Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1912 — Collegeville Items. [ARTICLE]

Collegeville Items.

The Commencement exercises will be opened Tuesday, June 18th, at 8 p. m., with “Hermigild,” a tragic drama, rendered by the C. L. S. The plot of the play is laid in the fourth century. The following is a short synopsis of the whole: Prince Hermigild, the oldest son of Leovigild, King of Spain, is ruling in the province of Seville. His orders from the central government were to introduce the state religion, Arianism, into the province and draw the people from their allegiance to Rome. Hermigild, however. perceiving the truth of the Catholic religion, accepts it ifor himself and people and rejects the other. Gosw’in, Chancellor of the realm, and Argimund, Chief of Leovigild’s army, see in this apostacy the opening of a path by which they might bring about the disinheritance of Hermigild and secure the crown for their own house. Both work together, yet each uses the other as a tool in his way to the crown. By cunning words and devices, they incense the king against his own son, who is orderecr either to return to Arianism or suffer banishment. Hermigild chooses the latter and is about to depart from his beloved people when the body of Leovigild’s ambassador who has been killed by a street peddler in search of gold, is found in a street of Seville. Sisbert, brother of the ambassador, accuses Leovigild as instigator of the crime and war is declared against the unhappy province. Seville is destroyed but Hermigild escapes to the forest where he is hunted like a deer for ten months by the police of Argimund who now rule the province. Here he i? met by Recared, a 1 young brother, who persuades him 1 to come before their father and king and ask pardon. After much 1 pleading on the part of friends he consents to go. Together the sons' knee': before the throne. The king' receives his son but'in answer to the question whether he will accept the Arian religion and Hermigild’s refusal as a matter of conscience, the king fall® again into anger and casts the prince into prison fcr life. Argimund and Goswin, hoping to secure the death of Hermigild now forge a letter which states that the imprisoned prince has conspired with the Emporer of Constantinople to gain the crown. Their plans are successful: the angered king signs the warrant for Hermigild’s death and Sisbert is sent to execute it. Goswin. in the height of success now plans the death of his colleague, Argimund. The latter, however, hears the boasting of his rival and challenges him to stand and fight, Roderic, the son of Goswin, rushes between and accepts the challenge in place of his father. In the midst of the duel, in which Roderic is wounded, the king and court enter the chamber. Goswin, in grief for his son, discloses the treachery of Argimund who in turn tells what part Goswin played in the conspiracy for the crown. The innocence of Hermigild is thus made apparent, but it is too date to save his life, for bloody Sisbert has already executed the death warrant within the prison walls.

On Wednesday at\7 a. m. mass will be celebrated by the Rt. Rev. H. J. Alerding, Bishop of Ft. Wayne. Following this will be baccalaureate address in the College auditorium by the Hon. Michael F. Girten of Chicago. Walter Reineck will speak the valedictory for the graduating class. This will be followed by the awarding of the diplomas and medals won in the various departments of study. We welcomed the following visitors during the week: Mrs. P. F. Murphy, Master Francis Lambert, Chicago; Miss Rosella Gleason, Peru, Ind.; Fred A. Holtz, Huntington; N. H. McPartland, Burlington, Iowa; J. E. Hoey, Richmond, Ind.