Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-09-29
One Of the Powerful Romance. in the
Birth Of a Nation

At the outset of the narrative, Ben
Cameron (The famous "Little Colonel
of the play, represented by Henry B.
WalthalD is in love with Elsie Stone
man Gillian Gish), a northern girl,
whose father is bitter against the
cause of the south and who afterwards
turns out to be the notorious leader OF
the "carpetbaggers. /"
Stoneman joins forces with the am.
bilious negro, Lynch, to control the
Stree niger" vote and ride into office
through the operation. The cruel war,
in which the Little Colonel CALAMITY
wins his spurs, intervenes, and foul
long and painful years are the lovers
separated. Stoneman has always dis.
liked Ben. Cameron for his strictly
southern spirit, and the war and the
bitter hatreds it has engendered has
built barrier between the two, proud
younger hearts. Cameron's refusal,
later on, to countenance Lynch, Stone
mans pet, further enrages Elsie's
father. After the unprincipled mulatto
who has been but playing a double
game between the whites and the
blacks, decides he has Stoneman "where
he wants him." he attempts to put in
execution his possession of the lovely
and helpless daughter.
Lynch had always determined to
found 'black empire" in the south,
with himself as ''The Emperor" and
now, drunk with wine and cursed am.
bition, he resolves to crown it all with
glory by making Elsie the white en-
press. His devilish opportunity comes
when sudden dire necessity compels
the girl to call at his house in quest OF
her father. He seizes her and gives
orders to put all in readiness for a
forced marriage between them. Stone.
man arrives at the house, but is not
admitted past the colored guards. He
attempts to dictate, but is laughed at.
Now he realizes when it is too late,
where his overreaching tactics have
landed him and his innocent child, but
he is broken and helpless and absolute.
ly at the mercy of the devilish Lynch,
who has the upper hand, with the free
niggers and the colored militia back of
him. Nothing could have saved the un.
fortunate girl at that moment from a
fate more distasteful than death but
the timely Intervention of Leader Ben
Cameron and his fearless clansmen,
who picturesquely bear down upon the
RENDEZVOUS and break up the repulsive
proceedings, occasioning one of the
bloodiest fights recorded in the picture.
This brings old Stoneman to his senses
and he has no further opposition to
Cameron, it also settles all the false
pride on lovely Elsie's part, who has
been thus saved from such q horrible
fate. Those who witness this telling
situation as well as the many others
in this great work Of works, D. W.
Griffith's, The Birth of Nation will be
moved until their blood fairly leaps in
their veins. 1t is a series of sights
which make civilization ooze up in the
human breast.
Proninent Citizen Taken Suddenly.
George Miller, of Twin Buttes, died
Sunday night from complications caused
by asthma. He had been in poor health
for about a..month and was taken with
an unusually severe attack Saturday
night before his death. The funeral
services were held at the home,
Wednesday forenoon, and the remains
taken to Hettinger where they were
buried under the auspices of the l. o.
o. F.
Mr.. Miller came to this county from
Cresco, Iowa, in 1908, with his wife and
sons, George Earl and Harrison Arthur,
and during his residence here has been
building up fine ranch on the South
Grand River. He was kind and
loving husband and father, highly
esteemed as a neighbor, and respected
by all. His departure from our midst
will be keenly felt in social and bust.
ness circles.
The deceased was born in Albany
County, N. Y. August 9Th, 1858.
Moved to Iowa when a small boy and
was married December 13, 1884, to
Libby Mcmillan. To this union were
born two sons who, with the wife, now
survive him. He joined the Baptist
Church in his early manhood and has
been interested in church work during
the remainder of his life. He was affili.
ated with Cresco, Iowa !. O. o. F.
Lodge for the past thirty-ive years anc
has been . CONSTANT follower of its
teachings. The Courier joins in extend
ing sympathy to the family in theil
loss. The Bison Is. d. Courier
Thursday, September a, 1916.
OBITUARY.
FERRIE.
Desdemona Ackerson Ferrie wa!
born in Fon du Lac Co., Wis, April 81