Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-08-07

GREAT DRAMAT1C DISPLAY
that was to follow. The first orator, the Hon.
c. Temp, deputy speaker of the Swiss house oil
representatives, with q stentorian voice recited
how, in the summer of 1886, the young, am.
bilious and courageous Duke Leopold, of Aus
tria, had collected together an army of his ad.
herents. mum bering some 5000 well-armed
men. including body of no less than 700 finely
mounted and heavily armed mobiles. With
these he purposed to bring into subsection and
punish for disloyalty the inhabitants of the
canton Of Lucerne and adjacent territory. When
marching forward toward Lucerne, just above
Sempach, the duke, however, encountered an
armed force OF 1, 800 SWISS headed by the in
trepid Gundoldingen, posted on the edge of a
clearing skirting the brow of hill. This body
OF men, when the Austrian host came in sight,
knelt, as was the custom OF the Swiss before
engaging In battle, and reverently repeated
THE BATTLE PRAYER.
Then rising they formed into q huge wedge.
like column, preparatory to rushing from their
vantage ground upon the approaching enemy.
But the daring Leopold in the meantime had
caused his knights to dismount, send their
horses TO the rear, and with their sixteen-feet
long, heavily speared lances, in solid double
swiss. These latter, armed with huge swords,
great irOn-spiked clubs, immense battle-axes
and all manner OF striking weapons, a line OF
archers on their TANKS, and being tainted,
with unearthiy shrieks, yells and blowing OF
horns. charged tmpetuOusly upon the serried
double line OF lances. Neither the fury OF their
attack nor the powerful blows they dealt made
any impression upon the solid wall of iron.
Already their leader and many Of the bravest
men had fallen. The situation seemed hope
lessly desperate, when
ARNOLD Won wINKELRIED,
of giant stature and noble mien, cast away his
weapons and resOlutely stepped forth uttering
those ever remarkable words: ''Contederates,
will make way for you; remember my wife
and chiIdrenv' extended his muscular arms,
clenched with herculean grasp well nigh a
dozen OF the projecting iances pressing their
spear heads towards his bosom, and throwing
his whole weight forward while blood gushed
from dozen self-infiicted wounds, bore them
to the ground. Instantly, ere the gap could be
filled, Winkelried's fellow confederates rushed
In over the dying hero. and, striking right and
left, penetrated to the rear the enemy's line.
carrying dismay and destruction into the
midst OF the heavily encountered knights, who,
unable TO defend themselves or take flight, be-
came ready prey to the embittered noun
taineers. No less than !, 500 Austrians among
them Duke Leopold, were slain. whereas the
Swiss lost only 200 men. 'This victory" said
the speaker. "cemented firmly the union OF tue
G.. and five centuries have not OBJ
The president of Switzerland was the ne xt
speaker. After abiding to the trials and strug-
the marked success which had crowned the
efforts of the people in maintaining intact their
liberties, he went on to speak of the unsettled
presented. Danger appeared TO be threatening
III every quarter, and it became SWISS not
merely to be content with having their liberties
guaranteed on parchment, but they should
also show that these rested upon u sOiid iron
basis, upon thoughtful preparation tor self-de-
fence, thorough discipline and q unity which
fearless hearts rendered unassaiabie. It be-
hoOved them, said President Deucher, to give
proof that small states too had q destiny to
fulfil, and recognizing this in all its bearings,
likewise offered weil-founded reasons for their
national perpetuatiOn. He would impress upon
them the words Of the immortal Pestalozzi:
"Guardian spirit Of the land, proclaim aloud
matt 10 of
the people; proclaim aloud the eternal truth.
that i'll projecting the liberties OF all, lies the
safeguard OF individual freedom"
Upon conclusion OF these addresses, which at
times wrought the vast audience 10 the highest
pitch OF enthusiasm, followed the most uniu ue
part of the program, kind Of Oberammergau
HISTORICAL DRAMA AND LIVING TABLEAUx,
illustrating the events and significance of the
battle of Sempach, the whole conducted upon q
scale of simple grandeur heretofore unat-
tempted. No less than thousand actors M ust
have taken part. Upon the lowest Of the three
immense stages or platforms, erected on the
gentle slope, there was assembled a chorus and
an orchestra OF some 600 musicians. Upon the
second, somewhat receded and wider stage
above, were grouped in the ancient costumes of
the period numerous peasants. Upon the third
and uppefmOst stage stood. Immediately in the
rear OF some yelled object, a colossal figure OF
Helvetia. The Introductory movement of a
cantata entitled Freedom s Hymn OF Victory"
WAS then rendered in q most effective manner
by the chorus and orchestra introducing pas
toral melody, when a body OF joyous harvesters
mounted e on aad gaily decked wagon came driving
the grouped peaSantry. These were met by
villagers coming from the opposite direction
bringing refreshments. The harvesters alight,
the wagon passes on, and soon the immense
stage becomes moving mass OF peasanLry en-.
gagged in the mazes OF a harvest dance. Sud-
denly the music ceases, and two peasants step
forward recounting in dialogue the abundance
of the harvest, and the recent closer union
among the confederates. A huntsman hastily
approach OF the Austrians under Duke
Leopold. An invasion by the enemy was im-
minent Commotion ensues-the peasants
hasten aWay-a vocal and inStrume en- tai descriD.
tive piece is rendered by the chorus and orches-
tra-armed bodies OF cOnfederates coming to the
rescue puss over the stage in close array, dis
testing their weapons, and with the assistance
of women arraying themselves Tor conflict.
Farewell scenes are enacted, and every thing
on the spacious central stage assumes the real
tiles OF preparation for battle, while the music
both vocal and instrumental, pOrtrays the bust
ling scene above. Meantime the warriors have
all departed and the battle is presumed to be
taking place. Then they commence bringing
in wounded, among them the intrepid, now
beloved country! Shall not see thee nee! In
really all lostr Meantime the music gradu.
ally changes from the plaintiveness VI scene
OF victory. Suddenly detachments Of the dee
Ing enemy In their rich costumes afOOt and on
horseback come rushing across the stage in
heayily-armored knights in utter dismay-pur.
suing bloodstained Swiss follow In rapid suo-
cession-astonished peasants halt and question
the detached groups OF returning warriors as to
the particulars or the battle. Then follow In
close column the main body OF the confeder.
ates, bearing an immense quantity OF
GPOIIS AND TROPHIES
the chorous meanwhile singing . song Of tri-
umph, which changing into hymn of graft.
tude, finally ends In prayer, whereupon the
peasantry remaining on the stage take kneel-
ing posture. Meanwhile there enters soiemnly
. train Of warriors and peasants bearing tho
dead, among them the body OF Winkelried,
which In reverentty deposited in the GEN.
ter OF the stage, when banner bearers and sor-
rowing friends group themselves around the
deceased patriot and do HIM homage, the chorus
anu orchestra rendering an appropriate dirge.
The grouping Of returning warriors and peas
ants increases, and now extends up the seOond
flight OF steps and on TO the third stage, with
the yelled monument in front OF the colossal
figure OF Helvetia as the central object Al q
given moment, whom everything seems hushed
and sxpectant, amid soft and mystic strains Of
m usic the veit Is gently Withdrawn, ana = plain
n on 1iuent consisting OF 4 single shalt OF rock.