The Princeton union., 1900-09-06
EUR0PE PEAN SIGHTS.
A Letter from the Old World {

UNIONS SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT


the stable communicates directly with
the living apartments.
When we finally retired for the night
1t was to crawl between feather-beds,
that is the covering was the thick
spread Of down common in all German
homes, and glad enough we were of
this comfort for although midsum-
mer night it was very chilly. Our
room was evidently recent addition
to the houses, furnished with single
beds, new and clean, and just beneath
our windows the waters Of the Ammer
dashed along making, with the rains
soft patter a music that soon lulled US
to sleep.
At five o'clock the next morning a
cannon booming from the mountain
side an bounced the hour for mass in
the interesting little church only a
stones throw away and we remem-
bered half-formed resolution to at
tend this early service where those
who are to take part in the play repair
for season of hallowed devotions be-
fore entering upon the duties of the
day, but the rain was still falling and
recollecting the unusual tax before us
OF an eight hours sitting during the
performance, we snuggled down for
another nap.
Breakfast, consisting of buns and
coffee, was served at our lodging-house
but for all other meals Qunch at noon,
dinner at night we went to ''Barthol-
omew's.' This being entertained, by
the-way, at the homes of the people,
attended as it must be with some dis
comforts, is withal one of the most de-
lightful features of Oberammergau.
There are no company manners" one
who lodges with these simple villagers
sees them in their every day life,
homely but harmonious. the benign
expression of countenance SO notice.
able among them coming, as ene-writer
Ci7AbA1ollt gay AOC IL I'LL CA1ucuU
sanctity" but from an honest convic-
tion that they are living as the Master
would have them live. Their highest
earthly ambition is to render them
selves worthy of part in the great
| drama and from earliest childhood
the training of home, school and
church is such as will tend to develop
the qualities necessary for the attain
ment of this object. Children are
drilled at school in the repeating and
singing OF passages from the play.
Those who show special talent are
taken when older into the church
choir or orchestra and here, too, they
are given part in the professions and
dramatic representations of Scriptural
scenes on the holy festival days.
Naturally, as the performance of the
Passion Play is an act of religious
worship, it is given on Sundays and on
the holy days in the church. This
year it is repeated Mondays whenever
there are too many to be accommo-
dated at the Sunday performance.
Some of our party who were there on
one of these days said that the theater
was filled to its utmost capacity, just
as upon the day previous. When it is
remembered that the building will
seat 4,0O0 people, some idea may be
gained of the great numbers this sea-
son is bringing to the little peasant
village.
The audience room is now enclosed,
as is known, on three sides, so we sat
comfortably housed from the rain
while beyond the open proscenium we
could see snow forming upon not-far-
distant mountain the whole day long
These mountains, the nearer ones
verdure-clad and dotted with little, rus
tic sheds for hay, the more distant
peaks rugged and snow-capped, form
a most picturesque setting for the
stage with its accessories. The CEN
trail stage where are seen the tableaux
vivants is enclosed, on either side the
J streets OF Jerusalem are represented
and at the left and right respectively
are the homes of Pilate and Annas.
Extending from these toward the
\ audience room are covered passages
with arched openings through which
the members Of the chorus. thirty-four
) in number, emerge, meeting in the
center and forming a line semi-circular
across the front of the stage. -.
The part of the chorus is to explain
the connection between the tableaux
. and the dramatic scenes following.
This is introduced each time by the
choragus or leader, by a poetic recital
} of the coming events. Joseph Mayr
who enacted the role of the Christus
} for so many successive seasons has now
this part and his majestic presence and