The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1920-03-03
The Spirit of Esther
4 Sketch i'm One Act, Based on Chapter
w of the Book Of Esther
BY NJ. s. SHREIBER.
written for the Jewish News)
SCENE ONE.

inc Queeu E-Sthci sSapo
couch, supported on cushion, her
maid Nerris waiting on her and fan
ming herr
Esther-Nerris
Nerris-What doth my Queen de-
sire?
Esther-Go and call me Marsa and
Neniss.
Nerris-Good, my Queen. (leaves the
chamber.
Esther-Now they will come and
will reveal to them my secret-the Sc
cret which l withheld for all these
months. o, my dear Uncle! wilt thou
be angry at thy devoted ana faithful
Hadassah? Wilt thou not forgive her
disobedience? Truly, thou hast com
manded her not to tell of her people
and, origin, and thy loving daughter
has obeyed thy words thus far. but
now it is becoming unbcarably hard
IN thy child: to see thee day by ia!
passing by ahe Palace Court, and not
to be able to speak to thee. and to
be denied the privilege to listen to
thy wise teaching! What more, her
self to be queen Of Persia and Media
ruleress over 12T Provinces, and thou,
her uncle and father, poor and in
significant, while Hannah, the AMI
lckite. the hatcr Of our people. IL pro
,nored to the highest rank in the do
main of the King? No. not for this
have 1 become Queen Esther, surely
not to see our people poor and wretch
I'd. and the building of our Temple de-
MED us, | must tell the King, my nus
band that l am IA Jewess. thy niece
and daughter. and I must inplore him
in behalf of my dispersed nation ana
obtain his permission for the building
of our Temple in Jerusalem. and
must Gust; this enemy OF our Race,
Haman. from his high position. and
put you in high position before the
king. for the Glory of Israel and
Israels God!
ENTER the three maids)
First Mai,l-Long live our Queen.
Second Maid-May her beauty shine
forever.
Third Maid-May our bright star
never cease to shining.
First Maid-what dotn our Queen
dcsire?i
Second Maid-what is our Queens
pleasure?
Third Maid-With our lives will we
fulfill our Queens requests.
Esahcr-Now my girls, before isend
you on your GRAND, ! will reveal to
yuu secret Your Queen Esther Is
u poor Jewish orphan girl, the adopt
cd daughter of her Uncle, Mordecai,
The jew who sits at the gate of the
King. (Pause)
trhc maids stand in amuzcmcnp
To him will | send you. go and ask
him to come to his daughter and de-
light her with his presence for your
Queen. Prepare yea to deliver dnis
without delay. Thou, Nerris, remain
with me.
First Maid-With the greatest haste
will we make our way to obey our
DeiONeu queen oiueis.
Second AIaid-W'ith the wings of an
eagle will we fly to carry our sweet
Queens message.
(rhe girls deparD.
Esther-How heavy and prOfitlesJ
life is within these massive stone walls
of this large house. How gladly would
l give up this life of idleness and lux
ury for the poor, but busy life in my
Uncle's abode! To hear him tell the
wonderful tales of my people. Its
slavery and deliverance, its sorrow and
happiness. suffering and salvation
TO hear him pronounce the great
teachings of Moses and our other
Prophets and Sages. The wonderful
beauty of our Holy Land. the glory OF
its Capitol, Jerusalem. and the SPLEEN
dor of its Temple. the Holy House of
Cod where the kolIanim worshipped.
the Levites sang. and Israelitcs pray
ed OF the destruction of our Tenn
pie. and dispersion of our people, by
Nebucliadnezzar, the Chuldean, and the
restoration of our people to its home
land. by Corcsh, the predecessor of
this King. my husband. And how
sad and disappointing 1t was to hear
that this permission was withdrawn
because of the Remuneration and slam
der of our enemies, to the King. l
remember low aroused and indignant
l used to become to hear the story
of this attack upon my people by our
enemies. How determined l was to
combat them when | grew big and in
flucntial. Now, | am Queen of Per-
Sia. powerful and miglty. MY enemies
Mt my mercy, but how helpless | am