Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-05
The Ober-Ammcrsau Passion Play.

The Ober-Ammergan Passion Play.
The Purtsfan publishes the following extracts
nom private letter written by a gentleman
VINO Twas WAS present at the opening performance OF
THE strange stories we had heard of the
manner OF representing the crucifixion made
US Curious 10 learn the truth and we determined
Christ. After we had settled about our lodgings
ana eaten our dinner, we called upon the figur-
ante, whose mother sells tarts, and after making
question OF her son. How Is &c posstble for Won
to nang on the cross twenty minutess' Before
ANSWERING the question he brushed his long hair
low dispassionate tones:
." one should suffer-
We were puzzled by this peasant. Il was DIFF.
or the result OF religious enthusiasm, bur as IN
the scenic tricks OF the miracle-play there was
surely nothing TO be learned from this principal
s,, amo OUT only resource TO satisfy our curl
oslty was 10 Keep sharp lookout ON the morrow
during the performance
Luckily we had good places and an excel
lent neldglass The man with long hair, ia
OF linen ABOUT his loins, was placed upon the
cross as IL lay on the floor OF the stage How
ne was fastened II was impossible 10 see. as the
the role OF hammerfng nails into his hands and
reet. W hen all was ready, the foot OF the cross
was placed In socket and raised by the united
euortS OF the soldiers until IL stood erect. An
indescribable sigh, or suppressed groan, went
forth from the audience as the white welI-mad de
inquire, apparently suspended by nails In his
hands, rose and stood out In strong relief
against the background. There was for a
few moments profound stiffness and
bird liz on the railing OF the enclosure and
piped a few notes. The play went on, and
watched with the glass, holding my watch in
my hand. In the first few minutes the cruel
fed man sank three or four inches, and then
the stage trick was easily understood. Under
the ughtfitting shirt a band foot wide. could
be distinctly seen across the chest and ribs. and
this band was evidently attached In some way
TO the cross behind the suspended figure. After
ten minutes, the body had sunk several inches
more, and The outline OF the bands could be dis
tfnctly seen without the glass.
A spear was pressed to the actors side and as
the soldier rather clumsiiy searched for the spot
10 stab, discovered the outlines OF a concealed
sack; at last the soldier found the prepared COW
erlng, broke the thin tissue, and ''blood" flowed
from the wound: The attendants then placed
LADDER against the cross and aScenoed to take
down the body, whose head had fallen forward.
hand. "
"a nail was pulled from the right half-closed
hand OF the corpse with huge pair OF pincers;
at the same time, a loop on the wrist of the
shlrt was unhitched from small hole in the
WOOD, and the arm apparently forced down to
tne SIDE; the same operation with the LEFT arm
wide white band was then thrown over the
cross, TO be used. as rope, in aiding the de-
scent OF the body, as In Albert DarerS Descent
nom the cross A man on the ladder lifted the
body by main force, while another, behind. an
hitched loop from a large iron hook just be-
bird the neck, and the body fell across the
shoulders OF the man on the ladder (see Albert
Durer), and the white band, pulled by those be-
low, hides at once the hook.
"'Twenty-twO minutes whispered j., and
the snap, as he closed his watch could be heard
all over the enclosure"