Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-07-05
OUTLINE STORY OF
BIRTH OF A NATION
Wonderful Picture Coming to the
Star for Three Days, July II,
IS and 10, With Matinees
Each Afternoon.
TWELVE REELS OF
VIVID, REALISTIC SPECTACLES
Magic Films Rev cal Interiors of Nor.
thern and Southern Homes.
One Sees Vast Armies
Mustered.

1he Birth or Nation, which with
its superb and inspiring muscal set
ting, rendered complete by a SYM
phony orchestra, it's bewildeying
sound and light and color effects.
will be presented in Decorah, July
II, Is and 19 may be generally COW
cred" as follows: There are twelve
reels of vivid, realistic spectacles
which tell the story OF double re-
nance, which explains the attitude,
of the North and the defense Of the
stubborn South over the slave iss ie,
and which carry one through scenes
OF the long, cruel war, it's message
to the world being Liberty and
Union, one and inseparable.'
Col. Stoneman of the North is in
love with the sister of Col. Cameron
of the South. And Col. Cameron is
infatuated with the sister of Col.
Stoneman. These romances are de-
picted before the war and the views
show how the drawing of lines and
the commencement of war worked
|esstrangement, distress and hardship
on the young lovers and members of
their families.
Braveryoung men embrace their mo-
theirs, sisters and sweethearts and
depart for army service, their emo
tions being depicted in their reso-
lutte faces. The pictures also show
patriotic women at home sewing and
Uniting for the soldiers.
The magic films reveal the inter-
Tors Of Northern,and Southern homes.
One sees vast armies mustered to
marcn away to wor. s!y
In twinkling the scene, changes
and the sun shines brightly on a
snowy cotton field in the South, with
scores of negroes of all ages plucking
The white blossoms. Festive little
picaninnies capes about and at night
fall in cabin quarters singing ana,
dancing are INDUCED in by the
slaves. Bondage is visualized with
its sorrows and It's joys. AS the war
progresses great battles are fought
and the thrilling action from rifle
fire to cavalry clashes and artillery
duels is depicted in pictorial form as
true to life as it is possible for hu-
man agency to simulate.
Scenes are unfolded in which fully
$4,000 soldiers end 5000 cavalry,
the largest theatrical army ever as
sembled, are active in the prefor-
nance Of the good and bad deeds of
warfare. One sees bayonek charge
with culver of excitement aud clos
es his eyes at sight of the dying and
dead. Ambulance drivers arrive to
carry away the fallen and hospitals
throw doors open to receive the in
jured. Gentle nurses fit from cot
to cot to minister to the wants of the
patients.
Historic scenes are depicted with
realistic effect, ranging from battle
engagements, such as the battle Of
Gettysburg, the siege of Petersburg,
Sherman's march to the sea and the
fall of Atlanta, to events in Wash
ngton.
In the pictures Gen. Robert E. Lee
strides forth to clasp the hand of
Gen. U. S. Grant. his conquerer at
IAppomatox. Another historical event
OF lasting iinpressiveness is the as
sassinatiOn of President Abraham
Lincoln, presented as accurately as
the details are remembered by eye
witnesses and as exact reproduction
OF the play house in which the mar
tyred president lost mis- life.
Peace is exemDlified in a brilliant
ly impressive pageant and the pic
torial story continues with the for
tunes of the reunited lovers and the
troubles experienced in the south
over the abuse OF political power vest
ed in the imancipated negros. Mob
violence and outlawry are depicted,
followed by spectacular views of the
Ku KluX Klansmen who organized
secretly to control the negros through
their superstitious fears. The Klans-
men were fearless night riders and
they wore white shrouds. Acts of
vengeance were perpetrated under
the cover OF darkness a2d the pic
lures show clearly why such extreme
measures were necessary for the
of law and order.
In point Of interest the Klansmen
spectacles rival the war aspects OF
the graphic photoplay,