Views and Film Index (1908)

THE FILM INDEX ii and is horror stricken to find that he has killed his own child. The body is placed on the floor and both stagger away, as Washington and several soldiers enter. They seize the mur¬ derers as Washington kneels, grief stricken, beside the body of the brave girl who sacri¬ ficed her life to save his. The soldiers bare their heads as the general raises his hand in blessing over the dead girl. “THE MINER’S DAUGHTER.” — Outside a coal mine the men are seen going below to their work. Alice Gilbert, daughter of one of the miners, bids her father good-bye, as he goes down the shaft, then returns to her home. Underneath in the mine, the men are working with pick and shovel when one of their number strikes a match, causing an explosion, in which Gilbert, among others, is seriously injured. The men are brought up the shaft and are shortly surrounded by members of the miners’ fami¬ lies. Alice Gilbert is horrified at the sight of her injured father. Gilbert motions to a fel¬ low workman, Tom Allen, indicating that he is dying, exacts a promise from Allen to care for his daughter, after which he falls back dead. Ten years pass by, and the adopted girl has grown to a beautiful woman. Allen’s fatherly affection for the orphan during the years has grown to love. He asks her to become his wife, is accepted and they are married at the little village church. Returning from the wed¬ ding ceremony, the bridal party pass the new mine owner, Mr. Livingston. He is immedi¬ ately infatuated with the beautiful young bride, and loses no time in calling at her home. He invites her for a drive. Alice at first refuses, then yields to his pleadings and makes her first mistake. During the drive the young mine owner makes desperate love, finally gains a promise from the young wife to leave her miner husband for him. Allen returns from work to find his home wrecked and a note from Livingston stating that he has taken the young wife away. A year passes, and in her elaborately appointed surroundings, the way¬ ward wife is as unhappy as is poor Allen in his desolate home. Livingston has tired of Alice, and shows by every action that he cares for her no longer. He inserts an advertisement in the paper for a housemaid, and by a strange turn of fate, the same is answered by an old schoolmate of his wife. As she comes face to face with her prospective mistress, the appli¬ cant shrinks back in horror, while Alice, re¬ covering from her surprise, begs her to remain. The young lady refuses, leaves the house, and in strolling through Central Park, comes upon Allen walking wearily along, evidently in search of his missing wife. He is told by the young lady of her meeting with his wife, and the pair start off. At the Livingston Villa a re¬ ception is taking place. In the midst of the festivities, the footman approaches the host and announces a caller. Livingston refuses to meet him, when the footman is brushed aside, and Tom Allen, followed by the young lady, enters the room. He seizes Livingston by the throat, throws him to one side, takes Alice and de¬ parts, leaving the guests staring at each other in astonishment. Back to the Allen cottage a reconciliation is affected, and the recent deso¬ late home is once more filled with happiness. “CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME; A STORY OF THE SOUTH DURING THE CIVIL WAR.” — At a Southern plantation house, during the Civil War, a field hand, slashing and kicking his mule, rides to the door, shouting excitedly to the people inside. The door opens and a colored “Mammy,” much agitated, followed by her mistress and daughter, appear on the porch. The negro excitedly tells of the ap¬ proach of Yankee horsemen, whereupon the women wring their hands in despair. The negro is struck with an idea, tells the women, then runs behind the house, reappearing with a rope and basket. The women go into the house and bring out the dinner. The negro climbs the tree, while the ladies pack the food in the basket hastily, then the negro pulls the basket up and ties it to the topmost branch among the leaves. This done, the women run into the house, while the negro slips down and leads the mule away. They are hardly out of sight when five Yankee cavalrymen, with their captain, ride up to the door and dismount. As the mistress and her daughter come to the door, the officer gallantly bows and explains that he wishes food and drink for himself and men. The mistress shakes her head negatively, points indoors, indicating that the Yankees may search the house. They do so, examining inside and outside, but finding the search fruit¬ less, return to their horses discouraged and angry, the captain apologizes for his intrusion, the men mount and ride away. The ladies em¬ brace each other with joy, while the negro peeps around the corner, happy that the coast is clear. In a short while the mother and daughter, standing on the porch observe men approaching on horseback. As they come closer the ladies recognize the father and son, also the girl’s lover. Hasty preparations are made for the feast, “Mammy” spreads a table under the tree, the negro brings down the basket from its hiding place, and after explaining the clever ruse by which they saved the dinner, the men laugh, sit down to the table and drink a toast to the ladies. “A LOVER’S STRATAGEMS.”— Our story opens in the garden of John Halliwell’s country residence, just outside London. The retired merchant, a man of 60, is seated in a rustic When writing Advertisers, kindly mention The Film Index. chair a bottle of wine on the table beside him, smoking his pipe and reading. His daughter Phyllis, a very pretty girl, still in her teens, is seated nearby doing some fancy work. The old man leans back, yawns and apparently falls asleep. Presently the head and shoulders of Plarry Wildrake, a suitor for the girl’s hand, appear above the wall surrounding the garden. He comes over, is hugging and kissing his sweetheart, when the old man awakes from his nap. Harry’s love making meets with the old man’s disfavor, and at the sight before him Halliwell is furious. Harry escapes over the wall in safety, while the daughter is ordered into the house. The young lover fixes upon another scheme to be with his sweetheart, lie disguises himself as a music teacher, Sig. Hen¬ rico Squallo, and his card is brought to Halli¬ well by a servant. A moment later the mu¬ sician with long black hair and pointed jnoustache is ushered in. The old gentleman is much impressed by the manner and ability of the for¬ eigner, engages him and introduces Phyllis to her new instructor. To her Harry quickly makes known his identity, and as the old man dozes off again, the lovers are seen in fond embrace. In their strenuous love making Harry’s moustache comes off just as papa wakes up and recognizes the persistent lover in smooth face. The next morning the old man dispatches a letter by messenger to Wildrake as follows: “Harry Wildrake, Sir: I am going to send my daughter back to boarding school next Tuesday. You shall never marry her or see her again with mj consent. “jonathan Halliwell.” The servant delivers the message. The young man reads and returns an answer, which reads: “John Halliwell, Dear Sir: Yours to hand. I will see your daughter next Tuesday and marry her with your consent. Your son-in-law to be, Harry Wildrake.” The old gentleman reads the letter and tears it up in a rage. Wildrake meanwhile pro¬ ceeds to the home of his chum, Rev. John Houghton, where the two friends conspire against the merchant. Tuesday comes and with it the departure of Phyllis for boarding school. Her father and two servants accompany her, and as the old-fashioned coach passes a lonely spot, a masked highwayman darts out, holds up the vehicle and orders its occupants out. The old man is relieved of his cash and valuables, then made to enter the coach and proceed un¬ der the brigand's guidance. The party proceeds to a rough looking building, w'here the Rev. Houghton is discovered reading. Halliwell, Phyllis and the coachmen, followed by Wildrake enter. Harry returns the old man’s be¬ longings, forces him to sign a document, then motions Houghton to come forward and marry him to Phyllis.