The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-11-06
RELIGIOUS DRAMAS IN PARIS.
How Holy Week is Observed in the
Ircach Capital.

low Holy Week IS Observed in the
Treach Capital.
The biliboards Of Paris during holy
week were covered with an array Of
placards mere closely resembling Sun
Gay-school lesson charts than theatre
cal posters. and the aspect CT the ad
vertising kiosk must have amazed a
stranger passing through the capital.
says a CORES pordent Of the Providence
Journal. Instead of "Snob,' Char
ley's Aunt" Monsieur Lohen5rin"
and Colonel Poqrcrbsune," one has
read The Child Jesus" mystery in hTe
acts at the Aabtgu; The Passion a
drama in FIVE acts, at the Porte-St.-
Martin; The Redemption" a drama
in five acts a. the Theatre COr2eille;
The Stations CT the Cross" with
music and living pictures, at the Bodi-
Mere: Joseph Of Arimathea," read by
N. COquelin the elder. on the same
stage; The Mother CT Judas" pre-
scented by the Society CT the Rosy
Cross, ard The Samaritan Woman
given by Sarah Bernhardt at the Re
Nuisance. Nowhere outside OF France
would one ind holy week observed IN
such way. The mere idea seems a
sacr.lege to tie English or American
mind, Lat the Partisan is made Of diff
ferc2t stuff. Religion represents fer
him a consolation, not a restraint, and
At al costs lie must have diversion
Sunday laws would drive him to in
slant revolt and a Theodore R00sevel;
would lie stoned in the streets.
The only way, in fact, to make him
a peaceful citizen IS to furnish him
constant amusement, and this is the
secret CT the part assumed by the GOV
eminent in organizing public festivals.
The church is also forced 20 take ac
count Of this same national charac-
teristiC. Otherwise it would soon lose
its influence, for the FrerChman's
bump Of reverence is notably small;
nevertheless he still retains a certain
RESPECT for the traditions of MS faith
and IS glad to reconcile his pleasures
with his conscience, if possible. For
that once he attends mass, however. he
goes to the play twice, and, unwilling
to change his habits even in holy
week, he calls upon the theatrical
managers to change their bills. Hence
the growing demand for mysteries"
or evangelical dramas, and the ready
supply furnished by the new genera
ton CT writer's. The first attempt was
made some years ago by the Theatre
Libre, or Free theater, a dramatic as
sCciatiOn formed for the purpose of
presenting works refused by the regu
lar companies not because OF their
lack Ct literary merit but because CT
their breadth Of thought. At that time
NillieTs &c LIsIe-Adam. in an article
bearing the uHsecniy title, Cur Lord
On the Boards" wrote:
AN entire group Of young authors,
having remarked that, quite apart
from all question Of talent, the mere
subject On this occasion, fixed the at
tention Of the critics and stirred up a
general controversy, have in their turn
set to work and promise 10 Geluse our
theate"s with electromagnetic fam
tastes, in which Cur Lcrd will figure
as one Of the leading characters"
His prophecy has been fulfilled to the
letter and today, instead CT ADAPTATIONS
from Shakespeare or Calderoa. We
have adaptations from the Bible
Never. however. have so many of them
found a Public hearing as this season,
and the more pious are beginning to
grow anxious as to the possible infu-
enco CT sEch Al Innovation c. tie gec-
PIE. They argue ard with Justice.
that when Virgin Mary, St Joseph and
even the Lori Himself, descending
from their affairs, appear before the
footli8hts under the gU;se of we'll
known actors and addresses iaevit-
ably associated IN CIR minds win
worldly AID often ig1che parts-tha
result cannot lie cIevat:ng. | myself
fostered grave Ir:sSiviugs IS I took nv
place in the Renaissance on Ne8nns-
day evening to assist a the first per
Torrance CT The Samaritan Woman. ="
To hold il Ey hand a program headed
in glaring letters, Sarah parnharft-
Photire," ard in smaller type below,
M. BrsEGont-Jesus," 10 realize that l
was going TO see Ii Toscl transformed
into the woman at the well and Mario
into the Christ. outraged ray sense Of
decancy Scarcely had the first lines
Of u. Ros.and's beautiful raen been
spoken, however, before all my
scruDlas vanished. Rarely, indeed.
have I heard Z b:AicaI sly more OK
quisitely told, and I am sure that in
TIE entire audience there was no
skeptic so hardered that re did not
feel thrill Of religious cxaltatton as
he listened to the uplifting story. N.
Rostand, approaching the enormous
difficulty CT representing worthily tbs
close CT the sacred drama, preferred to
take as his theme an event in the
earlier period Of Christs mission. be-
fore the dark forebodings Of the final
tragedy had cast their shadows about
Elm.
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