The New York herald., 1874-08-23
The Pardon Mongers Of the
Sixteenth Century.
A SERMON OF THE REFORMATION.
A German Fair of Two Hundred
Years Ago.
An Interview with His HiStriOnic HighneM
the Duke of SaXe-Meiningen.
A

Thuringia, connected with the representation lin
costume) OF village fair $50 years ago. wherein
the Dominican monk. Johann Tetzel, and the
reformer, DR.. Martin Luther, were to take an
active part This was what induced me q few
days ago to visit this interesting little town OF toys
and marbles and wax dolls. Some time ago
received from Sonneberg a very attractive pro-
gramme OF the festivities that were to take place.
together with q brief narrative OF the historical
incidents inducing the people OF Sonneberg to
attempt the representation OF old German life and
manners. About an hours drive by carriage from
the little city OF Sonneberg there exists on the
crest OF long mountain very struggling noun
tain village called Judenbach, celebrated for moth.
ing in particular now but the poverty Of its
inhabitants and the great number OF children
there annually born, though it once played
quite an important part as resting place for
the merchant caravans on their way from Augs-
burg and Nuremberg to the North OF Germany. 1t
was on the direct road from Bamberg and Coburg
to Leipsic and Erfurt and the entire North, and,
as we are informed in a little book presented to
us BY the community OF SOnneberg, very many
persons OF standing in the German Empire
princes and preachers, mobiles and emperors-had
sometimes to pass the road, and whenever they
did they did not forget to halt and get refresh.
ment for horse and man at the little
WOODEN VILLAGE INN OF JUDENBACH.
In all probability the little wooden hostery would
never have possessed such an interest for the
people OF SOnneberg had DR.. Martin Luther never
passed that way. But in the traditions Of Juden
bach the legend still lives OF Luther having visited
the place ana the inn on more than one occasion.
Thus the old hostery was, or perhaps should
have been to the Protestant people Of Thuringia
a Kind OF historical landmark. 1t was certainly
very interesting specimen of the ancient style OF
peasant architecture in Luther's day, and was the
only relic OF those times preserved in the village
But few years ago it was threatened with
destruction, the proprietor having decided to
build new house on the spot of the old one. The
matter came to the OF a rich merchant OF this
cnarmingly situated but slow little town of Some.
Derg-a retired merchant named Feischman, who
purchased the old edlnce and had it removed,
minus the outbuildings, to q site on the hillside OF
the Sch6nberg, or Beautiful Mount, which forms
the background Of this place. The little wooden
hostelry, which Is now formally inaugurated
as q place OF refreshment and point OF
view for the Sonnebergers, under the new title Of
"Zum DIR. Martin Luther" is cnarmingly situated,
and from its site we enjoy prospect extending
immediately in front twenty miles, as far as the
fortress OF Coburg and to the east the Franconian
hills and the SUBMITS OF the Fichtelgebirge. Well,
under the leadership of Herr Fleischmann and a
committee of Sonneberg citizens, 1t was decided
to hold along with the inaugural ceremonies fes.
tai dramatic representation OF life such as took
place In and around the little inn $50 years ago;
and very attractive programme was issued, in
which we were promised, besides the representa-
ton OF an old German annual fair the enacting Of
SCENES FROM THE REFORMATION ERA.
Thus, while the lar Is in full swing, Tetzel and his
monks selling indulgences to the people, when
DR.. Martin Luther arrives in the suite OF
the Elector John, aud, after being greeted by the
scholars OF the village addresses the people, who
thereupOn attack letzel ana the monks, and drive
them ANONYMOUSLY out OF the village. This was
to be enacted together with an ancient German
shooting festival and contest Of Mnnesingers
to be regretted that the latter part OF this pro-
gramme was not carried out, the reason being the
lack OF the necessary 3rganlzation In the matter
ever, the play was performed in satisfactory ana
successful manner, and will perhaps be repeated
in the course OF year or two on a grander scale.
soNNEBERG AND AMERICAN.
Having visited the Justly celebrated Passion
play Of r-Ammergau" in the year 1871, natu-
rally ielt very great inclination to see the new
Protestant play OF "Dr. Martin Luther" but must
admit that left Frankfort with many misgivings.
arrived in sonneoerg on the Friday before the
Sundays performance, coming by way of Eisenach
and visiting the Wartburg and the room wherein
Luther lodged as Junker George and threw his
inkstand at the devil, In order to become i'm
timately acquainted with the great reformer's life.
From Elsenach Sonneberg is reached by way OF
CoOurg ride OF two hours, and then short branch
line takes US TO our destination In halt an hour
more. Though Sonneberg lies within sight OF the
fortress OF COburg it nevertheless belongs to the
duchy OF Meningen whose rulers lame viii not be
unknown to you after his wonderful successes with
his dramatic troupe III Berlin last spring. Duke
George OF Meinlngen is one OF those few petty
princes oi Germany who, acknowledging the fact
matters politics. which are all nicely arranged
by Kaiser William and Prince Bsmark in Berlin,
devote their attention to other matters, such as
art and drama or education or religion. Ihe King
Of Bavaria aeyotes his means ana energies to the
gen IS the prncey prOtege OF
THE CLASSIC DRAMA IN THE EMPIRE.
Not only does he take passive interest in his
Court Theatre but he is in fact, the director in
chief guiding the rehearsals himself ana even fur
nishing the drawings lor scenery and stage furni-
ture which must in all cases be faithful to histOri
cal tradition. With dramatic troupe which ranks
at the highest as second class, with no stars, and
with only one actor OF more than ordinary ability
The Duke invaded Berlin and after SIX weeks So
journ returned nome loaded with spoils and iau-
res. ] shall have occasion further on to speak
more of this duca dramatic manager, having had
the honor OF an Introduction to him and his charm
ing Duch-no, not Duchess-lady. the Frei-
him hiam on the subject of his dramatic
successes Freilrau. OF Hlldburg, the Dukes vile,
was formerly an actress ana nov
SOnncberg is little town belonging to this drama.
loving Duke, who, very naturally. attended the
being the place which sends us SO many OF our
chiIdren's toys, their barking dogs and me wing
cats. ana pretty wax babies that open and shut
their eyes and cry ..papa".and mamma" Just like
the natural ones. 1t Is busy, prosperous little
town. delghtluy planted at the loot OF hlgn
except the purchasers OF toys and dolls from Eng
land ana America. The trade or Sonneberg with
the United states is very large, ana our American
Consul here, Mr.. Henry I. Winser, has promised
me statistics, which will send you, with al ac-
count OF the toy and doll industries Of the place. In
a few days.
sONyEBERG AND JUDENBACH.
arrived ut SonneberR on Friday. and since the
festivities did not commence until the evening OF
saturday devoted the evening OF my first dav TO
visit TO Judenbach the original site OF the Luther
Inn. The village Is distant from Sonneberg about
eight miles, and Is situated on the crest OF nigh
mountain, and, like the two villages which we
passed on the way thither, has nothing particular
TO interest except the poverty OF It's people and
the abundance OF its children. The chief occupa-
tion OF the people Is making parts OF toys which
they deliver over to the manufacturers OF SOnne-
berg. A man does we'll. am informed II he sue
cceds in earning two and half dollars week.
out OF which sum he could not possibly support
the tnvariable numerous 1axen-headed progeny II
these numerous hands with mouths 70 feed were