The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
SPANS MYSTERY" PLAY.
Il SACRED PERFORMANoE IN THE
CATHEDRAL At ELCHE.

Feast of the Assumption Celebrate,
with Great Devotion This Month
The Image of the Virgin and a COP,
l. of the Play Washed Ashore mt BIch,
| It is not known at what period Of tn,
| Christian era the Mystery" play was flrs
| performed In the churches. but It must have
been very early, for in the middle Of the
thirteenth century such spectacles had beer
practiscd for SO long that they had al
ready assumed various forms. and were an
important feature in the devotions Of the
people. In Spain. always the most Catho-
Ito country Of Europe. these Mysteries OBJ
tanned more popularity and were adhered to
longer than elsewhere, but that abuses
orept in Is evident from tho code of AL
fonso X, prepared in 1850, which, after
exhorting tho clergy not to allow per-
formances incompatible with devotion to be
given In the churches, says: But exhibit
lions there be that clergymen may make,
such as that of the Birth Of Our Lord, which
shows how the Angel came to the Shep-
herds. and how he told them that Christ was
born. and, moreover, OF his appearance when
tho three Kings came to worship Him. and
Of His Resurrection, which shows how He
was cruciled and rose on the third day
but this they must do decently, and
In devotion. and in the great cities where
there Is an Archbishop or Bishop, under
their authority, or that of others by them
deputed, and not in villages, nor In small
places, nor to gain money thereby"
The only Mystery now performed in a
Spanish church is that OF Our Lady OF the
Assumption. or THE transition and glorious
assumption into Heaven of the Holy Mother
of God" performed every year from the
18th to the 18th Of August in the cathedral
Of the almost forgotten Moorish .1wn of
Hche. Elche, formerly Illici, is one Of the
Oldest cities Of Spain. and boasted an episco-
pal see in the time of the visigoths. It was
portance. and the remains OF Moorish build
ings. the miles OF tall palm-trees, the gar
dens. and lakes. which are still its chief
attractions. show that the Arabs spared
neither money nor talent in identifying It.
and as early as the ninth century they
established a perfect system Of irrigation
here that remains to this day.
But It is not the Moorish Illici that at
tracts the thousands who come pouring in
from all parts Of the peninsula at this time
of the year. It is Elche. devout, pious, and
Christian in her Mussulman setting. and ever
faithful to her traditions. Our Lady OF the
Assumption, the miraculous Virgin whose
statue is jealousy guarded in the cathedral,
plays the principal part in the Mystery, the
first act of which 10 played on the 18TH and
the last on the 18th Of this month
On the morning Of the Goth Of December.
1870, coast guardsman. Francisco Canto,
saw case floating on the water. and, as he
watched It curiously. the waves carried It to
the shore, leaving It at his feet. On opening
It the statue Of the Virgin was discovered,
and was borne through the town with great
devotion. 1t was transferred from chapel
to chapel. and finally, on December 7, 1885,
was definitely installed with great pomp in
the cathedral. II ia said that the manu-
script Of the play was found by the side of
the statue in the case. It was written In the
old Catalonian or Lemosin language, and a
few rare copies Of It are preserved, although
tho text has probably undergone a good many
alterations
For weeks before the feast the en-
tire town is in state of feverish ex-
pectaton and preparation. Accommo-
datlon must be provided for the
friends and relatives who invariably ap-
pear at this time, as well as for the num-
oers of strangers and tourists. The Ayunta-
miento gives the sum Of $500 pesetas. ap-
points the Caballero standard bearer, the two
chosen ones. and the master Of ceremonies,
md presents to the distinguished visitors,
,lergy, and participants in the Mystery, small
ans. on which are generally painted pic
.uresque and quaint corners of Elche with
he words. AvuntcmteHto Constitutional de Ia |
'iuddd do Elche. and the year. These arc
preserved by the recipients as precious SOU
'enirs. and are eagerly sought for.
The clergy in the meantime are busy trans |
orming the church into a theatre, and from |
august 10 all evidences Of its sacred charac- |
er disappear The affairs are stripped of |
heir ornaments. statues and pictures are re- |
moved or covered with cloths, and in front |
4 the choir. underneath the cupola, a small |
tage is erected. bordered by a wooden rail-
ng painted to look like marble. This Is tho
on which the principal scenes OF
he sacred drama are enacted. From the door
I the church to this stage narrow planks are
aid. forming a pathway for the actors. To
he left is a small tribune filled with red
ushioned chairs for the Ayuntamiento. An
normous canvas. on which are painted in some
that rude style. groups OF angels playing all
inds Of musical instruments. is stretched
Underneath the cupola. which 1t hides. This
3 heaven. where the Virgin will disappear
t the moment Of her Assumption. A con-
used mass Of chairs. benches. campstools,
oxes cases, and even barrels are crowded
nto the vast space on either side OF the An
ador, and the theatre is ready.
On the night Of August 10 the town ia in
n unusual state of animation; the Feast
as commenced. and peddlers do a fine busi-
ess selling fireworks. which burst and blaze
rom every corner and from every window
s continuously as they do here on July 4.
he gaiety is kept up until long after mid
light, but when the gray dawn begins to /
truggle with the fading moon the fireworks
ease voices that have been ahoutin0 md