The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-16
is A GREAT FRAUD
Prof Frank Dunkin Writes of
Famous Passion Play
GIVEN AT OBERAMMERG
Gives Local Traditions Con-
corning Its Origin.

Professor Frank Dunkin, of the W1ch-
| tia High school, who left several weeks
ago for the Paris exposition and tour
of Europe, attended the famous PAS
sion Play at Oberammergau and writes
from Berlin of the play as follows:
To the Editor of the Eagle: It is said
as far back as the twelfth century there
had been Passion Play at Oberammer-
gau, but later wars had wasted the
country so that the highlanders had no
time for its presentation. "A great pesti-
lence broke out in the surrounding coun-
try, and on account of the strict quaran-
tine Oberammergau remained free from
its ravage for a time. One good man
who was working in an adjoining plague
stricken village had an uncomfortable de-
sire to visit his family. A great retribu-
ton followed and in two days he was
dead and the plague which he had
brought with him, spread with great
rapidity. Sanitary and curative means
struck death followed. The Oberammer-
pented, and in token Of their penitence,
and as a sign Of their gratitude, they
would perform the Passion Play every
ten years. From that hour so the local
tradition runs, the plague was stayed.
Those who were stricken, recovered,
nor did any others fall victims to the
pesdlence. Thus it was that the Pas
sion Play became a fixed institution in
Oberammergau, and has been perform
ed with few variations, due to war,
ever since.
The building in which the Passion Play
is performed stands at the far end of
village which has a population of 1,4O0
persons, of which 6S5 take part in the
performance. The stage is opened to
wind and weather, but the seats are en-
tirely covered. In the presentation which
we witnessed, Judas in his rawlings, due
to remorse Of conscience, was severely
pelted with hail stone from local thun-
der storm. Surely just retribution upon
the character assumed. The outside of
the building is entirely covered with can
vass colored yellow. The hall holds only
1900 people, and the performance began
with one and a half hours intermission
for dinner. The play is given only on
Sundays and days Of Biblical interest,
unless the crowd is too large to be ac-
In that case the play is
repeated the next day. Three thousand
were turned away from the performance
which we attended. The principal events |
in the life of Christ from His entrance !
into Jerusalem to His ascension are pre-
sented in a dramatic manner, together
with many tableaux based upon figures |
and prophecies of the Old Testament, |
such as the raising of the brazen serpent |
IN the wilderness, and the miraculous
fall of mama.
money. While the stage settings and |
scenery are creditable, the acting is |
poor and it reminds one of some of Wich- |
ta's amateur theatrical clubs The Of |
icers in charge are robbers and frauds |
n the fullest sense. No one can pur-
chase an admission ticket unless he pays
,or room for two nights, whether it is
occupied or not, and a contract for tick
ITS is violated freely, and in many cases
tickets can only be had by giving a
tip" At low estimate $4,000 is spent
n the town from Saturday to Monday
The stores, shops and beer gardens are
'pen on Sunday the same as week day,
Ind no effort is made to enforce Sunday
closing. On account of the non-observ-
Lnce of the Sabbath the people cannot
'e honest and sincere. and their presenta-
ion of the life of Christ is blasphemy
md sacrilege. The makeup of some Of
he actors is inconsistent with the char
-cter assumed. For instance, Mary, the
mother of Christ, is 10 years old, and no
fort is made to disguise her age. In
rief, the Passion Play is a fraudulent
cheme advertised the world over, TO rob
he tourist FRANK DUNKIN.