ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 275, 30 April 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURES. Foremost on the new programme presented lust night is the Vitagraph two reel drama, " The Spirit of the Hay." After a day's work in the field, 'Paul, a. young fanner, who lives with his father and mother, goes with Marie, a young orphan cousin, to an old shed which they i have fitted up as a workshop, and there ' sets to work mi his clay modelling, (ial-1 ton, an artist, appears, and realising that | Paul is a born sculptor, tells him to come to New York with him to study. Marie, I (Jalton and Paul tell the aged parents of | the plan. They finally consent. Paul makes marvellous progress, lint his father writes to him to come home, as lie I is»needed on the farm. Marie agrees to do Paul's work and her own too. She breakes down, Paul returns home, successful, learns what Marie has done for him, and marries her. They return to his studio in New York, but she quickly declines. Her physiean orders her to find a more suitable climate. She is about to return home, when she learns Paul cannot find a suitable model for his Statue of Fame. Marie consents to pose, and although the doctor advises her strongly against it she will not listen. When the model is nearly completed, the strain proves too much for her, and she falls dead. Paul's mind is affected by his great sorrow, and he sees a beautiful vision of his dead wife. Inspired by it, he works feverishly on his unfinished, model. When the statue is finished his delerium returns and he believes the image to be his wife, and tries to warm it to life by his mad kisses ami einbrae.es, His friends decide to make a last effort to save his sanity by stealing the statue and hiding it. After the doctor has given Paul an opiate, they cautiously approach the statue. Paul awakens, fights 'them off, and backing towards the open window, crashes through it carrying the statue with him. As the moonbeams play upon his upturned face, he dies with a smile on his lips. The films supporting were well received.

ROY A], PICTURES. An excellent programme is promised Rciyf.l Picture patrons to-morrow at the matiiic and alse in the evening. '"Never Again" is the feature. It is a shrieking comedy, and should he enjoyed by everyone. The third series of " Holly of the. Dailies" will also be shown under the title of " An affair of Dress" in which " Dolly" is arrested. This instalment should not be missed. Supporting items include seenics, comedies, war news and a star drama, entitled '' On Suspicion,'" ti story of the cruelty of the American police and the " third degree" methods.