Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1911)

The Strangers' Tales (Urban Eclipse) Adapted from Shakespeare's " The Taming of the Shrew " and "Sir John Falstaff " By MALCOLM CAMPBELL The fire that roared and crackled in the great fireplace, throwing a rosy glow on smoke-blackened rafters, and turning to burnished gold the copper platters hanging against the dark walls, made the taproom of The Dragon the most cheerful place in Stratford on a night such as this, when the wind roared about the eaves and the rain swished angrily against the casements. Just a night for storytelling, only, unfortunately, each one of the company assembled, with the possible exception of young "Will Shakespeare, who sat somewhat apart, and gave little heed to the village gossip, had long ago, on similar nights, exhausted his stock of tales. As for Will, he made a better listener than a talker, tho it was hinted that he hoped to become a play-actor — even to tread the boards in London Town. Suddenly the door flew open, as the wind wrenched it from the hand of a man who had lifted the latch, and the great fire sent a roaring column of smoke and sparks up the chimney. Closing the door with difficulty, the Stranger, dripping with wet, hesitatingly approached the fire. His appearance gave small promise of a full purse, and the landlord eyed him coldly. Reading the glance, the Stranger nodded humbly. ' ' 'Tis true. Gold pieces are strangers to me, ' ' he said, ' ' but I have that which is better than coined gold in any land — a good tale to tell. ' ' "Give him ale," the Parish Clerk ordered, and the landlord put before the Stranger a brimming tankard, which was eagerly drained. '•'Now, Stranger," the Clerk continued, "tell us thy tale, and see to it that it be worth the hearing, else it will fare ill with thee. But if it 51 be full of the meat of wit, and sprightly told, then have you well paid for your place by the fire, and a tankard of mulled wine withal." Wrhereupon, without further hesitation, the Stranger spoke as follows : THE FIRST STRANGER 's STORY In all the city of Padua no man was more respected than Baptista, a gentleman of great wealth, yet no suitors besought him for the hand of his daughter Katharina, who, tho fair as a summer morn, was of so shrewish a temper that none desired her. The younger sister, Bianca, on the other hand, was the heart's desire of half the gentle youth of the city, but they sighed in vain, for Baptista had sworn stoutly that Bianca should remain a maid until her elder sister was married. Truly it seemed that she would, therefore, be a maid until death, a state not at all to the liking of the gallant young Lucentio, who encountered, and straightway greatly loved the girl. Let it be said that in the end he took her as his wife, and thus settle the matter, for we must needs come to the stranger thing of the wooing of Katharina. Now it happened that there came to Padua a gentleman named Petruchio, whose business there was to find him a wife, and nothing more. Witty and wise was Petrnchio, and with a spirit as high as Katharina 's own. If there lived a man suited to the task of winning the shrew, it was indeed he. Hearing that this unsought maid was wealthy and handsome, and nothing discouraged by the reports of her temper, he determined to make her his wife, and in gentle manner did apply to Baptista for permission to begin