The Press., 1892-07-21


 The Passion Play of Ober-Ammergau, it is announced, is probably to be given in Chicago during the worlds fair. Ac- cording to the report in the Chicago "In- ter Ocean," an ampitheater is to be erect ed, with canvas roof, large enough to seat from five thousand to ten thousand peo- pie; scenery will represent the mountains which nature has furnished as the back ground at Ober- -Ammergau; Josey Mayer is to come across the water to represent the Christ, and others from Ober- -Ammer- gau will take other principal parts. "The play will not be spectacle, but a moral lesson illustrated" This is the promise; but we venture to say that it is one which neither money nor zeal can fulfill. The difference between the canvas, painted mountains of Chicago and the real moun- tains of Ober- -Ammergau will not be great CT than the difference between the com mercial spirit of the one place and the re- ligious spirit of the other. It will be easy to import the actors, but not the audi ences-and the latter determine the spiI- it of a performance. One might as we'll attempt to transport the solemn solitude and stiffness of Bavarian valley among the mountains into the midst of a western cyclone as to introduce the spirit of the real Ober-Ammefgau into the pleasure seeking rush of the worlds fair. "Ths project has reached" it is said, 'that T 1,,1 1l,o word remains to be said to make it effect ual. This is to come from the people of the United States. # serious objection ts raised, the ilea, of course, aotU be abandon ed." Italics ours. We trust that this serious objection will be raised in most vigorous and emphatic protest. The at tempt, even in the truly religious atmos- phere of Ober -Ammergau, to make drar matic spectacle of the Cflcifxion exert religious influence has been so doubtful | in it's result that the Roman Catholic I church has discouraged, if not absolutely prohibited, the continuance of the specta- cle. To turn the Crucifxion into a spec tacle to add to the attractions of the \ worlds fair would be 8 prostitution Of I the most sacred event of history to pug poses of amusement and money-makfng, in spite of the best efforts which the con- ductors might make to prevent that re- suit. Let the reader who has seen in
 Barnum X Baileys "show' the spectacle of Columbus imagine the Crucifixion rep resented with analogous scenery, and be- fore an analogous audience and in simi- lar atmosphere! And nothing could pre- vent the audience and the atmosphere from being one of curiosity and pleasure seeking ChristiGn Union.
 Norwich Bulletin: On square iron and steel, on boiler, armor, ship and tank plates, on iron and steel beams, girders and other structural shapes,-all these forms of iron and steel being made at Homestead, the new tariff made con- siderable reductions of duty. In those forms of iron and steel made at Home- stead there has been an increase of inn portations, during the year since the new rates went into effect, of about 17,000,- 900 pounds, as compared with the like preceding period. This has brought about an over supply and reduction in price. A few mills in this country have shut down and considerable number in Eng land. The fact that as many mills if not more have shut down there as in this country, tends to show that the duties have had little if anything to do with the depression in price, and the fact that mills have shut down in both countries is proof that the business is not at present renumerative to the manufacturers.