Moving Picture World (Jan-Jun 1910)

664 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD Independent Film Stories. "IMP." IN AFRICA. — Tbe entire civilized world (yes, and a Lig part of the uncivilized) is agog with the doings of tbe great American fauuul expert, Theodore Roosevelt. Pages upon pages in the press of the world have shrieked forth not ouly his departure, but have vied witb each other in publishing every detail of his activities in Darkest Afrca. It has remained for W. D. Boyce, however, to train tbe infallible eye of a moving picture camera, and bring back to us a complete record of the wonders of life and travel in tbe land of darkness and wild beasts. Of course, we first see the arrival of the expedition at Mombasa, together with tbe Governor of East Africa. And a mighty caravan It is, indeed, that the adventuresome American takes With him into the jungle. Not only are tbere four bullock wagons, but also no less tban four hundred native porters, afoot, each carrying his burden, weighing sixty pounds. Among other scenes arc shown the fording of the G'Uaso Nyiro. Roosevelt made this spot one of his chief encampments, on account of its natural advantages, and it was from here that a great portion of the tidings of his progress reached the outside world. But travelling in Africa was not all hunting, for many diversions both amusing and instructive were afforded the visitor. We are shown the Chief of the Masai tribe, a black of tremendous proportions, making a fire in the primitive way, by friction. We also see natives making rope with Nature's own tools, their hands. First they cut some fibrous bark from young trees, and this they deftly pick and roll into amazingly adequate rope, using the bare thigh as a rolling-stone. Something that will amuse us of the trolley, subway and Twentieth Century Limited, is a "legpower" road in Africa. It is a line of cars that look like the cars on a Coney Island toboggan slide, which fleet-footed black boys push along the track. Great travelling — it is not! Archeologists have told us that the orang-outang and gorilla, with their awful physical might, are good samples of primitive man, and the living species that proves it is the African savage. We are now able to see some specimens in wrestling matches, their favorite pastime. Each one of them is a giant, of most terrible muscular development. It Is sad to contemplate what would happen to Jeffries or Sandow in the grip of one of these Samsons of the jungle. Their bouts are splendid exhibitions, their great chunks of muscle making their ebony skins bulge alarmingly as they strain anl tug at their rivals' ponderous weight. Their speed and agility is natural and surprising. We are also given a treat in tbe way of a balloon ascension. Mr. Boyce took a big air-craft out with him for the delectation of the savage, and we see him taking with him a friend who is dear to the hearts of the American newspaper-reading public — John T. MeCutcheon, the noted cartoonist, now on the Chicago "Tribune." The American flag is attached to the basket, and it is an inspiring sight to see the dear old colors soaring above the heads of a horde of black, half-nude savages, who gaze on the balloon reverently as if it were a supernatural mystery. One could go on for a week telling of the wonders that made our Teddy's trip a delight to him, but the anticipation might rob a view of the picture of some of the thrills. Suffice to say, Africa outdid itself In honoring and amusing Mr. Roosevelt. And just how the dauntless hunter attended to the serious business of his trip makes a wonderful chapter in our picture story. 'Way off in the distance, we see a herd of beautiful, wild zebra. The graceful, striped beasts are innocent of the proximity of the keen-eyed hunter, and are grazing peacefully; suddenly there is a puff of smoke — and in less than one-tenth or a smaller particle of a second than was ever computed, that entire herd goes shooting out of sight like greased lightning. It's a wonderful sight to witness, and you can just imagine what it means to follow the tracks of that bunch fast enough or cleverly enough to get something in the bag. Still. Teddy Roosevelt is reputed to be just as good a hunter as he was a President, so you can bet he handles African beasts as well as he did the Washington variety! THE NEW SHAWL.— Out in the Canadian northwest a pretty girl is bound to have a goodly supply of admirers. Marie is one. and she likes Jacques very much; even now she is writing a note telling him to meet her at their favorite trysting-plaee. Jacques gets It, but in walking through the woods a bear trap suddenly snaps closed, and liis foot is caught. In pain, lie halloos for help, and who should crime along but Victor, his rival for the hand of Marie. Does Victor 'release him? Oh. no! Instead, he seizes Marie's note which Jacques lias been fondly reading, and off he goes to meet her. Marie borrowed a pretty shawl from her friend Annette, who got it from her husband. When she arrives at the appointed place and sees Victor instead of Jacques she flees, dropping the shawl. Innocent Annette's husband has gone to the aid of Jacques in tbe bear-trap, and accompanying him to the scene, has been just in time to see the fleeing figure, and the shawl on the ground. Of course, he jumps at the quickest solution (the wrong one) and bis wife cannot convince him that It was not she who met Victor; neither can Victor himself tide tbe awful storm of the maddened husband, until finally, when Jacques' fellow-trappers come to the cabin to make Victor explain the mean advantage of Jacques in the bear-trap. Nothing makes ;i man feel more sheepish than to tind that lie had been following the wrong track — especially when he's a big, northwestern trapper. THE POWER OF A SMILE.