Author Archive: Retro

Princess Angela’s father, the King, had been so indiscreet as to select for her a husband in the person of a Prince of the neighboring domain, which alliance the King ardently wished, as it meant relief in his present impecuniosity. Well, it was the old story, the arrangement was, of course, repugnant, inasmuch as she desires to make her own choice, hence she will not even deign to look at the Prince, and no amount of persuasion or threats will induce her to change her mien. The condition is most discouraging to the King, whose affairs would have been immeasurably improved by the match. The Cardinal, however, understanding the whims and foibles of womankind, hits upon a scheme to bring about a successful issue in spite of the Princess’ stubbornness. He induces the Prince, with the aid of his barber, to change his facial appearance, although it was hardly necessary, as the Princess had not [...]

Boss Tim Crogan starts out to perforate the person of one cartoonist “Peters.” who had grossly insulted him by drawing and publishing what he considered scurrilous cartoons of him during the campaign. These caricatures have been growing more and more odious to him until his suppressed rage bursts forth and he seizes a pistol and makes his way to the newspaper office to transform the aforesaid cartoonist into a human sieve, with the gentle hut decisive percolation of bullets, but, as Hamlet says, “enterprises of great pith and moment their currents turn awry, and lose the name of action.” So it was with Crogan, who rushes, gun in hand, into the editorial sanctum of the “Daily Bugle.” throwing the editor and reporters into a tumultuous panic, in his search for the offending “Peters.” Reaching the art department, he espies a screen with a placard reading “Peters’ Corner.” With an invective he hurls the screen aside, [...]

The young father starts with his company of Union soldiers for the front, bidding his wife and two children a tearful adieu. A few days later a foraging party of Confederates are surprised and scattered by the Union forces. One of their number is driven in the direction of the home of the young father. Reaching the well, he finds the child of the Union soldier in the act of drawing a bucket of water. The Confederate begs her to shield him, and despite her prejudice she hides him in the well, stands guard and throws his pursuers off the trail when they arrive. The Confederate is truly grateful and would kiss the child, but this she will not allow, pointing to his uniform. She feels she has done her humane duty, and so orders him to go, and thus he is enabled to rejoin his comrades. At the Union headquarters the young father is [...]

A wealthy, callous moneylender finds a terrifying way to learn about money’s limitations.

Two girls and their brother live at the little homestead left them by their late father. The brother, having disposed of a portion of the small estate, comes home with the money to show it to his sisters, telling them that they may now enjoy a few of the luxuries of life. As it would be after banking hours before he could get to the village, he places the money in the safe and returns to his office, some distance away. He has hardly departed when the maid, a slattern individual, who has seen him put the money in the safe, attempts to get it. Failing to work the combination, she calls up an erstwhile friend requesting him to come and help her. While these two work, the sisters are locked in the sitting-room, terrorized in a most unique way. The brother, however, arrives after a series of tantalizing delays and apprehends the criminals just [...]

Antonine, a worthless, good-for-nothing scoundrel, demands money of his cousin Galora, an energetic, provident husband and father. His demands are met with a positive rebuff, and when he becomes insistent be is forcibly ejected by Galora. As he leaves the tenement he vows to get even, and lies in wait until Galora has gone out on business. Climbing to the fifth floor, on which the Galoras live, he watches his chance, which comes when Mrs. Galora goes for an instant to visit a neighbor on the same floor. Darting into the apartment and raising the window he perceives the awful result of a drop to the ground, five stories below, and so evolves a plan that is dastardly in the extreme. Taking the infant child from the cradle, and placing it in a basket he lets it out with a short rope, the end of which he secures by letting the sash down on it, [...]

The self-centered man, ever confident of his success, wins in love over the more sensitive friend. Assurance and success come naturally. Overwhelmed by the game of chance, it is significant that he takes his defeat with less philosophy than most men. To him it is utter failure, the end of all. His incompatible nature causes him to carry his rash act to the climax, nor can others prevent.

Thieves decide to steal the money an old miser has hidden away. He refuses to open the safe for them, so they threaten to kill a girl who lives in his building.

Reliable authority states that nine million human lives were sacrificed through the zeal of fanatical reformers during the Christian epoch. Religious fanaticism was in most cases the cause, still there were many victimized to satisfy a personal grudge, and this Biograph subject shows how easily such a crime can be perpetrated. Play upon the minds of a superstitions people and you may lead them blindly to any end. In 1692 the agitation was so great in Salem, Mass., that many people lost their self-possession, some even believing themselves to be witches. On the other hand, a number of the inhabitants moved away fear of being accused of being witches. There are many relics of those days still in existence at Salem, and while conditions are such as to prevent our using the actual spots, yet many of the scenes of the picture are closely contiguous to them, our company of players making the trip there [...]