The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-07-22

The Baltimore San thus speakers
wisely of the proposed rendition of
the Passion Play at Chicago, a thing
which cannot be criticised too severely:
''Strange to say, little has yet been said
in opposition to the proposed perfor-
nance at the fair of The Passion
Play" by the peasants Of Ober-Ammer-
gau. Many persons have never been
able to reconcile themselves to that
representation, ever as given at Ober-
Ammergau, where the drama is given
under the sanction of religion and sur
rounded by all possible safeguards.
If Christianity means anything, if the
story of divine self-sacrifce and suffer-
ing are to be accounted as religious
realities and truths, the last scenes in
that sacred life cannot be approached
in too profound spirit Of reverence
! and awe. Viewed from the Christian
standpoint, it may well be questioned
whether the portrayal of this theme in
dramatic form is not improper under
any circumstances, and whether any
mortal man can, without proclamation,
assume to represent the character who
is the central figure of biblical history.
At all events to the Christian, the sub
ject with which the Passion Play deals
is holy ground, and should not be made
the field for coarse sensationalism and
irreverent exhibitions 1t may be
tolerated, it may even be impressive
and touching. as produced in the re,
tired village where it has been present,
ed so long, far from the work-a-day
world, and from the thousand debas
ing influences that would surround il
in a great city and before mixed an6
unsympathetic assemblages. AT Ober
Ammergau the atmosphere, physica
and spiritual, is pure, sublimated, elevat
ing. ,r .. ~. *~.s
Ihe very situation, amid rugged
mountain scenery and the grandeur o.
natures masterpieces, appeals to thu
sense Of the sublime and attunes tn,
soul to the story that is so simply ant
yet 50 powerfully told by the -revefen
mountaineers. But in Chicago tn,
whole atmosphere would be changed
and though the drama might be per
formeaby the same persons as at ODER
Ammergua the spirit of the perform
anee, as well aY>the character of tn,
audiences, would be entirely different
The most sacred episodes in human
history, as we'll as the most far-reachins
andlmportant, would be lowered to tn
level Of common show and converte,
into an 1unhallowed spectacle for tn
amusement of curious and perhap
scoffing crowds. The idea should b
abandoned at once, and if it is not
christian sentiment will probably max
Itself felt even more unmistakeabl
than on theSunday question. Chicago
in this. as inpther things pertainingt
the exposition. has taken peculiari
grotesque and wild Western view
what a worlds fair ought to be. Il
chief aim seems No be to make a bi
dime museum Of the affair, and to pac
it as full Of sensational and curiou
things as possible without regard I
appropriateness or value. Jno. Brown
cabin atNHarper's Ferry is to be one O
the exhibits. andlthe Libby prison. i
Richmond. has been torn UP and tran,
ported there to please the curious mu,
titude. If Chicago could only preva
on John Browns soulto stop marchin
on for awhile, and induce him to oecu
Ply his cabin during the fair and Civ
an exhibition of his raid. his captur
and execution, that windy city woul
feel that 1T had succeeded in eclipsin
Barnum Nand getting up the create:
show on earth.