The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-16
Passion Play
Letter Describing the Great
DecenniaI Event at Oberammer9au.

From q relative, Mr.. A c. Jobes, OF
this city. has received the following very
interesting letter from Oberammergau,
Bavaria:
Oberamuiergau, Bavaria, June, "A, 1905
Ny last letter brought US over the hill
of Ettal into the valley of the Ammer.
The quiet town to which we were max
ing a pilgrimage is not in its exterior
unlike other Highland villages Of Ba-
Haria and get there was subtle some
thing that made II different. At first
felt It was the influence left with them
OF the thousands upon thousands who
have come TO their little hamlet in the
decades since 1884, later it seemed TO me
something infinitely more subtle than the
effect Of one human being upon another
The village is just at the entrance OF the
Highland, one direction your eye Ioi-
lows the broad plain toward Munich,
and Immediately back Of you, hill upon
hin crowds toward the summit OF the
Tyrolese Alps. Additionally, the town
consists Of wide spreading roofs, brown
or red. as tile or wood prevail, while the
white walls. flower filed windows and
cleanliness Of the houses beneath tel
their own story for the women Of Ober-
ammergau. A few homes are three
stories high with pointed roofs and bril-
liant frescoes. There may be three de-
hned streets, but the houses are dropped
down wherever they could be convenient
~ put, and rising apparently from the
center Of all is the Byzantine dome of
church tower. which seems TO throw its
protecting shadows over every roof-tree,
and as the people gather morning and
evening there for worship you feel Gods
house is their common home.
After the church spire the most promi-
rent features Of the landscape are-the
Dukmal given by Ludwig II and the
cross crowned Kopel. the one
pIGced on prominent hillside is a large
stone monument consisting Of a oruci-
fix with Mary and John guarding the
cross; the other is high mountain crag
with a cross that CLEANS white in the
sunshine planted upon it
So. constantly, as you look about you
these things bring to your mind the
story OF the Christ. OF the people how
can I write. it is 50 difficult TO express
feeling in language. They are thoughtful
serious faced, simple minded, merry. with
none q the nervous fretted tension on
their countenances that marks our pee
PIE. It might perhaps be truly said they
look stolid and have not what we call
the expression Of culture. Surely they
are not daily following the plague
in India. the war in Africa. the Siberian
railway, the Chinese puzzle. gold in
ALASKA, and wheat crop in the .Dakotas,
but they have learned in whatsoever
state they are Herewith TO be content
and life IS not a Question of attenuated
Intelligence with them. but of faithful
service. Many I believe who go to this
valley from far and wide. acknowledge
70 their own souls if never to their
neighbor these people have chosen the
better part Almost every man in the
village is a land owner we are told. and
the town government rests with az
elected BurgOmaster ana - house
holders. Their wealth after the manner
Of the Highlanders is in COWS. Here. too.
one Of the pleasantest sounds Of the day
IS the tinklirg of the many bells-cows.
horses and goats all wearing them and
one Of the best sights the stately home I
coming Of the herds at night.
But Obsrammergau has a phase OF /
life that is wholly its own, code of 4
mobility unique in The world. This. Of !
course centers around their Passion Play. (
Those who take part in the presentation |
Of this solemn festival. mus. belong to /
the village permanently, not only the in I
dviduaL but the family. They are
chosen by a committee composed Of the
the Priest and forty-fve /
If these cannot decide between 1
two. the choice rests with the village
by popular vote.
There are a hundred and twenty-five
speaking parts. To take one of these
parts a mans moral character and re-
isious life. Il the two can be separated.
mast be above reproach: to be given one
Of the principal parts he must add to
this dramatic power and appropriate
physiogn0my and physique. That family
Is most influential morally socially and
politically in Oberammergau who.
through the years. has had the most
members assigned part in the Passion
Play. Every child of the hamlet is
taught from his youth Up that his way
II help his family to higher influence
4 nd greater prosperity Is 10 so live thar
be may be chosen for a part in the
Passion Play. as young man. and hold
e place there decade after decade.
AS yoP look over the history of the
town. and the old prints it shows. you
End a picture under which is printed
the name followed by Grandfather Of the
Mary o. 1900. or ChristUs Of such a year.
Erandfa the- Of the present Christus.
The John Of this year is twenty-nfne
years Old. and was chosen for the same
Part ten years ago. Joseph Mayer who
speaks the prologue this year. took the
art OF the Christ in %. 50 and 80. is Cow
e. Andrew Lang, who was given by 1
popular vote the part Of the Christ this ,
ear is only twenty-five. It seems 10 me
his fat and this alone. makes IL pos
sible 10 understand Oberammergau.
Family prestige depending upon the I
number If members chosen through the
ears % take part in this presentation.
ri ability To be chosen depending first
e an upon moral haracter. II they do ,
ot remain pure in heart the Passion
'av cannot be riven. There would be !
10 one 10 take the parts their vow is
-eEer To lose their simplicity in their
a slntain hamlet Would be 10 lose their
clision and their vow is lost T. IL :
we're Eot for this II would be nothing I
h'-t OF miraculous that this people e
an. decade after decade. present the I
tory II the Passion with absolute sim :
ticity and profound soismaity and de- c
0tioa. c
TIE crowds are immense ard drawn
here from every possible motive. but =
Re house holders q Oherammersau
7sm no part of the crowd Those tax :
- pa-- in the presentation are paid t
hst they would presumably make IN o
Re time given 70 i. Il IS rehearsed for :