The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-25

reer has been an unbroken record of | success. In "A Dolls House. "Hedda Gabler" and Little Eyclf' she won the highest laurels
 Shall love be sacrificed upon the al tar of imperial greed for power? This is the question pointedly asked In the photodrama, War Brides" The individual in the play is Joan, a young peasant girl, in which role Ma zimova makes her first appearance on the moving picture screen.
 The story first shows the life of the peasants of the mythical kingdom in which the scenes take place. The pool people have been oppressed by a grasp ing owner of a factory, and in strike which ensues the workers are led by Joan. The workers win. and celebra C 1 their victory at a picnic where Joan meets Franz, a young farmer, one O: four brothers who live with thesr widowed mother and their sister Amelia. Franz and Joan become lovers and are betrothed, whom the shadow of war is seen on the horizon of the country-a war brought on by the power-coveting king and his advisers franz Is eager to fight for his coun- try. but Joan is filled with apprehen- slon They cease working on the lit tie home they had begun to build. but before Franz leaves with the troops they are married
 JOAN IS DEPRESSED
 AS the brief honeymoon passes Joan be. comes more and more depressed bv q sense of impending tragedy. and at lenptI the young husband leaves with his reei- ment. One by one the other brothers are drafted into the ranks until at Ia st the bride, the sister and the mother are Ielo alone to weep and hope against fear Tor the return of the loved ones.
 z pfat,1 4 ana With 1t information that Franz ha been Killed. Joan, in her desperation. first thinks only of her bereavement and is 0etermlned to end her own life as well But the aged mother of the dead husband reminds her of new duty which con fronts her. A sewing basket filled with baby garments in the making brings Joan pack to realization of her responsi- bility to child which will be born. fatherless So she sadly takes up the thread Of her existence once more.
 MeanWh1le soldiers are falling by thou sands in the tremendous battles. and the military authorities conceive the idea of virtually compelling the young, unmar- fled women to mary soldiers on the eve of their departure for the war. so that in the years to come there may be more soldiers to carry out the imperial idea or power. To Joan,, in her grief-burdened state, the idea is revolting. Her old tai ents TOT leadership, developed in the strike, come to the surface, and she goes among the women, arguing against per mitting themselves to be made victims and tools of the ruling powers.
 IS ORDERED SHOT
 This action brings Joan under the dis pleasure of the military authorities. and when she persuades her sster-in-law. Amelia, not to become the war bride of the commander in the village, Lieutenant Hoffman, Joan is ordered shot When it is learned that she is to be a mother however, the order is rescinded, and she is sent to jail. --i--s 1.s,s s..s..s !
 In her cell Joan learns, that the King is to pass through the village, and work ing upon the sympathies of the woman jailer she escapes and spreads the news Mourning has been forbidden by royal edict, but Joan persuades the women to disobey, and in deepest black they go to meet the monarch, carrying their babes
 in their arms, as @ protest against the war. She promises to deliver 8 message to the King that may perhaps bring their loved ones back from the trenches.
 The King approaches. and the women gc to meet him. Without using violence the civil and military authorities are unable