The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-12-11
Letter from Europe.
Correspondence Of The Democratic Advocate.
rne Passion Play. by an Eye witness
hhrtiltug Interest of the Representsa-
tion---stmpltcity Rnd Humility of lhe
srurTdARr. Aup. b. 18sO

STUTTGART, Aug. %, 1880.
You will be pleased to know that we
went to Ober-Ammergau, and of course,
saw the Passion Play. One can form
very little idea of it from reading about il,
as It is so beautiful aud impressive. 1t is
wonderful how these simple. limo.
cent people can represent Christ's life on
earth so truthfully, nnd the great aud aw-
iul tragedy of his erucifxion.
We arrived at er-Ammergau on Sat.
urday, at P. NJ, having engaged rooms
beforehand at the house of Mr.. Mayer, who
represents Christ lie also had our tickets
for the play But before going any far
ther, | will tell you how we reached there.
We first went to the grand old city Of Mu.
nieh, which is celebrated for its magnifi.
cent buildings, its sculpture and paintings,
and other works Of art We remained
there only two days, and could see, in that
time, only small portion of its nagnif-
ee@ee, reserying a more extended view
until another time. We did 20 through
the Old Palace, and were delighted with
its handsome paintings aud its world.re
nowned gold bodstead, which took forty
women ten years to make. The hangings
are OF dark crimson velvet, completely GOV
cred with pure gold embroidery, and cost
four hundred thousand dollars. We also
saw the room which contains what is called
King Ludwigs beauties, that is, portraits
OF the most beautiful women in Europe,
one or two Of whom are American ladies
who were living in Europe ut that time.
You will remember that Ludwig |. reigned
before the father of the present king and was
noted Tor his reckless extravaganza He
had TO abdcate in favor Of Maximilian.
because he had almost bankrupted the
kingdom, aud for many years lived ia re-
tirement. 1t was he whom Lola Montez
horse whipped in the streets of Munich,
and for years had the reins of government
in her hands. After he became conscious
Of his misdeeds his remorse was so great
that by way of penance he erected several
magnificent churches, one of which we saw.
built in imitation Of St. Peters at Rome.
1t contains the handsomest stained glass
windows in the world, one side of which
represents the life OF the Virgin Mary,
aud the other that of Christ. You cannot
imagine any thing more superb. We
could have stood for hours studying them
it We had had the time. OF ali the coun.
tries wo have visited We consider Bavaria
one of the richest in art.
We left Munich for Marnau, which is
the terminus Of the railroad Theace by
carriage, which took us three hours, up
the mountain, which at some places seemed
to be perpendicular. After reaching the
summit, We descended again, as Ober.
Ammergau lies on the other side of the
mountain. As | mentioned before, we
reached there at 4 o'clock in torrents Of
rain, which continued until we left. Mr..
Mayer told us that they had not had one
representation yet, that it had not poured
The hrst night we spent there we called
upon the different celebrities. We STAYED
with the representative of Christ; We called
on Peter, whose name is Jacob Hett. and
were delighted with him, and be is the per
ssnlheation of what you would imagine
Peter to be. There he sat in his work
room, with his wood carvings around him
You cannot imagine how poor and plain
they all live. When We bought his photo.
graph and asked him for his autograph he
seemed quite surprised to think We should
care to possess it. You may be sure the
visitors manifest great interest in them
and seem to regard them with much respect
and no little curiosity, but it does not seem
to have the least effect upon them. We
next called upon the Virgin Mary. She
is very pretty, and SO humble and unas
sumlng. She personities the character ad
mirably, except that her voice is rather
weak, which is somewhat against her
You can scarcely imagine the poverty in
which she and her mother live, and they
say that in winter they can scarcely make
out TO exist. We could not fad out where
some of the other characters lived, and she
very kindly offered TO conduct us, but il
was raining so hard that we could not
continue our visits. We could not but fee
strange at the thought of being conducted
through the streets by the Virgin Mary.
We returned to Mr.. Mayors and took sup.
per, which consisted of tea and mountain
trout, and afterwards went about the town
alone, and had to wade through mud nearly
over my shoe-tops, yet enjoyed it immense.
y, first called upon the Burgomeister, oi
Mayor, who represented Caiphas, and had
quite pleasant conversation with him,
l next went to sec Herod, who was occu-
pied at bis business, baking bread, aud ex.
cused himself for coming out dressed in
his baking clothes. | hnd pleasant con.
versatlon with him also. | was perfectly
charmed with my visit to John. the be-
loved disciple, and made my visit to him
much longer than the rest, as he was 50
entertaining. Besides, learned good
deal Of pure German from all of them. as
they speak it perfectly, the Play requiring
1t. | also called upon Mary Magdalena
and Judas. The former did not do so
vel, as she did not seem adapted to her
part. Judas acted his part to perfection
1t is strange to say, that, after Judas had
betrayed Christ, and went out TO hide him.
sell, the building was overshadowed by a
very black cloud, and il commenced 10
tighten aud thunder fcarfaly, adding TO the
effect of the impressive scene. Barabbas
was perfect, both in himself aud his acting.
At 5 o'clock in the morning, the cannon
was fired of to warn the inhabitants that
they should repair to early mass to prepare
themselves for the coming play. At s
o'clock il is fred again, which informs the
people that the play is about to commence.
We were all ready and in our seats The
first act is Christs triumphal entry into
Jerusalem, in which FIVE hundred persons
participate. | cannot describe the play
all through, but it was full of absorbing
interest. At ~ O'Clock VIC had a recess
Of an hour for dinner, and at oclock the
booming Of the cannon again reminded us
that we must be in our seats. You can
not imagine anything more heartrending
than the erucifxion Mayer with the two
thieves hang on the cross for twenty min.
utes. Many persons doubt whether be
will able to continue his representation
throughout the season ,as bis task is very try
ing and more difficult than the rest. At
the representation before we were present
y