The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-20
NOTED VOCALIST
NOW IN MOVIES
Mary Garden as ''Thais'' Ap-
pears at Empress First
Time Today.
HERE FOR THREE DAYS
Although in Silent Drama
Declares She Will Sing
to Audiences.

Mary Garden, one OF the most ia
nous women Of the American stage,
has surrendered to the photoplay
world. People Of Missoula will get
their first chance this week to see her
In her new role in "Thais," which starts
. three-day run at the Empress theater
today.
This noted vocalist has staged her
first show for the moving picture
screen. and while her voice Is silent.
yet, In her own words, II shall still sing
70 my audiences. shall sing to them
with every fibre of my body, and shall
cling beautifully--far more beautifully.
] think. than / have ever been able to
sing with my voice alone"
Tho story In which she appears. Is
the work Of one Of the greatest living
French writer's, Anatole France. and
his permission to present his famous
story in cinematographic form, was Sc
cured only on condition that Miss Gar
dan would appear in It. NJ. France
0As already familiar with her inter-
probation Of his heroine through her
work In the opera.
The story.
The action OF "Thais" takes place
mainly N the city Of Alexandria at a
time when Christianity had obtained
it, first foothold in the civilized world.
Christians are still being stoned in the
streets. and pagans are still Worship
ping gods in which they no longer be-
ljeve. Paphnutius. a wealthy young
man who has shared In most Of the
pleasures Of the city. has developed
fondness for books. and has formu-
lated q philosophy which cannot accept
the old gods Of his fathers. In this
frame Of mind he II approached by a
Christian priest who endeavors to con-
vert him.
His friend. Nicias, a worldly man.
sses that the priest Is about to sue
coed. and. while he has no particular
sentiment In the matter. he tells Paph-
nutius he had better not make any
radical decisions until he has seen life.
and to this he adds no man has seen
life until he has seen That's. a ia
nous beauty Of the city. whose many
notorious love affairs have scandalized
the known world even in those times
of easy morals.
Accordingly Paphnutius goes with
Nicias to sec That's. He promptly
= becomes infatuated with her, and also
catches her passing fancy. But leav-
Ing her home. he Is set upon by an
other lover In jealous rage. and in
self defense kills the man. The MUIR
der preys upon his mind because he
has been told by the Christian priest
that there IL no forgiveness for such
q sin. and at last he determines to
make the bitterest atonement by join
Ing the monks far out on the desert.
Time passes and Paphnutius. now a
monk. becomes celebrated for his holi-
neSs. That's has thought OF him occa-
sionally. thing which Is unusual in
her. but she learns nothing from
Nicias beyond the fact that he has
renowned worldliness for Christian
ity. At last a holy brother suggests
to Paphnutius that It would be a great
aid to the Christian cause II That's.
queen Of tha sinful pleasures Of the
world. were to be converted. And after
a time Paphnutius decides that 1t is his
duty to undertake the great task.
So back he goes to Alexandria,
dresses In the rich garments lent him
for the purpose by friend. over his
priestly garb. and goes to visit That's.
At first she Ia amused when he tells
her OF his purpose. and then. seeing
him everywhere she goes. becomes
afraid. He points out to her the shall
lowness Of the pleasures she enjoys.
and urges upon her the great benefits
Of the new religion.
Finally That's yields. She will obey
him in all things. He bids her de-
stroy her treasures. renounce her vani-
ties and go with him to become a nun.
All Of these things she does uncom-
pIainingly. She takes the vows and
assumes the veil. while Paphnutius
goes off to join the hermit monks and
announce that he has accomplished
his task.
That's spends many days at her no.
vltiate; and then one night. after a
stormy dream. runs away into the
desert. She loses her way after long
travelling. and falls dying. She re-
pents her sins then, and soon Is found
and taken back to the convent.
In the meantime Paphnutius. loving
That's despite himself. regrets that he
has taken her from her life Of luxury.
and at last deserts his comrades and
starts out to find her. He arrives Just
a. she Is breathing her last. and hears
from her lips that she Is consecrated
TO God. sinner who has become a
saint. while he is n saint who has be-
come sinner.