Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-09-13

more says that the locality of Obela
| mergau adds much to the impressive
ness of the Passion play.
The little village nestles in pictur-
esque valley almost on the watershed
of the Bavarian Alps.
Toward the east scores of streams
take their courses in the direction of
Munich, and the clear, rapid Ammer
runs through the town toward the
Planer sea Qake).
From long distance can be seen the
white walls of the village, with their
green window-shutters and themosque-
like minaret of the church. which is
the center of the town and in front of
which was performed the play during
many years.
But as you approach Oberammergau
nothing is as attractive and impressive
as the lofty Kofel Crag, which rises
hundreds of feet above the neighboring
hills and houses, and which looks like
a gigantic sentinel guarding the en-
trance to the valley.
After the noise and confusion OF the
great cities of Europe, it is benedic-
tion to rest Tor awhile among these
quiet mountaineers, VINO seem to &c
untouched by the baneful influence of
the outside world.
The little community possesses the
simplest form of democratic govern
| ment. A burgomaster is elected by
popular vote, buC the government is
vested in the hands OF the house
holders.
Among the 1900 inhabitants of the
village there is found no one who is
wealthy lin the American sense Of the
world, but the poorest have three
acres, and the richest own not more
! than sixty.
! At the sunset hour the village is
| filled with the music of bells. Not
only from the church tower do these
| sweet notes float out upon the hills
and valleys, but from near and far can
be heard the tinkling of the bells that
! decorate the cows, goats and horses as
they are driven from the meadows.
But the people themselves are far
more interesting than anything else
Is it not a remarkable fact that
| these men and women, isolated from
! the rest of mankind, pursuing quietly
! the even tenor of their industrial
lives, should be enabled every decade
| to astonish the world by wonderful
| dramatic performance?
Tho explanation is not difficult to
| reach. To the world the Passion Play
occurs once in 10 years, but the actors
who then appear in public live day by
| day lives that prepare them as no other
| school could for the portrayal of the
| characters they assume.
! Among the peasants in the fields.
among the maids and porteis in the
| boarding houses, among the walters in
| the restaurants and among the trades
men and wood-caryers in the shops,
| going about their daily duties, may be
seen those who on tomorrow are to
/ impersonate the greatest character and
set forth the grandest events of all
| history before an audience Of 1000
| persons gathered from every part of
the civilized globe.
Withou: doubt there is here to be
| found much native talent; but If we
| would reach a satisfactory solution of
the possibility of such performance
under the existing circumstances We
must take into account also the rever-
entail spirit that pervades this noun
| tain town, the influence of a vow made
! Ey 40 ancestors of these people hun
! dreds of years ago, and the stimulus
! and inspiration of a great idea and a
| noble ideal.
| The Performance.
The Passion play opens at o'clock
in the morning and closes at O'Clock
| in the afternoon, with an intermission
Of one hour and half.
The theater, which is built in a
meadow on the outskirts of the village,
was erected at the expense of the COM
| munity, each burgher being liable for
a certain proportion of the $4,000, ,ne
cost of the building.
The sky is the only covering above
tho stage; the seats for the audience
are covered by a roof supported by six
great arches OF iron, each having a
span of $40 feet and reaching height
CT So feet; "A doors lead into the build
ing, and from the sloping seats a good
view can be obtained from any part Of
tho auditorium.
The play does not set forth the
passion of our Lord merely but It
takes into account also the types,
figures and prophecies Of the Old
Testament The Old Dispensation
serves as a background for the new,
and the performance OF the Passion
Play is interrupted by scenes from the
Old Testament. which are supposed TO
prefigure the next event to be rep
resented on the stage.
Thus the Bible is presented az one
book, and the thought OF one OF the
oTiginators Of the play is carried out:
The representation Of the passion is
arranged and performed on the basis Of
the entire Scriptures"
The typical tableaux and the scenes
are made more impressive by the sing
. a = - f. O