9
TIIE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, JANUARY 26, 19j3,
IMPORTANCE OF STAGE
MECHANIC UNRIVALED
Chariot Race in "Ben Hut" Possible Only Through Inventive Ingenuity
and Maddening Period of Work.
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THE HIMRREI. BKT-EE THE CHIHIOT DRIVERS IS BEX HtH
BEX MIR (THOMAS HOLDING. AMD JIESSALA (UEDttEWOOD
NOIVEU).
:
THK American stags mechanlo Is to
day the most Important personage
in connection with the world's
amusements. The strides made in the
last few years inventing stupendous
scenes have commanded - recognition
heretofore denied. Up to a few years
ago managers simply rehashed plays
Imported from Europe.
In New York City away back in '60.
when Jarrett A Palmer presented "The
Black Crook and spectacles originated
by tiie Kiralfy Brothers, the only piece
of stuffe mechanism that the public
marveled at was a "trap" cut in the
.stage through which one of the per
formers made a springing entrance. In
those days a melodrama called "The
' World" had a. scene showing a r&ft at
sea being dashed to pieces by huge
waves, which aroused considerable in
terest. In 1885 the firm of Klaw & Erlanger,
in cpnjunction with-the late C. B. Jef
ferson, a son of Joseph Jefferson, be
gan producing. Their rtrst play. "A Dark
Secret." was brought out at the New
York Academy of Music. The big scene
in the melodrama showed a real river
with boats sailing to and fro. It scored
an instantaneous and sensational hit
and tired this progressive firm with an
ambition to attempt bigger things.
Animals Stage Xlake Hit.
Next was "The Country Circus." giv
ing a parade on the stage with horses,
animals, all kinds of livestock and wag
ons, the same as Rlngling Brothers and
Barnum & Bailey present' today in the
public thoroughfares. This attempt was
also highly successful and from that
time on expense has not been considered
In giving the American public the big
gest indoor entertainments possible.
Fifteen years ago the attention of
Klaw & Erlanger was drawn to General
I.ew Wallace's novel, "Ben-Hur," and
negotiations started towards dramatiz
ing it. General Wallace was like th
man from Missouri. He would not
agree to this work being dramatised
unless the chariot race could be as real
istically presented as his description
in the book. It Is here the creative mind
of the American mechanic showed his
capacity, for Klaw & Erlanger commis
sioned everyone of prominence in this
country and the prize was won by
Claude Hagan, an American. It cost
thousands of dollars in experimenting,
but a rich reward has been reaped, for
in the 13 years that "Ben-Hur"has been
before the public a profit of over $4,
000,000 has been earned.
The mechanical device which Mr. Ha
gan employed In constructing this scene
was not exactly new to the stage. In
Its simple form It had been the back
bone of "The County Fair" and many
other plays, and has helped enrich the
men who have staged melodrama, witn
their accompaniment oft storms, steam
ships, moving trains, lift bridges and
avalanches.
Chariot Race Thrilling.
The chariot race In "Ben-Hur" is ac
knowledged to be one of the most
thrilling stage pictures ever shown. It
is a race scene in which the runner does
not progress. It differs from the horse
races In such plays as "In Old Ken
tucky," "The Suburban" and "Check
ers." where the horses are ridden from
wing to wing.
In plays where the horses actually
cross the stage there is no need for il
lusion to give the appearance of move
ment, but in a race like that driven by
the three chariots In "Ben-Hur," where
the IX mettlesome thoroughbreds act
ually run, but do not move forward,
there must be some mechanical means
of deceiving the eye tq give the impres
sion of actual progress. There is noth
ing half done. The illusion Is com
plete even In the whirring of the
wheels and driving clouds of dust that
fly from the Imaginary floor of the hip
podrome. It is not behind the scenes that you
find the secret of all this, but down be
neath the stage in a wilderness of dy
namos, electric wires, windlasses, shafts
and wheels. While the horses are
pounding out thunder on the stage floor
during the race the under region is like
a beehive. Electricians run here and
there throwing switches and giving
signals. The men are tugging at wind
lass cranks. The signal bells from
which wires lead to the stage above
keep up a constant din one ring for
one switch, two rings for another, and
so on.
Only two minutes It lasts, but during
those minutes the tension in the under
region is greater than In the audience.
All the effect of the chariot race is not
exerted upon the nerves of those who
pay to see the spectacle. There are
other men who are paid to be there,
who are worn out with the terrific work
of those two minutes under the stage.
