The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-13
THE PASSION Par.
Extracts from Letter Published BY he
qnssf.

ternoon with an intermission OF two
hours) 5000 people sat with GREATNESS
interest watching the progress OF events
that led up to the greatest TRAGEDY ever
enacted upon this earth. SO true u
nature. SO vivid the scenes, so perfect
the acting. that unconsciously one en-
tered into Il, with deepening ana ever
increasing interest.
Ar ( o'clock we were awakened by the
firing of q cannon and soon after hearu
the sound of music In the distance. Inc
village musicians were on their way 10
the church. where all who were 10 TAKE
part in the performance were TO celebrate
mass II is strictly a religious festival
and TO those who take part, 1t Is the &C
complishment of a religious vow, MADE
many centuries ago, when the country
was stricken by a great plague.
A little after o'clock we went down 10
the church. The first mass was just over,
and the crowds coming out, with a coun-
ter current going in, were so great we
were borne backwards out or the churcn'
after having gotten in, as poweriess 10
help ourselves as straws before the wlnu'
We succeeded finally in entering by an
other door, and the scene was truly I'M
pressive. Mass was being celebrated at
five affairs at the same tliile
We returned TO get cup OF conee, ana
hurry away to the Theatre as II is called.
We were not too early. Crowds coming
from every direction. all pressing eagerly
forward with breathless haste, could put
make me repeat the question
"What means this eager, anxious throng.
Who rush with breathless haste alongE'
We had been in our seats but a few
minutes when on the stroke OF O'CLOCK
n gun was fired. and the orchestra COM
nosed entirely of the villagers begun.
while the chorus of men and girls, all
dressed in white with colored tunics, look
their places on the stage
Every seat was taken, there was per-
feet quiet in the house and during the
entire performance scarcely sound was
heard, except now and then suppressed
sob.
The stage Is in the open air. with noth-
ing to protect the greater part OF those
engaged in the performance from elther
rain or SUM- The scenery Is rendered
more effective by the distant perspective
through openings on each side or the
stage while the mountains In rich green
fringed with dark frs, add much to the
scenic effect.
one feels transported back nearly 1900
years. and living and moving about the
these village people have managed to
bring their acting to such a state Of per-
lection.
Between each act there were two
tableaux, taken from the Old Testament
Scripture, typical of The scene which was
to follow. The first tableau was the ex-
pulson Of Adam and Eve from the gar
den by the angel with the flaming sword
symbolical of the fall; the second, the
demption. Adam and Eve, beautiful
tvpes of men and women clothed in pure
white lamb skins, are fleeing before the
angel. Paradise is in the background. In
the centre OF which is the Tree of Life
! full of rich, luscious fruit, and coiled
among the branches is the tempter In
/ the form of an immense serpent.
In the second tableau the Cross is
planted on a rock. a number or Angels
| (the little children) stand or kneel In at
titude of worship, while the chorus chant
| the anthem Of praise. Many or the emil
| dren have musical instruments In theli
hands. and looked like little angels. The
+ curtain was raised so long on the differ
ent tableaux we had ample time to study
| them in detail. The chorus had scarcely
| finished their song before the curtain
rose on the first act In the drama-the
| entrance Of Christ into Jerusalem. sing
ing and shouting were heard In the dis
lance from each side of the stage anc
I from every direction came rejoicing
crowds singing "Hosanna to the Son OF
! David" Bands Of children bearing pain
! branches strewed them in the way, anC
I'm the midst Of the crowd was seen th'
figure OF the Christ, seated upon an ass
with his disciples following. over hV'
| hundred persons took part in the process
sion. They advance very slowly, while
the Christ has his hand raised In th'
act of blessing the people, but his voice
is lost in the loud hosannas. lie Is
man of quiet, digniied and serious man
ner. and they say that In his lie M
beautifully carries out the HE he mere
undertakes TO represent.
The next scene is in the temple. Wher
he beholds the PROCLAMATION of the temple
he oyerturns the tables OF the money
changers, makes a scourge or the cords
and drives out the men with the sheer
and those that sold doves, exciting
against him the wrath and indignation Of
the people, who from that time cOhspr'
against him TO kill him.
The second series Of tableaux repre-
sents Joseph and his brothers in Dothar
when they conspire against him. Wisf
had time to describe all OF the tableaux
The gathering OF mamma in the wilder
ness the return OF the spices with tht
cluster of grapes from Eshcol and many
others. Every picture was so periec'
as scarcely to need an Interpretation
Following the scene where Joseph Is sole
into captivity the spectator Is CONFRONTED
with the Jewish high court or justice
the Sanhedrin. Caiphas. the high priest
was a magnificent looking man, dressed
I'm a long. flowing robe OF white cash
mere. with gold fringe around the border
having the Ephod of green and gold, or
| which was the breast-plate with the
twelve stones, representing the twelve
tribes of Israel. He had great deal o.
character in his face and most admira
bly, sustained his part.
Nothing could have exceeded the par
taken by Joseph Meyer, the man whe
represented the Christ.
Next TO him, the finest acting L nave
ever seen was by the man who personatec
| Judas. The struggle he had with himself
/ before yielding to the temptation; the
+ sullen. morose manner after he had made
no his mind to the deed; the fiendisf
look of hate with which he left the table
when they were at supper. the same in
tensided in the Garden OF Gethsemane
and then, when too late. the remorse-ii
was terrible, terrible. His tones still
ring in my ears, as he pleads with tn'
high priest, crying out in agony OF grief
Il have sinned, in that / have betrayed
the innocent blood" lie throws the has
from him containing the paltry sum fol
which he had betrayed his Lord, and az
| the thirty pieces OF silver ring upon th'
pavement the blackness OF despair gath