A MIRACLE PLAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 722, 22 January 1910, Page 11

A MIRACLE PLAY.

•■ St. ■Ursula,,;paton,-saint.of;girls; 1 and of , their teacher^' , .: isi.oredited with v a' marvellous',history.";.: She. was v eaid : |tp be a:Christian, priucess,":'beautifuli' virtuous, and marv,elloust.y: learned,'.and- the: son of-, the.'; pagan',,King'; of .'England. sought: her hand.ui'marriage;: /Ursula" imposed three conditions, the prince. and his court must"become,' Christians;', she ■ must be given '.ten. noble maids :'a6 : ;.'.companions,' and she and her,inaids each.to be accompanied, -by..a.;thousand. virgins, land c she must .be: allowed' with-'them to visit; 1 alltho. shrines of, the, eaipts. ,;■; .Tiesevconditions;' were complied . withj : and."' IJrsula,\ who ;6urely",,al6o.'be:-the';;patron saint .:of'girls, i whd'travel-'abroad,/set-:.'out; on';,hef with-., all. her : com-; pariions!. The; story of: their, martyrdom: at .Cologne by the,; pagan ■■ Huns, , 'is well known, since ©very;visitor to the Co.the-. : dral of Cologne is, told how. the bones of the .eleven, thousand buried', there. This is,-the story .on', which , -Mrs.' Alfred Lytfeltori;,. wife.;.of-ithe '.Coriserva- ( ■tive Secretary of State., for the; Colonies, based a "Miracle Hay ,in Five; Piptures,": which wae recently given.in. London, at ■thevCourt'-iTheatre. '. ■■.'■■ .',-:' A ' ■/■ :

f'Mrs.': .Ljttelton's'.-play wasi.based -upon, a:charming,;idea, .says a :■ London: writer. She ; pictures from. the. famons : 6eries,':Viealihg~withvtlie "legend '.of' by .Carpaccio.; .The? originals are among, the glories, of. the. Academy, at. Venice; ■ .Mrs..■Lyttletoni added : a 'little connecting .dialogue,.':and, , ;for. the rest, allowed, the <■ pictures ',- to tell ■.their .'■ own. story. •' In»the: first scene. Prince Arthur was-seen ■■asking, the : British.: Eiag, Maurus,- for .Ursula's,hand., .Then came ..the well-known picture, of; the sleeping princess, to •whom the angel 'appeared,, bidding 'her, start; upon 'the pilgrimage, which ; was ■■ to end in' the. death' of' the 11,000 virgins. Mrs. Patriok, Campbell's part was that of the.angel. 'The Soldan's country; tho "death of, .Ursula,'.and.the. Heavenly Vision ■ were 'pictured in'.turn; Needless to "say,; Mrs: Lyttelton 'did: not require:. the .'full; complement • of-V. virgin martyrs;, . She ; was , content • with < eleven, pretty young •society' ;wameh,;: who represented; as'-..many 'thousands.'' 'The'.cast included • a", fewi professionals:—Mr. James Hearn, Mr/.Lewis , Cassbn,-and .Mrs.'Pat- : :riok' Campbell—but; , for•■ the 'most 'part, Mrs. .Lytteltoh- 'relied, :, 'upon'-. L amateur talent' , .. The , Hon.' ''Cyrithii'--' Charteris. played St. ■UrSula;' , and v Mr3.'';Eaymon'd : Asquith :one' of. the'iSaint , ?.'sisters';• ,Lady Dma'Mannefs,';'a;daughter{pf:tli!e I Duch:es3 of Rntlan3," arid Miss I 'l)6rp'thy. i .l)re,w also" had stalls'at.;th'e;pour't..were crowded ; .'with;.notabilities; aiiious.ito :,ap-_ .plaud -the: efforts'.', ofj >'their -relatives;. and triends':'bn;:the: : stage! ''Mrs.;Asquith' was with .her " littl6V'girl,..i.ElizabctH: '{./. The Duchess'. of.'Welßngtpn''watcHed.:' we. ifirst appearanco:rof-Her.:daugh.te'r,iLady , 'Eil.een Welle'sley,' "on; ariy.'etage.'";/Mrs...George. C6rnwafc'l-'West'f-toother..soiaety;'dramat-ist-rLaily,;'DicksdnjPoynder,' -arid . Lady 'Willbngnby'■: de' ..Eiesby, \ ;were'. also - : to ;be seen..'; ■■'; ■•■;; ;",•;■;■:.»V i:\-t'"'' ''v , ''-' ■■■• ■ ':■■■■