— How often have we contemplated on the very small events in life that have sometimes changed completely the course of our ways. Here we have a man, wicked, criminal, rough; he sits on a park bench and beside him is a young woman, reading. The story moves her to smile. It is a magnetic smile; he must smile, too. The situation changes, she frown; his face changes with hers through every expression as she reads, sweetly unconscious of his presence. Presently she finishes and departs. She has forgotten her purse. The crook picks it up, finds a key in it. All he needs is her address — he follows ber, and plans the job. Later, when he enters the house, she returns and surprises him. But he's a quick thinker. Thus far he has only pocketed a photograph of her smiling face, so be gallantly returns ber purse to her as an excuse for his visit. She takes a kindly interest in him, and soon proposes that he take a position at her husband's office. He gets a good job, and his pal, a recently liberated ex-convict, notes his reform cynically. And prospects are rosy, until tbe reforming man suddenly learns that his pal of other days is blackmailing his employer. He sees him ushered into the private office several times, and after one of these visits be steps into the office. He is just in time! His employer has come to the end of his tether, and seeks refuge from unavoidable blackmail in suicide. The ex-crook just prevents It, and after telling his employer very plainly what he thinks of a man who is mixed up in crooked deals and tries suicide having such a pretty, innocent wife at home, he walks out. Going back to his den, he meets the ex-convict, and over a bottle of whiskey not only draws from him the reasons for the blackmail, but by a clever trick of feigning drunkenness gets possession of tbe papers that are the key to the situation. We now see him on the old bench in the park; he puts a burning match to the documents; then he draws the picture of his smiling benefactress from one pocket, and a newspaper from another. With the cheery face smiling on him, he runs his finger down a column; the heading reads "Help Wanter — Male." GREAT NORTHERN. THE HIDDEN TREASURE.— Three treasure hunters obtain possession of a document describing the location of a treasure which is hidden away in an almost inaccessible part of the mountain country. While they are discussing their plans at a small inn, the famous Dr. Nicola comes in and learns of their intentions. He notices that only one of the three men Is suited for the business which the three are about to undertake. He decides, with the help of this man, to seek the treasure himself. He leaves, and soon after sends one of his Chinese servants to the inn, requesting him to come and see him at once. On his arrival he is persuaded to seek the treasure with Dr. Nicola, the latter explaining that he is more experienced tban the other two men in such matters. The treasure hunter finally agrees to all that Dr. Nicola suggests. However, the other two find out that they have been betrayed, and make up their minds to have revenge. Secretly they board the steamer on which Dr. Nipola and their betrayer are passengers and put an infernal machine in the hold. Dr. Nicola, always ready for an emergency, appears' suddenly from behind them and forces them to throw the machine overboard. Later on, when Dr. Nicola has taken lodgings in a small country inn. the two treasure hunters send a scoundrel into his room with the intention of disabling him. Again the doctor awaits his assailant, and successfuly hypnotizes him as soon as he enters the room. Fnally, after all these troubles, Dr. Nicola and his man find the treasure, arriving on the spot just before tbe other two, who are very much put out at the result of their efforts, and as a last resort they try to get hold of the treasure in Dr. Nicola's home. But the doctor again gets the upper hand, and to put a stop to their game altogether, lie hands them over to the police. THE POWERS COMPANY. A NEWSPAPER ERROR.— Will Dean leaves his sweetheart. Helen, to whom he is engaged to be married, and goes to Mexico to make a fortune in the silver mine there. At the Hotel Diaz he meets the hotelkeeper's daughter. Arnita. who falls in love with Will and wooes him in the impulsive Mexican fashion. Will saves the life of "Bob" from a bad Mexican who is about to stab "Boh." The two Americans become fast friends and partners in a mine. In which they strike rich silver ore. Having made a neat fortune. Will and "Bob" "choose up" to see who goes back to the States, and Bob wins, ne goes away, taking with him a letter to Will's trirl. Helen, asking her to come out and marry him in Mexico, and to bring her sister, Grace. Hob falls in love with Grace and marries her. A stupid newspaper reporter confounds the names of the two sisters, and Will reads in