Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-09-15
REV. EDWARDS IN BAVARIA.
MUNICH, BAVARIA
MONDAY Aupust 18th

| hoNDAf, august lOln.
We reached here this afternoon from
Ober-Ammergau and are to rest our
selves till tomorrow morning Yes
| terday we witnessed the celebrated
Passion Play and have found ourselves
amply rewarded for our efforts in get
ting there. 1t is service in which the
villagers engage every ten years, and
in which they set forth vividly in per-
sonal representation the leading events
in our Saviour's life-from his trium-
phal entry into Jerusalem to his death
and ascension. 1t is scene, which if
enacted anywhere else in the world
would be looked upon as sacrilegious
but confined as it has been for centu-
ries to this one village, it has gathered
around it sacred associations of pecu-
liar character There was choir of 90
voices who, aided by an orchestra,
gave us musical selections bearing on
each event, and then these were rem
dered by others in manner so impress
sive that one could not help feeling that
he was really present at the great events
of our Lords life The whole thing
was admirably arranged and carried out.
There were sometimes as many as 500
persons on the platform engaged in
the representations, while s, 900 of us
sat from in the morning till 5 in the
afternoon, and only left for short time
at noon for lunch. People became so
interested, they forgot fatigue. The
TIE scene was repeated to-day for g.
600 who could not get seats for yester-
day. Among the spectators yesterday
were Queen Vlctoria's son, the Duke
of Connaught and his wife and the
Duke and Duchess of SAKE Weimar.
The village itself is not larger than one
of your Butler county towns, so you
can easily imagine how it was crowded.
There is only one house that could be
called hotel, but the villagers all open
their little log houses to dodgers. After
a great deal of effort and running around
got room with small cot in it.
When the gentleman who got it for me
came in with me about 10 O'Clock on
Saturday night we found the floor oc-
cupied by four slumbering inmates,
who wearied and worn, had taken for
chile possession; of course | hadn't the
heart to disturb them, although l must
say didn't sleep much. Last night,
however, | had snug little chamber
to myself To-day Mr. Reed and met
three ladies who live in grand style on
Avenues uptown in New York, who
very gladly lay on pallets of straw on
cottage floor Saturday night. Mr..
Reed and lost each other last evening
as we came out and did not find each
other till we came to the railway sta
tion, II miles away this morning. We
were assigned to different rooms, but
neither of us knew just where the other
abode, and the crowds were like black
surging waves that carried all before
them. But in the edilice itself all was
reverence and solemnity; indeed, there
were few eyes that were not wet some
time yesterday as the Saviour was
seen, parting from his mother or strug-
Cling in his sufferlngs. The man who
personated Christ is plain peasant,
who makes his living by carving fancy
wood, but one of the most graceful and
digni6ed of men. / met him afterwards
on the street and recognizing him, was
very glad to go and shake hands and
to thank him in my poor German for
the sacred pleasure he had given me.
The Dukes were his guests, not being
able to find any better accommodations.
There are no villas or chateaus in the
neighborhood and the early hour of
commencing prevents driving from any
distance.
| reached here on Friday night and
was very glad on Saturday to get a
lot of letters at the Bankers, two from
you. Most of my people in Philadel-
phia are out of town, but work is go
ing on nicely in the parish. To-mor-
row we leave for Stuttgart which is
said to be one of the most beautiful
cities of Germany. The day came
from Vienna I travelled all the time
through a country more or less flooded.
1t was pitiablc to see the grain and hay
Just cut floating down stream. In one
place we passed a village where the
stream was sweeping oil before it one
poor woman with her child by her side
was standing at her window and with
outstretched hands pleading for some
one to come and rescue her. The peo-
pie were all hocking TO the railroad em-
bankmcnt which was high and secure.
The Emperor | see has given 5000
forms towards relieving the distress.
AS we leave early in the morning |
must close and be of to bed.