Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-21
GREAT PASSION
PLAY Of 1900
This Month the Famous Lrama is
Given by the Simple People of
the Bavarial TyrUl.

Munich, April 1O.-There Is a steady
stream of travel over the mountain
road which leads from Munich into the
Ea>ar;an Tyrol, where lies the village
Of Oberammergau, famous every ten
years for it's wonderful production of
the Passion Play.
" hundred and sixty-seven years
& there was a plague in Oberammer-
gau: the wars of Augustus Adolphus
of Sweden had spread a pestilence at
ter the fashion of the u~nsanitary wars
of those days; and Oberammergau was
almost riddcd of it's inhabitants.
One day the people, always devout,
met in the little church to pray. At
the close of the service the congrega-
ton made a vow that, if their prayers
OF dellverance We're answered, they
would portray the sufferings and pas
sion of Christ; and that, for all time,
the same play would be repeated every
ten years.
The Passion Play, in those days. was
the great drama, of the Christian
world; and it was therefore not diff
cult for the people to fill the different
roles and give the play with the rolling
grass for a stage n the mountains
for scenery.
In 1643 the Passion Play was given
again; and as time rolled on, and the
play appeared every ten years, it be-
gan to attract the attention of all Eu-
rope. Other places produced the Pas
sion Play at times, but in no town did
it have h setting afforded by Ober-
anlmergau.
The Passion Play today is not only
the great event in the lives of the peo-
pie, but their s~ustenance as we'll; for
though they are an unworldly set,
money flows in during that year in suf-
!lclent quantities for them to live dur
ing the next ten years.
Yet they are not an idle people by
n means. Anton Lark, one of the
principals, is the maker of those orna-
mental little terra Gotta stoves so well
known to those who lave Travelled
through Germany. Josepeh Mayer, who
took the part of Christ for two de-
cades, is a wood carver, gathering his
woods in summer and carving them in
winter.
Still. in spite of their simplicity, the
spirit of the world has pervaded Ober-
ainIlersau 70 a certain extent. A little
motor car now runs, over the unit
ful palac built by the mad KING Otto
of Bavaria.A~
A theater, too, has been built at a
cost of $5os9o0, and. though the stage
Is stlii open to the sky, the audience
ian slt under cover; four thousand can
De accommodated and those who visit
ed there ten years ago and sat in the
burning sunlight can now eniOv the
wonderful play in comfort.
NO mint OF extortion can be aimed at
the villagers, for their houses are
thrown open for the smallest sum i'm
aslnable and they will serve you for
a thank YOU" All are willing and
anxious to assist the stranger within
their gates and there is no part too
humble for them to perform in real
me. Ten years the Apostle John
IN the play was a waiter and Judas Is
CARROT assisted in bringing the luggage
OF the strangers to and from the stop
ping place of the stage coach which
mad conveyed them all from Munich.
II you want to go to Oberammereau
and will drop a line to the Burgomas-
ter: in English. French or German, YOU
Will receive prompt attention. Tell him
what date you will leave Munich. and
you Will find on your arrival in Ober-
ammergau a courier awaiting you.
Inc courier will conduct you to the
nome of a villager and you will have
2 room to yourself and a good seat at
table; no crowding is permitted.
You Will also find reserved seats for