4 PLAYS TO BE GIVEN BY
BERNHARDT SKETCHED
"Lucretia Borgia" Monday and Tuesday, "TJne Night de Noel" Wednes
day and Thursday, "Phedre" Friday, "Camille" Saturday and Sunday.
SO many "correspondents" hav
written to the dramatic depart
ment and so many others hdvt
called on the telephone to ask "which
Is the best play for me to see Sarah
Bernhardt In 7" that here is given a
resume of the acts of the four plays
she will present.
Monday and Tuesday Madame Bern
hardt presents the third act of "L.U
creee Borgia." by Victor Hugo. Briefly
summed up it is as follows:
Alphonse PEste. Huke of Ferrara.
has cause! the arrest of Gennaro for
defacing the walls of the ducal palace.
Gennaru Is the ellerltimate son of
Luereoe. Duchess of Ferrara. D'Este
believes Gennaro the lover of Lucrece.
l.ucrece. innocent of the personality
of the youth, secures D'Este's promise
of his death for the scribbled Insult
to her. When she sees the culprit she
fears to almlt to the Duke their rela
tionship, but seeks to cajole him into
commuting the sentence.
D'Kste in his Jealous fury shows
Lucrece his belief tf her guilt and de
nounces the Borgia family. He ar
ranges that Gennaro shall drink poi
soned wine. Lucrece herself Is forced
to pour the draught.
Gennaro drinks. The Duke leaves
mother and son together. Lucrece tells
Gennaro he has taken poison and
seeks to persuade him to drink an
antidote. Gennaro. scenting a 4lot to
take bis life, denounces his mother. In
the end Lucrece has her way. Gennaro
drinks the antidote. Is saved and es
capes from Venice.
This act from "Lucrece Borgia" is
- hat has been very rightly called a
I.aracteristic Bernhardt scene.
On Wednesday and Thursday, at both
matinee and night performances, Mad
ame Bernhardt will give "lne Nult de
Noel (sous la terreur)" "A Christmas
Night Under the Terror." This play
is the Joint work of her son, Maurice
Bernhardt, and Henri Cain. It's period
is 1793. during the French Revolution.
Summarized, this is the story:
only one province dared to lift Its
head to revolt the Province of La
Vendee, where mutilated royalty had
found a last refuge. The Chouans up
held the cause of the extled princes
and waged a life-and-death struggle
against the revolutionary armies.
It was a grim warfare, with equal
heroism shown on the side of the Chou
ans )so called because they used the
hoot of the owl as their rallying sig
ns) and on the side of the Blues, or
regular soldiers. In the revolutionary
army.
It is Christmas night on a Vendean
farm. The Chouans, under Comte de
Kersant. have been defeated. The Com
tesse and her daughter disguised as
peasants, take refuge In the farmhouse.
Shortly thereafter the Republican army
come trooping In and make this place
part of their quarters. With the Blue
army is Marion, the Vivandiere. She
is a former actress who has been car
ried away by the Impetus of the revo
lution, and with her merry, witty way,
has come to be adored by the battalion.
.Marion aoon sees the aristocrat
through the disguise of the Comtesse
de Kersant. Phe sends for La Balafre.
a veteran sergeant, but feeling sorry
for the unfortunate mother and child.
despatches the offices: then the Com
tesse divulges her real identity to
Marion. Suddenly the Comte de Ker
sant knocks at the door. He does
not know the farm Is In possession of
the Blues. With a price on his head
he has braved all risk to see his daugh
ter on Christmas night Marion re
ceives and bides the Comte just as he
Is about to fall Into the hands of La
Balafre. He confesses to her who he
Is and openly defends his cause. Marlon
Is won over by his heroism, so decides
to save him.
Commandant Renaud appears. Seem
ing to know the Comte IS in the farm
house, he suspects Marion of his con
cealment and threatens her. She re
sists him until the Comte de Kersant
at length gives himself up.
Then Marlon, with a marvelous re
vulsion of feeling. In a superb out
burst of indignation cries shame on her
comrades. She implores her old com
panions not to stoop to the dishonor
able office of the executioner.
The soldiers are carried away by
Marion's generous ardor and enthusi.
asm, and. amid a scene of emotion,
the Comte de Kersant Is allowed xo
escape, and Marlon carries of the Com
tesse and her little daughter and the
plays ends in a superb burst of kindli
ness, grandeur and heroism.
