The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-04-07

'Retribution" cried Herod, and fell back.
Herodias tainted, the courier fell dead, and
the curtain dropped amid the heartiest APP
plause of the evening.
At 9.55 the curtain rose on the fourth
act, representing Jesus at the Brook of
Kedron The brook was shown at sunset,
and Jesus stood in the midst of His Dis
ciples. The Rev. Mr. Wanamacher as
sumed the part of the Nazarene. His
dress was modelled after the familiar pic
lures of the Savior. He was dressed in a
white robe that fell to his sandalled feet,
and blue sash, with wide dropping folds,
encircled his waist He wore auburn hair,
the curls of which covered his neck, and a
yellow beard, carefully initiated from the
ideal heads. Six of the Disciples stood on
either side of him dressed as they are rep
resented in Leonardo da Vinci's picture of
the "Last Supper" As the curtain de-
scended the Disciples stood about with
bowed heads, listening while Jesus, with
clasped hands, prayed.
The fifth act represented the scene be-
fore Pontius Plate. He sat on a throne
the two arms of which were large golden
lions. This throne was at the extreme left
of the stage, well down to the front The
guards, with their golden eagles, stood
around it and down on the steps leading to
the court below In the court and on the
battlement at the rear was mob of men
and women representing the accusing Jews
What the men said to PLATE could not
usually be distinguished, but when one of
the women on the battlement took up the
argument there was an evident impression
made She was the same woman who had
taken the part of Herodias earlier in the
play. PLATE is represented in anger over
the seditious spirit of the mob, and putting
on brazen helmet with black plume, he
ordered out the guard A great number
of men, armed with bright swords, issued
from small door under the throne and
moved across the stage, while most of the
mob fell on their knees The submission
of the mob brought them the clemency of
Plate, who commanded the soldiers to
sheath their swords, exclaiming, Give the
Jewsr p The priests then demanded that
Jesus of Nazareth be tried for treason.
PLATE told them that the offence of Christ
was only that of violating Jewish tradi-
ton, and told the priests to deal with him
To this they demurred, because the Roman
law would not permit them to put any one
to death. Jesus was, therefore, led down
near the footlights, where he stood facing the
audience. There was some change in his
dress, a purple robe having been thrown
around him. When asked by Plate if he
was Jesus of Nazareth, he partly turned
his head toward the questioner and answer
ed, ''Thou sayest it When Plate asked
if he was King of the Jews, and said
'.Thy robe becomes thee most royalty, the
mob laughed derisively. When further
interrogated as to his kingship Jesus re-
piled, Il am king, but not one of osten-
tation and vanity and again, GAS you
say, am king to this end was born. F"
Then Plate asked his question, "What is
truth p and ended by proposing to release
the prisoner, but the cries of "Crucify
him p drowned the words of the speaker
PLATE, therefore, ordered that Jesus be
prepared for sentence, and he was led
away, most of the mob following him with
an outcry A large number of women
descended from the battlement, and gather
ed on the right of the stage, where they
laughed and whispered, until the cries of
returning mob rose. When Jesus was led
to the front, Plate again asked him if he
was King of the Jews There was no re-
ply. After more questioning by Plate,
Jesus was led away to death, the mob fol-
lowing while the curtain descended.
In the last act the curtain rises on a
darkened stage. A black curtain Of some
very thin stuff was hung at the front. A
picture of the temple and of Jerusalem
was painted on the upper part Behind
the curtain the front of the stage was
crowded with men and women kneeling
and standing. A dim outline of large
wooden cross could be seen at the back of
the stage Two ladders leaned against it.
The women sang plaintive chant After
a time light was thrown on the cross,
while the singing continued. This scene
was not continued long, the drop falling as
the singing ceased.