Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-10-12
BIG CROWDS SEE
WAY DOWN EAST
;. X. o. Sign Was Out at the Star
Theatre Monday and Tuesday
Evenings, and Audiences
Highly Enthused.
PRODUCTION WILL
ENDt FRIDAY NIGHT
Reserved Seats Are on Sale at the
Star. Get YOu's Today if
You Have Not Seen the
Production.

Way Down East" is perfect pic
tore; it is a great picture, which was
evidenced at the Star theatre here
Monday and Tuesday evenings when
large audiences witnessed the pro-
duction, and were wildly enthused
with the presentation, and Manager
r. j. Relf of the Star received con-
gratulations from all sides in bring
ing this great production to Decorah
for five night run and matinees
daily. 1t will run until and includ-
ing Friday night.
No prettier, sweeter, more sympa-
thetic play was ever produced on
the American stage, and the fact
that for more than twenty years it
drew immense audiences to the lead
ing theaters of America, proves that
the public likes that type of drama
which portrays real phase of life
which all believe exists.
David Griffith has done the Ameri-
can public an inestimable service
in retelling the story in picture
form, and while the picture will not
las as long before the public as the
original play did, those who saw it
VIII not soon forget its beauties, nor
its pretty story, nor its moral, nor
he ,-;xy of ha fa
The story of "Way Down East"
is as old as mankind and one dare
not think the day will ever come
when woman alone will be made to
bear the burden of her sin. Those
who believe in the single standard
o. morals should take sheart from
this picture. The reformers should
see in it propaganda for their cause.
way Down East" Mrs. Parker,
the author, told US more than
twenty years ago,Nis just story of
simple, plain folk; story of the
world of make-believe, its charact-
ers nowhere, yet everywhere, the in
ci0ents never actually happening,
ye. often happening. Mrs. Parker
has for her central characters a
man and a woman. Mary is SIM
pie, loving country girl; Lennox
Sanderson belongs to that world of
men known as vultures who prey on
the innocent. They meet in Boston;
Mary, unsophisticated, listens to the
-vnlture believes all he says, ac-
cepts his proposal of marriage,
awakens one day with baby in her
arms, with marriage license that
means nothing, and wedding ring
that is no longer pure gold.
She goes back to the country to
forget and begin life anew. He con-
tinues his way, seeking other inno-
cents whom he may destroy. The
woman wends her weary way down
the path of life, scorned by all who
know her, scoffed at by her sex; the
nan-he's accepted wherever he
goes, petted, and his escapades look
ed on as the fling of youth. Then
the day of recking comes, and in
the play the single standard of NOR
ais is accepted. Mary finds her
place in the world again, the happy
wife OF man who knows her past
and forgives it. Lennox, the vul-
tire, despised of all men, sinks into
oblivion. That's the story of way
Down East stripped of all else
To appreciate its beauties, its NOR
a,, its greatness, you must see 1t.
Griffith has produced wonderful
picture.
There is nothing stupendous about
the/production because it is unnec'
essary. The story has been set amio
the splendor of the New England
hills and the drabness of Boston
There is beauty in every line, sucf
beauty as only Griffith can devise
j: is so natural and lifelike that one
inagines one is on the farm or II
the city watching real happening
The snow storm, the breaking of the
great ice jam in the river, are the
atric, perhaps, but they represent
pictures from nature and add Tho
thrill to the story. Griffith ha'
made no attempt at the spectacular
because it was not necessary. Th'
story is vivid enough itself for al
purposes. The imagination does no
have to wander afar trying to pic
ture what has been left unsSd o
ondone, for it is all there. 1t thrill