Friday afternoon and night "Phedre."
by Jean Racine will be given. Here is
the outline of the play:
Racine's five-act tragedy, "Phedre,"
deals with the happenings in the house
bold of the Athenian King, Theseus.
At the opening of the play the King
Is absent from his throne. His son.
Hlppolytus, It develops, fears his foster
mother, Phedre. but loves the fair
Arlcla, despite his father's commands.
The unhappy Phedre relates to tier
confidant, Oenone, her all-empowering
love for Hlppolytus. The unholy love
has torn at her heart and disordered
her mind, and she dares pray to none
but the God of Death. News comes
of the death of Theseus, and In view
of this Intelligence, the Queen accepts
the advice of Oenone to live and love,
that Hlppolytus might father her in
fant son.
In the second act Hlppolytus avows
his love to Arlcla, promising to free
her from her bondage.
Phedre tells her love to Hlppolytus.
He stands aghast. To expiate her crime
she implores him to strike his sword
to her heart, "or in default of thy arm,
lend me thy sword." With it she flees
from him, as a messenger announces
that the son of Phedre has been ac
claimed Ihe choice of all the tribes to
succeed Theseus.
Unmindful of her son s honors.
Phedre is desolate and lives only in the
forlorn hope that she may yet melt the
cruet pride of Hlppolytus. She sends
Oenone to him with a message, but she
returned with news that the King,
whom all thought dead, had returned
from his Journey. Phedre, in her per
plexity, abandons her fate to Oenone.
The King asKs of nis son tne cause
of his strange welcome. The answer
comes that none but Phedre will tell.
Oenone tells the King of a "criminal
love his son has borne toward Phedre."
In his fury the King orders Hlppolytus
Into exile. Phedre Is filled with re
morse and upbraids herself for not hav
ing accepted the blame. When Oenone
tells her that It was she who accused
Hlppolytus an,i announces his love for
Arlcla, Phedre turns on her and In a
frenzy blames her for all the sorrow.
She is was who bade tell her love and
bids her "go."
Theseus, whose love for his son Is
only overshadowed by the outrage done
his household, calls Oenone to prove
her charges,' but a messenger brings
news of her death in the sea. Theseus
repents his hasty Judgment and orders
Hlppolytus before him that he may of
fer his defense, praying to Neptune to
hasten not his sinister gifts; but it is
too late Hlppolytus Is no more. Then
to Phedre Theseus declares: "I be
lieve him criminal since yon accuse
him.". The Queen restores Hlppolytus
to his innocence as the venom ol
poison reaches her heart.
Her final presentation, "Camille. on
Saturday and Sunday Is without ques
tion the most widely known and rap
turously praised interpretation In her
whole repertoire. It has been neraw
ed all over the civilized world .as the
greatest performance of any living
actress in any play. It has been poet
ized, rhapsodized, motion-pictureized.
and all but set to music by the ablest
and keenest minds of this and the past
generation. Alexandre Dumas, the
younger, is Its author. This is the
outline of Its story, tnougn it seems
like carrying coals to Newcastle to re
peat it.
The tragic romance ,of Marguerite
Gautier. known as "La Dame aux
Camellas," because of her penchant
for that flower, was written by Dumas
in 1852 and dramatized later. Mar
guerlte, a fashionable courtesan, had
nassed some months In the Pyre
nees In the hope of regaining her
health, and It was there that the love
which ultimately became all-absorbing
for both first sprang up in the
breast of Armand Duval.
From that moment Marguerite was
metamorphosed. A profound love
burned within her breast and stirred
her soul to Its very depths. All her
old gayeties were put aside. Her
horses, her carriages and her dia
monds were in turn sold or sacrificed
to provide the means for the lovers
to realize their dream of happiness.
The woman Is thus regenerated by
love, but when their happiness seems
to be highest Duval's father appears.
Armand himself was absent, having
gone to Paris for the purpose of rais
ing money.
His father demands that she must
give up Armand. Marguerite combats
this with all her strength. Having
sold all her valuables, and entertain
ing no suspicion that Armand will
assign his mother's fortune to her.
she therefore assures the father, who
appears afraid of this Intention on th,
part of his son, that she has received
no money from Armand and will never
take one farthing. The father now
recognizes the Innate goodness of heart
of Marguerite and advances the argu
ment that Armand's sister is on the
point of entering a highly respected
family and that the union of Marguer
ite and Armand would shatter the sis
ter's life happiness and the happiness
of the family. Marguerite therefore
sacrifices herself and agrees to part
with Armand.
