New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-22
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE PASSION PLAY.
THE LAST REPRESENTATION I
PENITENCE-DEsCRIPTION OF THE DRAsE
ATTIC REPREsENTION or TIE PASSION.
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

ATTIC REPREsENTION OF THE PASSION
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
OBERAMMERGAU, July 2.-The German
French war OF 1870 broke suddenly upon this quiet
little yllege Of Oberammergauso far away from rail-
roads and the din OF the world-as upon the rest Of
Germany. The Passion Play which had been announced
to continue from the 22d Of May TO the goth Of soptem
ber had been performed ten times with nine afterpers
formances" repetitions. When the declaration Of
war put flight all the visitors and Obliged some of tho
players leave their native village in order TO fufi
their military duty 40 persons In all, out Of village
population Of 1900 called into the ranks; three OF
them fell by French bullets and three died OF disease.
OF these Alos Lang who died OF typhus fever was the
greatest loss having formerly the role OF Simon
OF Cyrene The others had tlled more subordinate
positions. Joseph MAR, who represented Christ,
also called to do military duty but King Ludwig 81
Bavaria gave especial command that he should only do
garrison duty in Munich and that he should retain his
long, flowing hair. Johannes Twink the deineator oe
John, also OF military age, 49, but he IL hardly
strong enough for military duty The breaking out OK
the war was naturally very serious loss to the COM
muniy. The preparations for the play had been very
expensive costing not less than $50 5000 Judging
from the expenses incurred in the lsGO aud the re-
celpts, though large in proportion to former years,
suffered severely. The total income in 1870 for the ten
chief days and nine repettons, about $4,000. AZ
there still nine chief plays come beside the rep9
tons, It is not too much TO estimate that the total
Income Tor 1871 WOuu
It is fact too, that the community received offer OF
10000 forms for the receipts Of the year, but this
refused, as the Ammergauers did not wish to give
mercenary character to their undertaking.
The desire generally expressed after the close Of
tho war; that the Passion Play should be continued in
this year, and the 0borammergauers showed praise
worthy desire repeat the play well for the edGea-
ton of the public repensh the Communal treasury
The days announced for this year were Saturday the
oath of juno St Johns Day. and the following SUN
daysi July 49, rs, 3d. Aug 8, H. 90 and ~; Sept 30
IT. and "a 1t very necessary, when intending to visit
the Passion Play, to start the journey some days
before the day of performance. determined to get 70
Ammergau, II possible Thursday night In order 10
have time to examine the village at leisure on the next
day, aud, for that reason 1 left Frankfort on
the morning OF Wednesday, resting for the night at
Munich, ndsarng for the Play early next morning.
There several ways OF reaching Oberammergau the
one being nearly pretty and romantic as the other
and all are full OF mountain roads and difficulties On
the day before the performance special excursion trains
start from Munich three tunes during the day.
This route leads TO Starnberg on the sarnberger see
the lake by steamboat to seeshaupt where post
omnbuses private carriages found ready to de-
part for the place Of destination second route IL
by rails from Munich, starnberg, and along tho
starnberger iSee to Welheim or Peissenberg,
at both OF which stations postcarriages and
private conveyances may be found 1t Is customary TO
stop at Weheim in preference TO Pessenberg the lat
is recommended 1901 tOurlsU
salzburg best way through Munich from Italy and
the South carriages be hired from Innsbruck There
are other routes equally pleasant and mountainous.
chose from Munich the railroad to weilheim, starting
from the Bavaran capital at 1918, reaching Wehem at
o'clock There found lit being Thursday postwsg-
ons in abundance. The fare by these conyeyances to
Oberammergau is AZ cents while private carriage for
four nearly S. chose the primitive post wagon,
and did not regret my choice.
AN AGED PILGRIM.
The road from Weilheim through level country
for few hours, when the mountainous country burs.
upon the view The mountains. amid which OberaE
mergau Is nestled loom up with snow-covered pea IS
some six hours away. Entering the valley, tho
swift little Loisach with the range of the Kroter Kopp
about 5000 feet high to the left in the distane
the lofty 10000 feet Wettersten and towering over the
stael See the 1900 feet Zugpitze, whose range cdR
tnue the Tro Many travellers do not omit TO Witt
the Stael when arriving at Murnau, about half Why
the journey to Oberammergau. At Oberau, little
village the foot of very steep mountain, With
goal lies it is customary for everybody TO walk ladies'
and all, for the road is excessively steep; detr
mined TO leave the conveyance altogether, aad
walk the rest of the way. There is an old
proverb current in this neghborhood to the effect that
"the way the representation of the Passion Play is
way of penitence," and never proverb better ap-
piled than the pilgrims climbing that mountain. 10
takes about hour to do it; but IL evening
assembled and took comfort from aged lady trav-
eler 81 years OF age, the mother OF former court
preacher at Hanover recently deceased who now came
all the way from her friends in Dresden TO witness tho
Passion Play Her aged frame contained spirit more
youthful, hopeful and buoyant than any OF the many
fellowraveers in her party she never tired Of admir-
ing beauties OF the reflection of the upon the
mountain tops lovely green forests the rapid streams,
the pleasant homesteads and the goodness OF God in all
that around her. She said that she had read
much Of the celebrated Passion Play that she intended
to come in 1870 but prevented her, and she had
tho lafa shp 1iel
She was true specimen Of pilgrim TO the Passion
Play The sorrow at the death OF her still fresh
upon her mind but for her sorrows she expressed the
hope receiving balm in witnessing the spectacle on
the morrow l walked by her side fully two hours,
at times aiding the crooked places but
do remember to have met such beautiful specimen OF
old age. her too nearsmy side, watching the Play
ITSELF her attention often strained to excess, and her
eyes filed with tears.
beautiful view when the summit Of that
steep mountain gained Nestled under high noun
tains lies the ancient monastery church OF Eta, whose
dome is q copy in miniature OF st. Peters in Rome.
Around church, there formerly existed another
astery which is large brewery belonging to Count
Pappenhem. The ancient monks had certainly an eye
for natural beauty Long ago. however, the monks dis
appeared but still is said there every morning.
and certain days in the year, thousands of pilgrims
wander to Ettal from all the surrounding mountains
The monastery OF Eal however, does not deserve to
be entirely overlooked in passing The Ammergau peo-
pie tell that they obtained the art Of Woodworking
for which they celebrated from the Ettal monks
and ID Is said that the OF this monastery were
the authors of the Ammergau Play in its original FORM
and the original manuscript Is said to be still preserved
in Oberammergau From Ettal 1t Is only an hours walk
to Oberammergau alongside OF the little river Ammer
from which the village and valley take their High
mountains line the road either hand till Ammergau is
reached The valley itself looks prosperous As we sp
preached the village it growing dark, and the whole
valley, charmihgly lighted up'by the moonlight was
filed with the sounds Of eowbells The echo In some
parts OF the valley is marvellous repeating In one place
ten times At about O'Clock the rst houses OF Amaer
a, ,uaro thnu 70 washed conf