New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-02
BERNE'S JUBILEE.
ITS SEVEN HCNDREDTH BIRTHDAY TO BE
CELEBRATED

Berne, July s.
The seven hundredth anniversary OF this city,
which soon occurs will doubtless be marked WIN
the most imposing celebration ever seen IN the
Helvetian Republic Ii is not alone OF local III
forest All the other cities and cantons are look
ing forward to it with equal anticipation. ana
host of visitors will be here from foreign lands
So great is the desire to the pageant which Is
being prepared, that already, month in advance
every window and every point of view along the
route of the procession have been engaged often AT
fabulous prices And indeed the spectacle will be
n notable one II will be historical in character
and will accurately reproduce the costumes ana
manners of every generation in the seven centuries
Every great event in the city's history. too, Will
be portrayed and as the long procession winds It's
way through the picturesque streets OF this quaint
old city, it will present scene of interest SUCH as
few eyes ever have beheld.
The most important part Of the celebration, how
over will be the socalled Fcstspiel. This is 10 be
held in gigantic amphitheatre, which is now be-
inc built on the Kirchenfeld, and will consist
chiefly of a great spectacular historic drama. This
drama has been designed and the text written by
the Rev DR.. Weber, clergyman of Berne. Ills
achievements in connection with the great Sem
pach festival in 1885 will be remembered by oil
who attended that celebration. On the present
occasion he has surpassed his former efforts and
has prodnced work of such dramatic and poetic
merits as enttle it to high and permanent rank
| in Swiss literature 1t is a music-drama which
| he has written and the score has been composed
| bv Herr Munznger, the director of the Musical
Academy Of Bernc 4 choir of seven hundred
voices will render the work, accompanied by a
| monster orchestra
| This musc-drama is to be divided into six
periods or groups. each of which sezes upon and
sets forth some one leading feature of the history
] of the town in each century. as follows
The foundation of Berne in 119l, by the Duke
| of Zahingen and his builder, Cuno Buben-
| berg; the motto of this group is Freedom-a
city, The Battle of Laupen, 1899, with the mot
| 70. Approved in the Fight" the defeat of the
BurCundians at Murten or Morat. 1476. and the
| motto "Resoutc and Victorious" This will
nrobablv be the finest and most exciting scene OF
all. The Reformation, the period or group motto
| Tho Shirt Of Life-giving Power" in which
Nicholas Manuel, Berthold Haller, Val Anshelm
and other Reformers hold a disputation in the
cathedral, and return with Zwingli. The fall Of
old Berne, 1893, motto, Everything Passes Away
Only Honor Remains" setting forth the victory Of
Neueneeg, the defeat of the Granholz the discus
sions in the Council. and then the revival OF
Berne us thy sword brokenP Still hast thou
lmanfully maintained thy honor" The last group
-" All for Fatherland"-is dedicated TO The
Present. and sets forth the warm patriotic homagC
Of The Present" TO Berne, and of Berne herself
to Mother Helvetia," who appears and takes par
in her daughters jubilee.
In the course Of this performance well known
melodies are introduced and as the Swiss are not
ably musical people, music being one of the mos
prominent features of their system of education
the immense concourse OF spectators will resov,
itself into one vast choir, joining in the piece.
and chOrales with great volume of sound
Such, at any rate is oonhd TO be the case witt
Burg list unser Gott." and the " Doch Won Bitter
fern i'm Weston gluht es7 1903, and also in TIN
| Berner MarSch" The solo parts will he rendered
by native artists, viz. Berna. Frau Julia Uzziel
Ilaring; Helvetia, Frau Klein Alderman; ant
BaSewind, Herr I. Burgmeer.