a copy of the paper that his sweetheart Helen is married to his cluim. A letter from the girl to Will explaining the mistake is destroyed by the Mexican girl, Arnita. Crazed with rage Will marries Arnita. Tbe Mexican girl is a terror, particularly when she is drunk, and she makes poor Will wish he were dead. A powerful dramatic situation comes when Bob and tbe two girls arrive. Will's fury against Bob subsides into woe when he learns that the sister, Grace, is Bob's wife, and that his girl has been true to him. Tbe Mexican girl comes in maudlin drunk, and Will has to confess that she is his wife. Helen is about to go back home. Will kisses her, and then he goes out to end his wretched life. Bob snatches the pistol from his band and makes him promise to be a brave man and endure his trial. Meanwhile Arnita has skipped away, leaving a note saying, "You can have your American girl. I've gotb three other husbands anyhow." Will doesn't know what to say or do now. But Helen's kid brother does. He puts Helen's arms about Will and makes tbem kiss and be re-engaged. NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE CO. BISON— A HUSBAND'S MISTAKE.— A happy family picture— Mr. and Mrs. Jones and their little daughter — at the table. A friend joins tbem, and remembering some important papers that he desired to show Stiles, Jones goes to bis office. When alone, Mrs. Jones and her guest play cards, the wager being a kiss — tbe terms are laughingly accepted by Mrs. Jones. The youngster has become tired and is sent to bed, but just as Mr. Stiles is taking bis forfeit she stands in the doorway and sees him. She is again sent to bed and they settle down to another game, when they are attracted by a noise in the next room and discover a burglar, at which Mrs. Jones faints. The father returns, asks the child where her mother is, and hearing of the scene the child witnessed, shows anger and refuses to listen to Stiles. Both Mrs. Jones and he are compelled to leave the house, and they separate, each to go their own way. The little daughter misses her motbr, and when she is taken ill her chances for recovery are slim. The father advertises for a nurse and Mrs. Jones applies. The doctor receives her, and learning who she is admits her at once. He then tells Mr. Jones that the youngster will probably get better. He joyfully enters ber room, and in his great gratitude kneels at her bedside. He feels a baud stealing across the bed, clasping his, and looking up sees his wife. There is a reconciliation and the doctor says his charge will recover. ADVENTURES OF A COWPUNCHER.— Pedro, tbe foreman of the Colonel's ranch, very willingly complies with Daisy's request that he get her horse. As she is about to ride off Pedro offers ber a rose, which she accepts graciously. She goes some distance on her way when her saddle becomes disordered. At this moment Slim, a cowboy, happens along and helps her. For his kindness he is rewarded with tbe rose Pedro had bestowed upon Daisy. Slim starts on his way when he observes a placard announcing help wanted at the Colonel's ranch. He applies and is taken before the foreman. Pedro recognizes his rose, remarks about it, and is finally angered when Slim refuses to return it. Daisy enters and as Slim passes the offending flower back, Pedro snatches it and dashes it in Slim's face. A quarrel ensues and only Daisy's intervention keeps the cowboys from joining Pedro. Slim is ordered from the ranch and Daisy appeals to her father for tbe discharge of Pedro; with him go all tbe cowboys. Daisy leaves a note telling ber father she has gone in search of Slim. Pedro takes the note and follows after. Daisy is captured by Pedro and taken to a shack, where be taunts her. An Indian girl is an unseen spectator and endeavors to find help. This she does, in Slim, who gives her his horse to ride to the ranch, while he makes his way to the shack. Slim rescues Daisy, but after a hard ride, during which Slim is wounded, they are made prisoners. The Indian girl has meantime reached the ranch and a party have started to help Daisy. They arrive just in time. Slim's reward for his bravery is Daisy's hand given him by her father. AMBROSIO THE HEART OF A VAGABOND.— A tramp wanderng from house to house in search of food and shelter is greeted with scorn and turned away as if he were a shabby dog. Charity to him seems no longer to exist on earth. He finally plucks up courage enough to enter a rich miller's house which looked so homelike, and just at the proper time, as he thought, as the family were at dinner enjoying their evening meal. Here he receives the usual gruff treatment and is obliged to continue his long and weary journey. Shivering and trying to overcome his drowsy feelings, he succeeds in reaching a mountain. Everything seems quiet, when suddenly a desperate cry breaks the stillness of his surroundings. The tramp hastily runs in the direction of the sound and there finds a young boy moaning as if he were in severe pain. With great effort he lowers himself down an Ice-covered steep and at the bottom of it finds a boy half covered with snow. He tries to assist him and on close inspection recognizes in the boy the rich miller's son, who had so cruelly turned hm away from his door. A sudden thought of revenge makes him hesitate. The tramp is overcome by his human feel