Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-29


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SMITHSONIAN LECTURE. Monday evening,
Prof Ten Brock delivered an interesting lecture,
the third Of the Smithsonian course, at the Inst-
tuition. Subject: "The Drama of the Passion,
celebrated religious exhibition in the Bavarian
highlands"
This drama was inaugursted several centuries
ago, and Is still played in portions Of Germany
though somewhat altered from the old style
Formerly II was performed In the open air in i'm
Rense cars three stories high, the upper story
representing heaven, the second earth and the
lower story hell. These plays were Of 40 LIGHT "a
character, however, that when the reformation
broke out they were swept away and now are
only found in Bavaria, and few other sections
of Germany.
According to tradition in 1888 disease p,s.
vailed throughout great portion OF that section
o. Continental Europe which was so deadly
mat Few survived Its ravages. A laborer who
visited one Of those districts during the contaginn
conac'er the disease and spread 1t about through
OUT toWn, village and adjoining country in Bava-
va 20 destructive was the disease that the peonIe
nna:ly made a vow to represent the passion of the
saviour o2ce In ten years The contagion then
NlsaPPeared. The first exhibition was held in
1oJ4, and the people still keep that vow till the
present day, though the drama has been consid-
eraoly remodeled. None Of the drama is printed
saws that part performed by the choir.
The play 70 In three acts-the first representInO
the entry Of Jesus into Jerusalem, the second his
apprehension in the garden and sentence by Pi-
late, and the third his crucihxion. The exhi BIZ
uOn dAtcDocO Dy tne lecturer YVES held the 2Skh
OF MAY, 1860. An immense concourse of people
from all quarters were collected, widely differing
In costume, habits and dialect The stage occu.
pied one half OF large enclosure-the other half
being nued up with seats sufficient TO accommo-
date six thousand persons; and as there were
about ten thousand present, the play was repeated
on the succeeding day for the convenience of
knose who failed 20 obtain seats on the occasion
The stage was divided into three parts-the front
or proscenium being occupied by the choir THE
second representing two Of the principal streets
Ia Jerusalem, and the third the stage pfoper, with
Some idea Of the magnitude Of the exhibition
may De derived from the fact that 20 600 forms
were expended in making the necessary prepare
uons The costumes Of the actors were more
fanciful than historical, and seldom followed the
style OF that Intended TO be represented excent in
those characters with which the people were
familiar. The choir was com posed Of seventeen
persons, dressed in costumes 10 suit each indj-
vlouai fancyi and II was In many cases impossible
70 distinguish the different sexes
Ine day was ushered In with martial music
ana nflng OF cannon, and programmes were cir.
culated throughout the village, among the people
A few moments before O'Clock In the morning.
three cannon Were fred, and the orchestra struck
up appropriate airs, to which the people paid lit
tie attentionj but when the choir appeared the
mum OF many thousand voices was hushed into
silence as profound as the grave The prologue
Wa sung Principally as solo; after which the
oP1hihg act oy the choir was begun commencing
Hail thou, oh DaTids Son"
AT Us coneluslrIn the curtain rose, and Jesus was
tePresentea as riding into jerusalem with palm
oranc mes -Iiag around him, and the multitude
around b. IN shouting hosannas Buttwice during
tne "Lole exhibition was there any tendency on
tne part Of the audience to snile-once I'm wit
-Iessing the anxiety Of the money changers in the
temple when driven out by the Saviour as they
scrambled for their money, CRYING " Mine gelt!
Mine gelt.n and when Judas Iscariot displayed
such eager avidity in seizng his thirty pieces Of
silver.
The drama lasted from eight O'Clock in the
morning until four p. m, and consisted princi-
pally OF scenes in the life Of the Saviour inter-
spersed with tableaux and songs by the choir
Everything from the entry Of the Saviour into
jerusalem, bis sunerings at Gethsemane, his cru
cthXion end resurrection, to the close Of the
drama, was performed with most surprising
ability, so Tiveting the attention Of ALL that the
Jaws and imperfections could not be detected
until Afterwards, In the calmer hours Of refec-
fion-
The tableaux were remarkably striking, repre-
senting scenes in the lives Of our rst parents of
Joseph and bis brethren, Of the feeding Of the
Iraelites In the wilderness with mamma &c &c
Out Of population Of 200 In the little village,
six hundred were performers, and as each person
personates the same character at every exhibition
they are enabled to attain almost to perfection.
CUTTING AND SHOOTING By OFFICERS, IN
GEoRsETowS Might before last about half past
8 O'Clock, Lieutenants Goodrich and Fleetwood
Of the military guard In Georgetown, were stand
Ing near tie corner Of High and Prospect Streets
in thar city, when a man in uniform, apparently
my years Of age or more, approached them and
asked II they could direct him where to find the
ofieer OF the day, as his son had been stopped at
the Georgetown ferry, and put under arrest al
though he had pass. Lieut.. Goodrich told him
% give the salute when he addressed an ofacer:
when the old man promptly apologized and took
OF his bet, disclosing his bald head, covered
only with few Cling gray hairs He was
now drilled for some little time by the Young
oracers, which he told them he submitted 70 be-
cause they were his superion and he must obey,
but they must be joking with him only. He then
begged them TO release his son when they ordered
him TO keep silence. He again attempted to re-
nonstrsse, when they called the guard A squad
OF men came down from Forrest Hall, when the
officers ordered them to arrest the old man. They
did 50; and when he demonstrated against their
disarming him, Lieut. Fleetwood came forward
and struck the prisoner over the head with the
edge Of his (the lieutenant'sl sword inficting a
ghastly wound, from which the blood gushed In
s, stream ou,,..r o.. hon, ,c., -. &c.,.
curence, the same young ofacers-Goodrich and
Ellenwood were carrying a soldier named Alfred
Hyatt, Of Wis, TO the gnardhouse, and coming
took him also. Having some dinfculty On ne
way, 1t Ellenwood drew his sword and cut Dris-
coll severely over the head. Some Of the Metro
politan Police now came over, and sergt New
II % plunge 10 into the soldier, seized the
weapon but the lieutenant said he knew his
business, and the sergeant let 20 the sword. A
patrolman remarked that the lieutenant ought to
be reported, might be reported, when the latter
drew q revolver and fred. The ball passed by
the patrolman and took effect In the hand Of Lieut.
Goodrich.
MS stated that the two officers are under arrest
but whether this 10 the case or not, we have no
doubt the military authorities will investigate the
circumstances In the case, and act properly aud
promptly.
PoLIcE-The patrolmen Of the Third Ward re-
ported on Monday Mary Hoban, selling liquor
without license; fined SO and costs by Justice
Barnaclo.
The patrolmen Of the Fourth Ward reported:
Owen MeDermott, assault and hsttsry on J. F.
Doll; dismissed by Justice Walter VIM. Shaugh-
Messy, selling on SUNDAYS aned slo.s4: Matthew
fast driving; the two first were fined IS IS each,
and the Last was dismissed. George Delhi, sell
ieg On Sunday; dismiEed By Justice Bsrnsclo.
examined and dismissed by Justice yohnson.