Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-11-12
BILLY SUNDAY
SETS OWN STAGE
EVANGELIST TREATS BIBLICAL
STORIES IN A UNIQUE
WAY.
IBY GORDON LATHROP.]

[5Y GORDON LATHRoP.]
Des Moines, Nov. 1O.-Billy Sunday
treatment of biblical stories is nothing
If not unique He outproteans Proteus
for he not only speaks the lines and as
sumes the expression and form OF
many characters but he sets his own
stage and arranges his own props, the
latter of which consist only of the ros.
trum, a chair and the pulpit, in full
view of his audience and does all with
strikingly realistic effect. But win all
his slang and laughter provoking min.
icry one does not receive an impress
sion of sacrilege done or inferred; on
the contrary the essential beauty and
truth of the lesson contained is driven
home with all the greater force. In the
story of Naaman, the leper, the beauti-
full lesson that Naaman became whole
when, and only when, he did as God
told him is that which is remembered,
but dramatization of the story as told
by Sunday might be like this:
CAST
Naaman, the leper-A mighty captain
of Syria ................ Billy Sunday
Mrs. Naaman, .......... Billy Sunday
Jewish maid servant 49,. Billy Sunday
Naaman's private secretary ........
Observation-Disclosures. Billy Sunday
Jehoram, King of Israel Billy Sunday
Elisha the prophet $50. Billy Sunday
Act 1.-THE kitchen of Mrs. Naa.
mars home 1t is wash day and Mrs.
Naaman is standing by the washtub
experimenting the work of the Jewish
servant. The pulpit serves as the wash
tub and the scene opens with the maid
servant industriously scrubbing an ar
ticle which is represented by the evan
gelist's handkerchief)
Mrs Naaman leaning against the
washtub and inspecting the garment,
the servant is scrubbing: go easy on
that mushroom shirt, my girl. The old
man is going to call on the king tomor
row and will want to doll up, even
though they won't let him by the box
office.
Servant: What dye mean won't let
him by. Isn't he the captain of the
hosts of the king of Syria? I thought
he and King Ben we're pals.
Mrs Naaman (sorrowfully) "They
are huddies all right, but Mr.. Naaman
doesn't dare go in. It's the law.
might as well tell you why for you'll
find out sooner or later and it will do
me good to tell someone my troubles,
even to a servant-and Hike at that.
(stepping closer and whispering) Naa-
mans a good man, none better and
swell! provider but he's no good COM
pany nowadays He doesn't average
very we'll in the Sanitary league.
bursting into tears) Naaman's leper.
Isn't that too bad. Oh, oh, boo-hoo.
(weeps copiously and absently uses
Mammals mushroom shirt to dry her
tears but hastily filings it from her
shivering.)
Servant (consolingly): Buck up, old
girl. I've got bunch. In my neck of
the woods there's an old geek that
specializes in this leprosy business.
He's good. they say. Elshas his name.
He cures em in fifty and doesn't
charge much either. Why don't you
send the old man there. It's good bet.
Mrs Naaman: (sprucing up) Elisha,
you say? I've never heard of his SAM
tarium but I'll tell Mr.. Naaman about
him and tomorrow when he calls on
the king he can get lay-off and let
tiers of introduction to the king of
Israel (weepipg AGAIN. Oh, dear, do
wish Naaman were sanitary.
Act II-(Several days later. Naa-
man and his private secretary before
the palace Of Jehoram, the king Of
Israel Behind them are Naamans
chariots and pack horses. laden with
much gold silver and raiment Naa-
man is dusty. tired and irritable.)
Naaman: Go on into the presence of
Jehoram and hand him the letters from
King Ben-hadad. Get move on. don't
keep me waiting here all day. (wring
ing his hands> Oh, oh, it's tough to be
leper and have to do business by
proxy.
(The servant enters the palace,
through the open door of which Naa-
man can seeking ,Jehoram receive and
tear open the letters.)
King Jehoram: (as he reads the note
turns purple with rage tears his hair,
raves furiously and trembles violently
alternately What's this? A military
scheme upon my word. sir. All! A let.
ter from Ben-hadad the king. and he
has sent Naaman, the commander and
chief of his army, and he thinks that
l am God. Why, does he think can
kill man and make him alive again?
He has sent that fellow down here,
boys. can see through it, He wants
to take our wives and daughters cap
.tives for concubines and kill their hus-
bands and sons Nothing doing. Che
stamps around for several minutes but
is Interrupted by messenger who
brings a note from Elisha the prophet