She thinks, moreover, of a means to
bring this about. She leaves the house
before the return of Armand and sends
him a letter saying she has gone oft
with another man. She maintain
thf lin even when she meets him af
terward at the house of a friend and
la erosslv Insulted by Armand. who
throws bank notes at her.
The violent excitement throws Mar
guerite on a sick bed. Already con
sumptive, she feels herself near to
death, and cherishes only one wish
to see Armand before she dies.
The elder Duval, touched by Mar
guerlte's heroic magnanimity, at last
tells Armaria tne irutn. .imaiiu
rushes to his beloved one and Mar
guerlte is made happy once more. But
she is not able to bear this new ex
citement, and dies In her lover's arms.
The heroine of this drama is no nc
minim nersonase. The Marguerte Gau
tier of the play Is a counterpart of the
renowned beauty, Maria Duplessis, who
from 1845 to 18J7 wielded the sceptre
of Paris in what Is called "Le Monde
Galant." The portrait drawn of her
at the time describes ner as a woman
of marked grace and distinction.
A Beautiful
191 3 Creation
and Its j
Retail Price
STOCKBROKERS' EXODUS
NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY
Brooklyn Judge Defines Kifhts of Mother-in-Law Private Use of Gotham
Streets Watched Narrowly.
BY LLOYD F. LOXEROAN.
NEW YORK, Jan. 25. (Special.)
Considerable attention has been
ailed to the fact that a number of
partners In small brokerage houses
have quit business, and a few of the
stock exchange members have sold
their seats, though at low' prices, and
started to make a living in some other
way. One of them ta now a clerk in a
small corporation. Another has a po
sition in a bank, and two or three
others have gone into mercantile es
tablishments. This has been due to
the recent depression In the stock ex
change, but it is said that the men
who have shifted from stock exchange
business to other lines were never
conspicuous In stock exchange circles
with the exception of one member, who
Is arranging to retire rather on ac
count of old age than for any other
reason. The great majority of the
members still believe that the busi
ness will come back.
The usual mother-in-law dispute,
which bobs up continually all over the
United States, was aired In Brooklyn
recently, when Gardner L. Field brought
suit for separation against his wife.
Adelaide F. Field. The suit was be
gun on the ground that she had left
him and refused to return. The couple
were married in February, 1905, and
had lived happily, according to the
wife's story, until two years ago, when
her husband Installed his mother, Mrs.
Ida M. Burllngham, as a member of the
household. The wife claims that the
mother-in-law treated her cruelly.
called her vile names, and questioned
her honesty. She said that she finally
had to leave her husband, who refused
CRITICS SAY PORTLAND GIRL RESEMBLES MRS. LESLIE
CARTER.
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VALRORG AHLGREN.
Valborg Ahlgren, a Portland girl who has been likened often by
enthusiastic critics to Mrs. Leslie Carter in coloring and dramatic
fervor Is a member of "The Rosary" company which played here two
weeks ago. Harrison J. Terry Is the leading man. Miss Ahlgren has
Just entered her twenties, and is a particularly talented young actress.
She has appeared In local stock and in California organizations. The
tour of "The Rosary" ends next May in Chicago, following which Miss
Ahlgren goes to New York to create a role in a newly-translated play
of Strlndborg's, which, Is to have an early Summer metropolitan pro
duction. ...
W By the V
: House of X
Y Kimball
v. ; '.- , - ,
i5i LMCii- iiiWiitui i liiuti nun Will i ii i 1 11111 1 li.iiiiirHTi-.fr t:
A sketch of the finest $500 piano ever produced by the now world-famous House of
. , Kimball.
Even now it is not possible for round
about dealers, alleged factory branches
and old-method concerns to furnish the
equal of this splendid piano for as little
as $500. But because of modern methods
and the well-known little-profit-per-piano
policy of the Eilers institution, such an in-.
strument may be obtained at Eilers Music
House for only $388.
Three very beautiful dappled Brazilian
mahogany cased pianos of this new design
and two exquisitely figured genuine quarter-sawed
English oak cases arrived in a
carload last week at the big Wholesale
Department at Sixteenth and Pettygrove
streets. These instruments will be placed
on display in the downtown salesrooms at
Seventh and Alder streets, third floor, in
Eilers building, tomorrow morning.
