El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-10


Western drama, and has always written
his own stories as well as staged them,
and within the past three years in addl-
ton to this faculty has played the lead
ing roles in all of the productions and
has become famous as "BrOncho Billy"
He is also the originator of the widely
popular 'AlkaL Ike Series"
Mr.. Anderson is at present located in
California at the Western studio of the
Essanay Company and is likely to re-
main there for some time to come.
There viii shortly be released by the
Famous Players a strikingly thrilling
drama of Rome in the days of Nero. 1t
is entitled "A Daughter of the Hills"
The opening scene presents the maiden
FlOria tending her fathers sheep on hills
so distant from the now corrupted civili-
cation of the Empress City, sitting on
Its seven hills, that its influence has not
permeated the air in which she has
breathed only pastoral innocence.
But to her there comes Sergius, with
all the strength and beauty Of typical
manhood in its youth.
He is a gladiator, intoxicated with the
applause his victories have won from
the. countless thousands of patricians and
plebeians who circle the arena in which
he plays bravely, rejoicingly, the game
In which the stakes are-fOr the win
ner-life and riches and luxury, the
plaudits of men, the seducing smiles of
beautiful women; for the loSer-death
But in the presence Of FlOria, young,
innocent, fair. breathing in the free, pure
air of the Mills that has animated her
since earliest childhood, he fOrgets the
arena and its deadly struggles, fOrgets
the soft luXuries of Rome with which
the capital in its early decadence Iured
lis Inhabitants into treacherOus UncOn-
sciOusness> of their coming doom, forgets
the favor of the tyrant Nero, in which
he baskS, recipient of lavish gifts that
have made him one among the wealth
lest of Romans. He Is conscious only of
her youth, of her innocence, of her
beauty Of the love her presence in
spires.
SO Sergius woos FIoria and wins her,
takes her to his beautiful home in Rome
and lavishes upon her every luxury his
fancy can suggest. Its atrium becomes
a bower of love; their lares and penates
are benignant. As the days pass his
love grows more deep-rOOted, and this
love seems to give him added strength
and skill IN his gladiatOrial cOmbats,
bringing him fresh triumphs, greater lar
CESS from his patron Nero.
But FlOria, with the instinct curiosity
innate In wOmanhood, wishes to see her
sssents. There she sees him in fierce
combat overcome his adversary and
stand above his PROSTATE form, waiting
for the lmperatOr to give the signal that
means life or death to the fallen glad
iator,
And Nero's thumb is turned down.
Obeying the death dealing signal of
his imperial master, Sergius bends for
ward, sword in hand, and gives the
hat Al
from the throat of his victim.
With that thrust he has slain his love.
FlOria looks on Mortified. Is that blood
thirsty monster the man whose whispered
words of love have waited her to a
heaven of delight? Whose kisses have
caused every vein to thrill with a dream
of JOY too exquisite to seem cO-existent !
with earthly life?
She flies from the arena and in the
atrium of her home sits huddled in aban-
don more desolate than that of death. 1
When the triumphant Sergius returns he
is appalled, at the reception he meets. |
He does not understand the terrified re-
pulsion with which FlOria shrinks from
him.
"Slay me if you are so athirst for
blOOdr' she cries.
She escapes from him and flies to the
cell of the Christian Apostle Paul of
whom she has heard. To him she out
pours her soul. He comforts her and
bids her return to SergiUs. The glad /
iatOr welcomes her return, and, when he
learns the real cause that has aroused |
her repulsiOn, he resolves to sacrifice /
his career as king Of the arena, as ia |
vorite of Nero, and returns with her to |
the hills, where ne has won his bride |
There, as simple shepherds, their life /
flows on in pastoral tranquility, made |
joyous and gladstone by their love for
each other.
The role of Floria is ably enacted by
laura Sawyer.
Augustus Thomas, whose fame as a |
playwright IS world wide, is the direc-
= u = e.