The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-18
PAGES 8 TO IL
OUR EUROPEAN LETTER.
Christ Kind In Munich.
An = rtist's Home. and How Funds are 10
be Raised FOR It-An Interesting
Affair.
Special sentinel Letter |

| ESPECIAL -e0Iluel Lettcl
] MUNICH. Dec 24.-To morrow is Chr istmas
Day, which in Germany means
more than IN any other
country or the globe. 4. is celebrated Dy
young and old. in every household. and to-
night Christmas eve, there is scarcely =
window in the whole city through which the
burning tapers of The Christmas tree are not
to be reflected.
Every little toddisr In the land, and there
are not a few, hiss been busy with writing
bis Christmas letter to the dear Christ Kind.
telling him OF his wants. and ray ing not TO
be forgotten as he makes his tour in his little
golden chariot.
By the way, this Christ Kindl is q most
lovely Illusion, for il means nothing lees
than the child Christ himself; it is GER
tainly more beautiful than our pussy old
Kris Kripgle Gin all probability q corruption
OF Christ Kindll, with his long, white beard
and shaggy robes. What could be more de-
lightful than the little German cailc's idea
of the Christ Kind or infant Jesus floating
softly through the air. and in and out of the
windows, carried in his golden wagon, filled
with all manner of good things for all the
other little ones in the la1dr
About two weeks ago, Old Nikolsus made
his usual rounds, armed with sticks and
provided with huge bag, for he is q chas-
tiser, and most dreaded parsonage By the
little folks. he is sort OF investigating
committee, and reports all those
who are TO be remembered
ones are threatened with the most dire O.
lamitles, such as being beaten with ais sticks.
or carried off ia his big sack, the only escape
being immediate reformation. Now every
little heart is beating high with expectation,
for the foreshadowings of the Christ KINDS
coming are to be seen every where. In
many of the broad streets and parks booths
have been erected and Christmas trees fill
the open space (every family buys Christ
mas tree) until the whole city seems Ike
one big market place.
But Munich never ceases to be an art city,
and her artists are untiring in giving exhib-
ftions of their ski and creative genius. Not
even does the dear Christ Klndl come with
out being herslded by them in their own
original way.
There is an effort on foot TO build Knns-
ther Haus a sort OF artists home, in Munich.
and among the various means OF raising
funds for this purpose. il was decided to
hold q Christ KIndl market in the old
Academy building. which has just been va
Their Haus Is to be provided with studios and
exhibi rooms where artists work can be
exhibited aud sold direct from their easels
without the Intervention Of an art dealer.
To this market then We were enjOined 70
'go and see," for Ii was said to be without
comparison. Here gorgeous colors. brilliant
and suffusedEigh ts, great pan oramic canvssses
and genuine costumes oriental, and antique,
in the most happy com binetions, reveal to
us the land of the true artist alone. Our
keenest sxpectati rs we're surpassed in the
scenes and pictures OF real life here repre-
sented.
Before entering the market itself, we first
passed through dimly lighted apartment
in which was representation OF the infant
Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem. The
billy landscape, bathed in a flood of moon
light, WAS presented in q most realistic
manner while over all was a subdued, even
solemn air. Leaving this idyllic scene, We
were at once ushered I'M TO chaos OF oriental
splendor Fantastic buildings, with their
gilded domes and cupalos, luxuriant plants
and foliage the gay colors OF the trsdesmen
in their national dress, well as those OF
their wares, assured as at once that We wsre
in the midst of eastern wonders, surrounded
by the glare and glitter OF the bazars OF
Cairo. At every step, o genuine Turk, gen.
uine at least as 10 dress and manners, several
in fact as to nationality, pressed upon us
bis tempting wares, or in his own peculiar
monotonous tones offered rs his good
Mocha, genuine Mocha" served in tiny
cups. Solemn visaged Turks, seated cross
legged upon their cushions. surrounded by
the rich hangings of their booths and half
covered by their silken goods, seemed more
like picture than reality. Subtle combi-
nations of color, gliding, painting canvas,
together with a substantial frame work, and
then peopled with real, live men In their
own garb. busted with their own occupa-
tons, left nothing wanting to carry out the
idea OF an oriental city, teeming with life.
But the crowd pushes us on through this
brilliant place, out into an open market
| square. Here the steep tile roofs, corner
windows, and odd turrets tell Us that We
are In an old German city OF the Middle
Ages. while among the friendly, jolly groups
gathered here and there are TO be seen the
gay and original costumes of the lands
knecht or country vas:sl.
/ Further on we seem TO step out into the
cold winter night, where the moonshine re-
veals TO Us old Munich as il was o few hum
dred years ago. The pointed roofs and gables
are covered with snow, and icicles hang
from the public foun tain. Around the mar
ket place the booths are lighted with the
old time oil lamps, and erythibg il In
keeping with dream of bygone days.
i In leaving this quaint Christian market.
ened anew, that Munich and her artists are
unsurpassed in any city or country for origl'
nal conceptions and faithful representa-
tions. Success be to their untiring efforts
L. r.