Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-11-03
LADIES TO PUT ON
UNUSUAL ATTRACTION
Women Of Congregational Church
Will Give Entertainment at
q the 0rpheum.

ss# g-....~e -.
The October committee of the la
dies aid society of the Congregation
al church are planning to give a
the Orpheum theatre on Tuesday af
ternoon and evening, Nov. 10th
Judith of Bethulia," photo pla!
in four reels, based on the Book O.
Judith in the Apocrypha, and on tn
poem and tragedy from the same
source by Thomas Bailey Aldrich
The picture was procured at grea,
expense and is marvellous picture
drama in which the seige of Bethu'
liza and the storming Of the walls
are given spectacular importance
The afternoon matinee will be given
after school hours for the benefit
of students and there will probably
be two performances in the evening
The story Of the book Of Judith
runs something like this:
The Children Of Isreal had forti-
fed the hill passages by which any
invading army from Assyria would
be obliged to enter into Judea. The
principal of these fortified places
was Bethulia. 1t is related that
Nebechodonosor sent Holofernes,
chief captain of his army, with one
hundred and twenty thousand men
to visit vengeance on all the earth.
When he came to Judea he met an
unexpected defense by the Jews of
Bethulia. He stormed the walls but
was unable to capture the city. He
then sat down to starve it into sub
mission, having taken possession of
all the springs and wells from which
the city had it's supply OF water.
The result was, that the inhabit-
ants began dying of thirst and fam
inc and begged the elders to surren-
der to the enemy. .-..---...
At this juncture, Judith, devout
widow of great beauty, had a vision
from the Lord and was moved to Of
fer herself as deliverer of her peo-
pie. After performing the sacred
rites according to the custom of the
times, clothing herself in sackcloth
and putting ashes upon her head,
she dressed herself in her finest rain
ment with many jewels and orna-
ments and went forth, accompanied
by her maid to the camp of the
Assyrians, where her beauty and ad-
dress obtained for her an immedi-
ate interview with Holofernes.
This stern captain, who ruled his
army with merciless brutality, was
enraptured with the Jewish beauty,
and lent willing ear to her promise
that she would deliver all Judea in
to his hands. He gave her tent and
many attendants. and strove by his
attentions to gain her personal fav-
or. With artful cunning, she play
Cd on his weakness until he invited
her to an elaborate entertainment
IA his quarters. Here she succeed
ed in inducing him to dismiss all
his servants, and when he was ov-
ercome with wine, she took down
his sword and cut off his head. She
escaped back to Bethulia with her
maid and the head of the dead gen.
eral, arriving inside the walls just
as the inhabitants were giving up
all hope and were crying aloud for
the city to be surrendered.
The men of Bethulia were inspir-
ed by her seemingly miraculous act
to great enthusiasm and courage,
and they fell upon the Assyrians
who were in a panic from the loss
of their leader. The result was a
complete defeat Of the invading
army. Great rejoicing followed in
Bethulia and Judith was raised to
the highest esteem of the people.
Among the striking scenes Of this
remarkable picture are those show
ing the battle outside the city, the
assaults on the massive walls, the
tragic death of Holofernes at the
hands of Judith, and the final de-
struction of the Assyrian camp.
Strictest attention to detail in cos
tune, weapons and instruments of
war, customs of the people and cor
rect scenic backgrounds, are mani
fest throughout.
An Outside View.
Burlington Hawkeye: In the case