The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-01-22

should have today, it nevertheless has
secured grip upon the public and the
playgoers that succeeding weeks do
not seem to weaken.
Into the simple, century-old story of
Saint Christopher. DIndy, chiefly
through the charm of his music, has
breathed new life. He has not de-
parted from the theme to any great
extent, There are three acts, each with
three scenes and each complete in in
cident.
Christopher, a powerful man who
desires to serve the most powerful
monarch, is first in the service of the
Queen of Pleasure. she whom he be
lieves to be the most mighty of all
rulers. But his illusions as to her
power are shattered when the King of
Gold buys the palace of the Queen of
Pleasure and even her favorite cour-
tiers and the queen herself. Then
Christopher serves the King of Gold.
Yet, in the midst of all the wealth, the
King of Gold has fear. He fears
Sathanael, the evil one. So Christie
pher leaves the King of Gold and en-
tiers the service of Satan.
Sathanael, from his mountain fast
ness shows Christopher his kingdoms.
But one day, as Christopher views
the hosts of evil, there is heard the
voice of a child and there is seen the
shadow of a cross. The, Prince of
Evil shudders. He fees. 81 have lied
to you,' he says to Christopher, 'for
the King of Heaven is my Master
And thus Christopher enters the serv-
ice of the Great King.
The Quest of God.
1t is not until after long quest that
he finds his Master. Incidentally, the
music of this Quest of God,' PLAYED
before the drawn curtain, is among
the most effective compositions in the
drama. Christopher, rowing the world.
arrives in Rome in Easter week. The
greatest of earthly monarchs tells
him: Il am not the King of Heaven,
but when the great pines of the forest
flower with the white roses, he shall
be revealed. to you" Then Christie
pher meets with hermit who knows
of this great King and who teaches
Christopher of Christ. He advises
him to serve Christ by helping others,
and Christopher, eager to serve, sta
lions himself at the bank of a river
where he can aid crossing travellers.
f,R@ 80,
it Christopher hears the voice of
child.
20 christopher" it cries, come and
carry me over
Christopher obeys. 1t is a hard task,
the water beats higher and higher and
the burden grows constantly heavier
But Christopher finally sets the child
on the opposite bank.
''You have been a very heavy bur
den,' says Christopher.
Aye" replies the child, Il am
Christ. whom you serve
Christopher them travels the coun-
try telling the people of Christ When
he comes to Lycia he is seized and,
because he will not sacrifice to the
gods, thrown into prison. Niece and
Aquilina, two beautiful girls, are
promised large sums if they can Sc
duce him. He converts them. The
king, angry atNthis, commands their
death. Christopher is subjected to
tortures, but he is impervious to pain.
The red-hot irons melt as wax when
| he touches them and when four hun
dred soldiers shoot their arrows at
him, they fly into the air and instead
of harming Christopher, put out the
wicked kings eye.
His Final Temptation.
Finally Christopher is seen in pris-
on. The King of Gold is his judge,
Sathanael hoyers about trying to cap
ture the saint at the last, and Chris
TOPPER is thrown into dungeon with
the Queen of Pleasure that she may
finally win him. But he triumphs, he
converts the Queen of Pleasure and
when he dies she proclaims to the peo-
pie his faith and converts them to
Christianity.
"The Legend of Saint Christopher, -
is the triumph of D'Indy. It's solid
success is the more striking because
the artist apparently has given over
the theatrical stage devices and en-
tered into the work in spirit of re-
ligious enthusiasm alone.
The music is admirably adapted to
the theme and the general ensemble.
1t is the artist that has skillfully
blended much that is best in music
drama and vivified it with an origi-
nality that is at times audacious, at
times strangely quaint, but never 9TH
er than compelling.