The reduced price, $388, for this $500 value is the cash price at any of the 40 Eilers
stores. It is the lowest price to each and all alike. No more is asked, no less is ac
cepted. For the mere additional simple interest (not on the whole amount, but only on
the unpaid balance) arrangements will be made for strictly confidential terms of pay
ment as best suits the convenience of each buyer, or a monthly-payment plan of $28 cash
and $12 a month may be had. Catalogue F tells all about it. Eilers Music House, the
Nation's Largest.
to part with his mother, and go to live
with her sister.
In his decision Justice Crane dis
cusses the mother-in-law problem as
follows:
"While the law does not compel the
son to support his jnother in his home,
yet It recognizes his privilege so to do
If circumstances make It necessary.
The plaintiff in this case has not suf
ficient income to maintain two homes,
and the mother has not the means or
ability to support herself. Under these
conditions he Is justified In providing
a place for her in his own home, pro
vided she recognizes that place and
keeps it.
"Thus she can have no say whatever
reardlng the .management and control
of the home; this belongs to the wife,
and If the husband's mother makes dis
cord the wife would be Justified in
leaving her husband and requiring sup
port from him elsewhere. The plaintiff
is not entitled to a decree of separa
tion, as the defendant did not leave him
with the Intention to permanently
abandon him and she has offered to re
turn under proper conditions. The
complaint Is, therefore, dismissed with
out costs." i
The- right- of independent taxlcab
owners to solicit fares in front of res
taurants and r hotels was recently
brought up before Magistrate Murphy,
when Clinton Stortl, an Independent op
erator of a taxlcab, was brought be
fore him by Policeman Miller, who
stated that he saw Stortl stop- his taxi
In front of the restaurant at Fifth ave
nue and Forty-fourth street and solicit
a fare from a passing citizen.
The magistrate declared that the
f chauffeur had a right t do this, adding
that the taxlcab companies were paying
exorbitant sums to the various hotels
and restaurants for the right of taking
their patronage, and that the public
must suffer. If a corporation ordi
nance was in any way concerned, it
was not a matter for his court, the
magistrate said. There were four other
chauffeurs detained on the same com
plaint, but all were discharged.
At the present time the presidents
of the several boroughs are keeping a
wary eye upon various manufacturers
and property 'owners who have been
using the streets for private purposes.
Comptroller Prendergast recently said
that in the borough of the Bronx, Ex
terior street, from Ferhcliffe place to
One Hundred and Fifty-first street,
was occupied by a contracting firm for
the storage of carts and machinery. The
same street, from One Hundred and
Forty-fourth to One Hundred and
Forty-ninth street, was used by lum
ber concerns. The matter was taken
up by the president of Bronx borough,
and the street has now been vacated
and Is open to public use. In Man
hattan borough, at the foot of East
Forty-fifth street, a large corporation
erected a building 86 feet long in the
center of the street, which was UBed
as a cooperage, and on the sidewalk
they maintained a structure used as a
blacksmith shop. An order was issued
for the removal of the structures.
.
Investigations made by the Commis
sioner of' Accounts and his assistants
have shewn that about 80 men have
controlled absolutely the sale of all
city property for years. Persons not
connected with the ring had a small
chance to purchase anything. All prop
erty now to be sold Is first inventoried
carefully and circulars are sent to deal
ers all over the country and the high
est bid la accepted.
It is the Intention of the Commis
sioner of Accounts to request Mayor
Gaynor to ask for legislation which
will permit the city to sell by sealed
proposals the $400,000 worth of prop
erty it casts aside annually Instead of
by public bidding. Requests for bids
by this method can then be sent to such
dealers as the authorities think proper,
and the highest bidder will win. It
Is believed that this will result In
putting the auction ring out of busi
ness, as the same method has been
used by the Federal Government in its
sale of condemned property with great
success.
Members of the auction ring have
admitted that they were in combination
and paid that they were enabled by
not bidding against each other to get
property for about one-third of its
auction value.
Centralis Has 155 Births in 1 0 1.
CENTRALIA. Wash., Jan. 25. (Spe
cial.) The annual report of City
Health Officer David Livingstone, sub
mitted to the Centralia city commis
sion yesterday, showed that there were
155 births In Centralia in 1912 and M
deaths, making the death rate in 1912
12 for every 1000 inhabitants.
. It Is our theory that speeches seldom
are sufficiently important to warrant
printing them In book form.
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Vlctrola, I.ateet De
sign, $100.00.
G'rafonola Tables $100.00 Up. Vlctrola at $73 00.
Edison's Lntest $3125.'
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