The daily gazette., 1880-12-10
From the N. Y. Sun.
Reading the Passion Play.
THE AUTHORS ATTEMPT TO SHOW
THAT IT Is NOT IRkEvERENT.

THAT IT Is NOT lhhhVERENT.
A reading Of the Passion Play, which
was 10 have been brought out at Booths
Tb, atre, but which was so vigorously
attacked ON all hands that the idea was
finally abandoned, was given at the
Cooper Union last night by its author,
Mr.. Salmi Morse. The stage 10 the
main hall had been enlarged TO contain
Wldne2's orchestra oftwenty five musl-
Clans, and chorus Of sixty members,
male and female, all Of whom together
made almost, mot quite, as large
number as sat as an audience almost
lost IN the vast auditorium. Punctually
at 8 o'clock Mr.. Morse, the chorus and
orchestra having distributed themselves,
appeared upou the platform aud advan-
ced to the little reading desk, upon
which he spread out printed copy of
the "PassiOn," as lie calls his poem, In
such way that the rays Of shaded
lamp tell strongly upon it. He was
greeted with as generous applause as SO
small an audience could contribute
He is about 80 years of age, six feet
tall, and we'll proportioned. His gray
hair, rather shortly cut, has tsndeney
to rise up rather stiffiy around n's head.
His face is grave and furrowed, and
smooth, saving q short gray moustache.
He was neatly dressed in black. A
white choke- and tie encircled his neck,
and over his expansive shirt front
broad ribbon supported pair CT gold
eyegl asses, which he was obliged to en-
ploy in reading.
He read with the arts Of an elocu-
zionist, and his manner was utterly
grave and earnest. At one point,
when reading from the scene Of the
Last Supper, wi \ suddenness that
showed his action to be natural, he
stopped down behind his desk, dror.
ped his glasses, and wiped his eyes.
The explana- .ons with which he p. =
faced many of the scenes were given
without affectatiop, and were interest
ing. He had a slight accent, but not
enough to spoil the effect of the read
ing. The small audience applauded
him frequently, and remained inter-
ested throughout the recitation, which
took three hours. The orchestral mu-
sic and the choruses were effectively
rendered.
"lt is generally expected" Mr..
Morse said, ION an occasion of this
kind, that some Introductory remarks
will be made. But the subject we
have in mind is Of such nature that
much of anything else said would de-
tract from the interest. will, there.
fore, at once introduce you to the in
terror of the temple of Herod, the
place where Jesus was presented wher
he was 40 days old. If had had the
opportunity l would have shown the
temple at Booths Theatre" He sale
he had intended to show upon th'
stage in the interior of the temple al
the appurtenances that historic re
search would permit. He would hav'
shown the Ark of the Covenant in it
real size and shape. "We shall com
mence with the song Of the hundre'
mothers who are there with their in
fants to present them in the temple
While the mothers are singing, tn
priests are busy bringing out the Ark Q
the Covenant from the sanctum sane
forum. As the scrolls are taken ou
they are spread upon the reading desk
The high priest mounts the platforr
and reads the Scriptures, the readln
being solemnized by the chanting c
the choir"
At this point the choir and orchestI
rendered the song beginning:
As grains OF sand huge mountains ! ca
| Drops OF water made seas appear.
Then q herald announces the comm
of messenger, and an old man of 8
appears and announces the birth {
Christ to the Virgin Mother. The
follows a recognition Of this fulfilmer
of the prophecy in Q chorus Of hun
dred voices
Hail, hosanna, the Messiah is born.
One of the High Priests goes ou
with the threat that he will inforr
Herod. After that there are more hC
sannas sung by the choruses. Th
High Priest addresses Mary, who ha
entered with the infant Jesus in he
arms, and welcomes her, prophesyin
the future of the Savior of the world
Hannah, an inspired woman of eight
comes in and warEs them of the dar
ger of the child, and urges fight. Th
|, High Priest orders her away az blai
phemer. There follows a scene wit
the Maei. One of the Magi declare
that safety demands the assassination
of the babe, and produces his dagge
to do the work, but the High Prizes
declares that the temple must not b
polluted by such an act of violence
Then there is grateful song by tn
chorus of mothers, rs,accompanied by tn
High Priests. One of the Magi rushe
to kill the infant Jesus, but when h
reaches the child he drops in adora
tion upon his knees and worship
Christ, saying, "He shall be sole kin
of earth" The chorus sings hosar
ma.
Glory, glory to the Lord,
Glory, glory to the Son,
Glory, glory to the Holy Ghost,
Glory three in one.
Joseph enters and is advised to fe,
with the holy family, and Joseph
fight is the elimination of the frs
act.
The opening of the second act find
Joseph and Mary in fight with the iu
FAINT Jesus. There is tableau OF hee
ing mothers with their children, who
cover the mountain side.
| The third act tells the story Of the
, death of John the Baptist. There Is 9
great scene in Herod's house, and long
dialogue between Herod and his wife
who vainly tries to persuade him to con