New-York tribune., 1900-05-27

supposed be; the point shall be further treated
hereafter.
The twenty-eighth production of the Oberam-
mergau Passion Play has been shown the world
this month, and it IS altogether likely that it will
be seen by many more people than any of the
previous twenty-seven. Every time that the Pas
sion Play is given the knowledge of it spreads
more and more people resolve to it. Moreover,
this year unusual numbers of people will be started
on European journeys by the Paris Exposition, and
many of them will be drawn to Oberammergau as
an interesting point OF journey already under
taken; and, again, Oberammergau is easier to
reach this than it has been before
The railway goes there now, and everybody seems
be sorry. But glad or sorry many more people
will be likely TO go Just because the railway will
make il so easy.
SOME HISTORICAL DOUBTS.
Every pretended history of the Passion Play
should be prefaced with the remark that some Of
the details Of it easy to ascertain even by
persons who visit the place itself. The people of
Oberammergau have two notable accomplishments
carving wood and playing the Passion. History
Is not one OF their accomplishments Ask Of
them TO talk about history with you and he would
probably take the easiest in his power to
get rid Of you politely. for they all polite a
person of orderly mind historical tastes should
take time and make a business of it he could
doubtless work a better history of the play
than has been made. In the mean time the
best authorities disagree some interesting points.
For instance 5 eminent authority as Dr. Karl
Hase is vague as the period the beginning of
the present century during which the play for
hidden by the Bavarian Government. The present
writer is of the opinion that only production,
that which should have taken place in 1910,
affected but the information obtainable is not
clear. Again, DR. Hase says that the occasion of
the play a first a disease of the fax. while
everybody else who has written the subject, in
Guiding DR. Rase's English editor. the Rev. W. w
jackson. says that it was epidemic among the
people themselves
There are those who speak of the plague with
some particularly, and even give the name, Cas-
par Schuchler, of the man who brought il to
Obersmmergau. He a Iaborer il is said who
lived in the village, but was employed at the time
IN a neighooring village. The plague was all
around. but not at Oberammergau. A careful
quarantine maintained. but IL was not quite
careful enough 10 keep this from the graft
hoation Of mad and ignorant impulse to come
home anc see his family. He had the plague when
he came, and he and his whole family died OF It.
SO much for the result of misguided affection
Then the rest Of the people of the village began 10
have f. Eighty-four OF them died from il in a
little over month, and thar must have been a
large number for small a village and MANY
more were sick
A VOW MADE AND KEPT
Then the villagers thought that the time had
come for serious measures. They held a meeting
and made a that if the plague should be
stayed they would play the Passion OF Christ every
ten years forever That hour the plague was
stayed. There deaths and no more
new cases. That was in l635 and the play was
given for the first time in 1884 II should be noted
call IL by its most comfortable name which has al
ways distinguished the Bayarian Highlands
As the play OF Oberammergau stands $ the last
Of the medieval religious plays. so it among