Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-06-27
THE PASSION PLAY.
A MEDIEVAL MElODRAMA ENACTED
IN A MEXICAN VILLAGE.
Holy Week Scenes I'm Tlalpujahua-The
Ceremony of ''the Capture''-Graphic
Sermon OF the Cure-Following the
Wooden Image to Prison.

Holy Week Scenes in Tlslpuiahua-The
Ceremony of ''the Capture"-Graphis
Sermon OF the Cure-Following the
Wooden Image to Prison.
The melodrama-whicho occupies an entire
week, beginning with Palm Sunday and
ending with Esster-is as crude and quaint
Is indescribably solemn. 1t is not kept up
incessaatly. but every day and evening has
its respective procession and separate acts
in the play, increasing in interest and sol
emnity till the tragedy is complete Other
occupations count for nothing during all
this time, work and pleasure are alike laid
aside, ana everybody gives himself up to
the sacred business Of the season. First in
the order of each days services is to go to
church-in fact, the correct thing is to spend
nearly all the time there upon ones knees
when not upon the streets with the process
sionA Through holy week this gray old
sanctuary was illuminated day and night
by thousand waxen tapers, which pale
any chance ray Of sunshine that struggled
through the small, heavily barred windows
set high mp under the roof Loads OF fruit
and flowers tconsplcuously oranges ears OF
corn, wheat, and golden marigolds) were
piled upon the affairs as yotive offerings
and the floor was strewn with peoples and
roses, which were renewed twice in every
twenty-four hours The place was con
stantly crowded to suifocation AS always
in this land where poverty predominates,
the vast majority Of worshipers were ragged
leperos and blanketed Indians; but here and
there proud patrician or naughty dame
who elsewhere would not consider the rab-
BILE OF more account than the dust beneath
their feet-knelt with the throng upon the
sanctuary, where appropriately all ranks
are leveled and distinctions of casts obiit-
Grated
First after the mass, according to pro
gramme, Christ had to lie captured, preceding
His trial and condemnation The ceremony
called el prendimiente the capture was re
peated four days and evenings in success
sion, ending with Holy Thursday. The
Jews and Pharisees who went forth to catch
Him were very gaily dressed in scarlet and
gold, or green and silver, with feathered
helmets and alleged ornaments" Of tin and
brass which glittered in the sunlight Each
carried lamp to assist in searching for the
Savior, and was mounted upon a horse that
had been trained to dance to the music
From house to house they went all over the
village, followed by a motley multitude,
inquiring if He whom they sought was
within
While the crowd were absent upon this
important errand, Betsy aud l improved
the opportunity to select vantage ground
from which to view subsequent proceedings
Beneath a spreading palm tree within the
church Enclosure a portable pulpit had been
erected, covered with purple velvet and
shining stuifs, and We could do no better
than to perch ourselves upon the top OF an
adobe sepulcher near by, though at the risk
of tumbling through and mingling our bones
with those Wondering within.
DRESSED IN A PURPLE ROBE
AT length the procession reappeared,
sweeping in triumph down the green lanes
of the village to the sound Of fife AMI viol,
having "captured' at last life-size wooden
figure which had been brought from the
church and secreted in some convenient
place for the purpose. The image, dressed
in a robe OF purple silk. with crimson cord
about its waist, was borne upon a platform
in the midst of a mob of Jews PhariSees
and Roman soldiers, armed with sticks,
swords and spears; while an Undesirable
train Of ragged men, and women and
children-in many cases entirely naked
brought up the rear. Behind tine pulpit was
an artificial bower, supposed to represent the
garden of Gethsemane, and in this the figure
was pla, ed; while the rabble, initiating
Zacheus, instantly settled upon every thing
within reach, like a buzzing swarm Of bees,
every available branch, roof and wall being
literally blackenei with them.
The cures sermon, which was, of course,
in Spanish, and in simple words adapted TO
his hearers, contained graphic account OF
the suirerings and prosecutions OF Christ,
the causes and effects Of his DEATH and the
inf of ha Ha boI flai
agony of Jesus in the garden, to which he
frequently went with his disciples, and the
treachery Of Judas, who knew the place
and who, having received band of men
and officers from the chief priests and Phar- |
isees cometh hither with lanterns and 4
torches and weapons" This, then, ex-
plains the lanterns and weapons of the pro
cession. AS the speaker went on, infinitely /
explaining all the circumstances, one who |
represented the spy, with horrible mask |
like the head of wild boar, was seen peer (
ing through the trees of Gethsemane. Pres /
emily Judas, his face covered with black |
Grape, and followed by company Of SOL 1
diers, who Tip toed" along in the most COM
ical manner, came gliding into the garden
with a stage stride worthy the crushed /
tragedian in his palmiest days
Now" said the curate, what does this
traitor ooi lie MAIN gwen them sign, say
ing, w homsoere. SHAH KISS, that same Is
He-hoid him last lie goes-he APP
proaches the sacred person o. the LORD.
Judas meanwhiie mad advanced with the
gait OF supe IN a third-rate theatre fol-
lowed Icy all the tp-toeinS soidiers; ana at
This point ne Threw MS arms around the
image and kissed us painted cheek with
smack winch might nave Deem heard q
mile
THE ACT OF TREAcHERY COMPLETE
1t is done,r Croaned the priest. "The
horrible act of treachery is completed And
forthwith he cainc to Jesus and said. slIaiI. |
MASTER and kissed him But now j, sus.
knowing all things that should come upon
Him, went forth and said unto them: Whom
seek yeF They answered: Jesus of Naza-
As the cure pronounced the last words
suddenly the whole procession fell lat upon
their faces, where they remained for some
time, cycling the audience in that uncomlogt
able position, not knowing exactly when to
get up Marx, said the priest, the power
OF the Word, They came ont to take Him
with swords and slaves and spears, tut at
the sound Of the divine voice they acllnowl-
out AZ Is oniy ioi "a Hohen'- benoiu. now
.ney oi.. ~ ny oe' ~, Ivy s,ii'r
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