“It will be like visiting the Holy Land,” she said, “and you can tell the children about it in class. Anyway, we’ve already bought your ticket, so don’t argue, darling. Just be ready at six forty-five.”
And she was right, of course. It was a splendid evening. Truly unforgettable, for so many reasons.
She and Douglas drove in from Oberlin and left their boys with Mumma before picking me up at Mrs. Motta’s. Lillie was like a school-girl—so excited and full of chatter—and she gave a little shriek when we saw the theater marquee.
LOWELL THOMAS presents
With Allenby in Palestine
and with Lawrence in Arabia!
Douglas left us girls in front of the theater and rattled off to park their ancient electric car. He kept talking about replacing it, but an Oberlin professor’s salary was not quite up to one of the newer gasoline models. A light drizzle was falling, and we hurried inside to wait for Douglas in the lobby. By the time he arrived to escort us to our seats, the theater was almost full.
You might have thought we’d all had enough of war, and that was true in some ways. No one wanted to think about the horrors of the trenches, or those poor Romanov girls, or the ugly revolution in Ireland, but this was different. This was the rousing story of General Al-lenby, the modern Crusader, and his conquest of the Holy Land, and a glorious tale about the young man Mr. Lowell Thomas called “the uncrowned king of Arabia.”
The presentation had received rave reviews in London. Drawn by the biblical setting and the tour publicity, Americans had flocked to the lecture in city after city. Now it was Cleveland’s turn, and goodness gracious! Didn’t we see a show!
Pots of incense were set alight; a captivating musky fragrance pervaded the hall. As the house lights dimmed, there was a swell of organ music, which resolved into a haunting Levantine melody. Mr. Thomas stepped onto the stage and into the spotlight. With a magician’s flourish, our host proclaimed an irresistible invitation: “Come with me to lands of history, mystery, and romance!”