers
in her arr: What do you wish :?
Shall | damn myself for you? Sec
the jewels that shine on the Madon-
mas mantle. DO o wish me to put
them about your neck?" With fear.
and hate, and the Hateful calling of
the blood, she shrinks from him, as
the glory of the sun of Naples blazes
through all the heavens.
Second Act.
The second act is a daring psycho-
logical study of elemental passion, Of
religious mysticism, in the peninsulars
OF the Mediterranean, understandable
enough for those who have lived there
and know with what logic the Latins
carry Il tale to it's conclusion, but dar-
ing for AnElo-SaXon eyes and ears.
The libretto again tells the salient
points through the picture on the
stage SO that the spectator can grasp
the meaning eve though he comprc-
hends not the words.
The scene is in the little garden of
house by the sea, on the
evening of the fiesta, the echoes of
which still are heard afar off. The
evening meal is finished. Maliella is
gazing at the sea, her mind full of the
image of the man who has stolen her
foster brother. saying hat she must
go forth into the world. then enters
her chamber to gather her little be-
lonGings. When she returns to saw
goodbye, he breaks through her fear,
telling her of his love which will not
bear the parting. He locks the gate.
seizes her in his arms, but she is only
shocked. then laughs at him. GEN
marc. her brother. not indeed her
blood. but with whom she has lived
all her life. the sober. God-fearing
smith; no. she cannot love him. The
lure in hcr blood yearns for the man
of terror who would steal the Jewels
of the Madonna to deck her beauty.
"Silence. you b~laspheme." She strus-
giles to pass the gate. n at last goes
back to her room singing an evil song
of the streets. that calls death on ali
enemies and kisses for the lover.
The Jewels Of the Madonna. surely
the blessed virgin will forgive my
a love II L pray to her." so runs
the refrain in the tortured head of
the Neapolitan youth. He takes out
his blacksmith's kit. chooses what
tools he needs and steals off, a devot-
ed Catholic, to rob the patron saint
of his city. for his beloved.
Soon comes the tone of a guitar
and Rafaele peers through the iron
gate singing a serenade and Maliella