Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-06
ADJUSTMENTS
Wonder of Screen,
"Way Down East"
Thrills AuguStanS


way Down East" Even as down
through the ages the silence of the
Sphinx has held before man the al
lurement of speech SO has the silent
drama in it's own existence played
upon the emotions. The Sphinx is
still silent But down through the
progress of the picture portrayal has
come a master stroke, Way Down
East" This wonder child of a Won
derful man, Griffith, speaks. II grows,
il has heart aches and heart breaks, it
has evil emotions. it has passion, it
has hate and--it has love. Il paints
upon the clean canvas of the soul--for-
getting all else for the timc-a pic
turc of true Christianity, of brotherly
love and of folks as we are. Thurs
day evening at the Augusta Opera
house was shown a. moving picture
such as has never before been seen
here. True, there was "The Birth of
a Nation" followed by Hearts of the
World But Way Down East
touches chords of the heart that no
other instrument of the silent drama
has done before. 1t is a sermon.
Home Sweet Home" strains, soft
and sweet, foated out over the audi
ence. The orchestra of symphony
players was concealed beyond a high
green screen. Usually we can see
our music in Augusta, even to their
shoe shines. But the material eX-
istence of this orchestra was soon
overcome. The curtain rolled up, re-
4 rt,in
rolled back and the story began.
Kindly, friendly, yet firm and true
words, the readers early saw Upon the
screen. Because man has not yet
reached the perfection of the ages,
woman of today. brought up to exist
for one man. doubtless suffers more,
the story told US, than ever before.
Just in theory, it was said, has man
been perfection, with lone man for
one woman. one heart for one heart
and one soul for one soul"
Way Down East" that story is so
familiar to all of us. The heroine is
Anna, but she might be called
Woman. Her story is that of Mother
Eve and all the women who have lived
and suffered" And ever farther in
quoting Hon Robert l.. Bolingbrook,
With passionate and tender surgery.
Mr.. Griffith has laid bare the soul of
woman"
There was the home of Anna, with
the rag rugs on the floor, the straight
back chairs with their tides all neat
and prim and conventional in design.
the scrim curtains and even the ca
ne in hi
anna goes to the city to seek funds
from her rich cousins. On the day
that she arrives at the fremont home
In Boston, card party is in progress.
Boston society of high class is dis
played at its most and there we meet
other characters of the story who are
to mean much in the unfolding of the
story. There is the mock marriage.
the return home of Anna; thu discov-
cry of her shame, which at first was
holy joy.
Each and every character plays
their part SO fully, 100 per cent.
real, that each and every one brings
their message straight to the heart,
through the eyes. Don't you just
adore sweet little, clinging Anna,
aren't her two cousins hateful and
don't you despise Lennox Sanderson,
the william? Annals mother is sweet
and then there is the mother of our
hero, Mrs. Bartlett, with her dear !
confiding disposition; the squire, the
father of our hero, is a man stern
and set, living the scriptures" to
re letter. And David Bartlett, the
hero. is strong man in boys
form. He is living. throbbing be-
ing. And the village characters!
We tolerate, we laugh at them but
we see in them traits that are so
familiar. And why do they all live
before us and speak to us? Because
they are excellent character painters
but words are empty.
The magician waves his wand over
the audience. 1t was the scene on
the ice where David Bartlett went
after Anna Moore who was turned
out into the storm by the Squire.
More real than widest fancy could
ever paint was the scene on the
smreen. Anna lay, exhausted on the
cake of ice which was floating to-
wards the falls. Jumping from
cake to cake, David made his way
nearer and nearer to the cake with
its valuable deposit Snatched from
the very brink of the falls was the
girl. He raced against death in