Morning journal and courier., 1893-09-12
PARALLELS DRAmATIzRD.
The ProdfgaI Son and the Five Fool ish Virgins Presented By Negroes.

The Prodfga1 son ana tne FtNe Fool-
 ish Virgins Presented By Negroes.
 From the Chicago HerAid-I
 CAMP PoIsr, Ill, Aug. 20.-With songs and shouts, and the chanting SO peculiar to the colored race, wierd spectacle was enacted to-day and tonight on the camp grounds of the Christian Evangelist Asso- oistIon near this place. Saturday and to- day closed the exercises, and in the pres ence of the usual great throngs were enact ed, with solemnity and no little grotesque- ness; scenes from bible days and we'll known psrables-
 The first of series of three scenes from bible times began yesterday afternoon with the killing of the fatted calf in anticipation of the return of the prodigal son. An aged member of the camp meeting represented the ''certAin rich man" and two young men impersonated the cons. One remained at home like & good boy, while the other skipped out, ostensibly with olrous. Al ter a lapse of years, a Ia drama, 8 report gained currs ncy that the prodigal son. bad ly disfgured through the prevailing finan- cisl stringercy, was on the home stretch. In fact, 1t was rumored that he was some where near Clayton. The anticipated re- turn was duly celebrated from Saturday night until about 3 o'clock this afternoon, when suddenly the assembled thropg be- held the tattered prodigal hastening camp ward through a whestield. The aged fa- ther made haste to fall upon the young mans neck, crying: ."Whsr hab 70 been, 70 pore boyi Yo ise hungry; but dsr am chicken and wstsrmillion a plentyn A feast followed the greeting while willing hands placed @ crimson robe on the young mans shoulders. Luscious wstermelons | from the sand hills of Meredosis, on the | Illinois river, suffered during the repast. This spectacle was followed by the march | of the ten virgins. heyoung women were | fantasticslly arrayed and went through the performance of attending the marriage ceremony. The march was stately and was | accompanied by wierd chant. The grief and dismsy of the five foolish virgins who | had failed to provide themselves with suf | ficient oil for their lamps were dramatic. | The cTowning event of the meeting, the | closing act, was the ceremony of the chill | dren of Israel crossing the Jordon and lay | ing the twelve memorial stones. The gro | tesqueness of the scene was intesifed by | the torches utilized in the procession. | These cast sn unssrthly glamour over the \ surroundings, and intensified the impres- | siveness of the scene. Night had thrown
 a mantle over the camp grounds. and, with
 the assembled throngs, part of the time
 hushed by the impressive ceremonies, and
 anun murmurIpg surprise st the solemnity
 of the ceremonies that was irresistible. Of
 course, no river of Jordon with its walls of water could bs had, but one was impro
 vised for the occasion, and through 1t
 marched the triumphant hosts, singing and
 chanting ss they marched. It was the last
 hour of the meeting and the worshipers be | came more feIvid in their txhortations ss
 the night grew on To many the scene was
 beautiful one, and to all 1t was impres
 give. But by midnight the last song, the
 last shout, and the farewell prayer had
 been said, and solitude reigned around the I tented Rrounde.