The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-10-13
GheGntelh9erIter
LETTER FROM A WHEELING
BOY IN EUROPE.
The Passion Play at ODER Ammer-
gan.

count OF lue IhS5lOu llhJs NHANAA 80
iar.oh home among the Highlands oil IA
varia, which weekly attracts ten thousand
visitors, will prove interesting to sonnet
Tradition says that Ammergan was once
sc0urged with a pestilencc and inc people
vowed that if God would stay It's raYages
they would perform the Passion Tragedy
every Ten wears. No more persisted OF the
plague. In 1850 the play took place, anu
has been enacted almost every decade
since This is the tabled origin with which
a few of the Interested ones content them
selves, while an investigation would more
likely prove it to be relic of the middle
ages. However, about itsprOpCr time last
year the war interlered and the actors
were called away to battle Tor their faith
erland The King, though, II is said, Sc.
Cretly ordered that they be not exposed
to danger, and but four Of the minor play
crs were killed. They assembled this
year TO make up for the interruption, and
perhaps Tor the last time. Thegood Priest
thinks his followers are being injured
thereby, though in what particulars
would, perhaps, be difficult TO specify
They certainly assume their parts mOsl
modcstly and ConsCientiously, while tc
gain money seems TO be far from them
The children receive couple Of gulden
and the impGrsonator Of the character OF
Christ gets but ten pounds, and for this
oh how many times must he hang those
twenty minutes on the cross.
The Sundays OF July, August and Sep
TENDER were the times for the play Mu'
Mich Is headquarters for all going thither.
Every Friday she seems to empty her
very portals, our train alone having sixty
carriages OF passengers, Two hours by
rail, and WCilheim is reached, where II
myriad OF upright leeChes sit upon their
hacks ready to drive You six hours for
eighty gulden Happily, a three weeks
tramp through the mountains Of Switzcr-
land had put us beyond this GXtOrliOn and
we could go It aloOt Bat there were old
men and fCmninGs who could not; there
were those with too much money who
would not BY evening, though, we
were MI scattered for food and shelter
among the homes Ol AmmeTgan-a vii.
age that should be put down with u
bright spot on the map. 1t is celebrated
for its wood carvings; known for its tasty
COOrings, and, in some respects seeming.
y chosen Of Heaven; for here, Of all the
world, resides the man who looks most
like Jesus in the flesh, and four hundred
actors whose life privilege It has been TO
celebrate Ills sullcrings and DEATH Sat.
urday still greater crowds came, and that
night they slept in tents beneath wagons
and on the ground.
Early the next morning, ringing Of
bells, RndN band passing through the
streets, announced that 1t was time 10
take places in the theatre. This building
deserves more than mere mention, for II
Is q model o! construction. The stage is
admirably adapted to long and intricate
performances. 1t has n broad prOsCenium,
balconies to right Nnd left, which were
occupied by Plate and Annas, and be.
meath, open gateways leading into the
streets of Jerusalcm-thus permitting five
simultaneous scenes of action. Tho play
was in three divisions md eighteen acts,
each Ol which consisted of chorus, II
prophetic tableau from the Old Tesla.
mcnt, ind the dramatic scene itself The
chorus was peculiar, yet could be adopted
by our modern play houses with great
advantage Their oncrOus duty was to
make the audience acquainted with the
scenes to follow, and be ever present us
sChul1gCister guardian spirits
Precisely atS o'clock they formed n
SCmiCirClG across the stage, and com.
menCed by intOning the fall O our first
parents. Their singing was OF rare pow
cr and beauty, and their motions OF hand
md body indescribably appropriate. The
mblCau showed Adam and Eve driven
from the garden, and ut the rising of the
curtain multltudcs were waving palm
branches and StrGwing the way of Jesus
~ He rides into Jerusalem, clad in pur.
pie, surrounded by His Disciples, and
borne meekly along by the patient ass.
1t would be hard to describe our feelings
rs we looked Tor the first moment upon
this man, more strikingly like the Savior
than we had ever expected. But by the
excellent capacity OF the stage the lie.
serted temple was quickly before us, and
the overturnlng of the tables Of the money
changers ensucd Next the High Priests
are seen in council, consulting how they
can get "ths man" in their power. One
says he thinks he knows n Disciple TIM
will be willing to bctray his master, and
they close their sitting until he can bt
brought, Tho appearance Of The choru.
Is again hailed with joy, while they an
nouncc IN mournLul notes sad departure
Christ is about to leave Bethany. Mary
Magdalcne is amounting His feet, and L
one side is Mary, the mother, come t.
take leave Of her son. She wears ret
dress and blue mantGl, and has n face .
peculiar allractiveness. (Her personiiica
ton Of the Virgin Is beautiful Her tai
ent for the part Is probably Unborn, MS hcl
lather took the character OF Chist ii
1850, AMI was likely the best representa-
ton ever seen in AmmePganl "Deares
son" she exclaims, 'my heart swims II
an ocean Of pain" "Ye do not under
stand" Ia his calm reply, as he movei
from her.
Following closely was the lableau o
the Rain OF Mamma, rich and fully no les!
than five hundred persons being assem-.
bled. The children Of Israel stood il
masses, Moses and Aaron in their midst
while the white food fell III Ccasless sup
plies for two minutes. On the center oI
the stage was spread the last supper. Tit
grouping about the table was according
To the familiar picture OF Leonard. Ant
when the lmpersonator went rount
washing bis disciples feet and giving then
drink and they began TO nsk, one aIte
another, Lord ia it l'3 and Quaking
Judas came in last with The query am
ihe Savior handed him the sop" TIL
Illusion was almost perfect. The Detray
or next appears before the Council /
plot with them. Ills leaning over I'll
4OIe and grasping every one Of the thirt
pieces ofsiIver was done in a most mas
tetly manner Then after he has give
me fatal kiss we seehim wandering abou
The city and finally emerging intOa darI
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