The Princeton union., 1900-09-06

are extremely beautiful and it is hard
to grasp the fact that they are de-
signed and executed by these noun
tain people without any outside help
whatever. These bright robes are
worn until the Crucifxion scene is
reached when they are changed for the
garb of mourning.
At the close of each recitation the
chorus divides, moves to the back OF
stage and the curtain of the central
stage is drawn revealing two success
sive tableaux, the first in each instance
representing a prophetic scene from
the old testament, the second from the
new testament showing it's fulfillment.
The chorus sings of their connection,
between the tableauN, and then retires
from the stage leaving it clear for the
dramatic scene which follows.
The opening tableaux represents the
expulsion of Adam and Eve from the
Garden of Eden, indicative of the fall
and the second shows the alteration of
the cross, typifying redemption. This
is followed by the scene portraying
Christ's entry into Jerusalem. This,
the first appearance of the Christus,
we awaited with bated breath and. 1t
was in no sense disappointing. Anton
Lang, the Christus of 1900 is scarcely
less than ideal for the part to which
he has been assigned. Nearly five
hundred take part in this grand pro-
cession and the calm dignity with
, which he comports himself among
them, his majesty of mien in the Tenn
pie scene seem, truly, to partake OF the
divine. Nor is this sweetness of in
terpretation once forgotten through
all the affecting scenes that follow; the
parting at Bethany, the last supper,
Gethsemane, the scourging, the bear
ing of the cross and the crucifxion
where the death is so painfully realis-
tic as to be almost beyond the endur-
ance Of the onlookers. Again at the
where he is seen for a moment upon
the brow Of Olivet and then slowly as
cends into the clouds his power and
and sweetness never desert him for
one instant-one cannot help being i'm
pressed with the conviction that for
the time be truly feels himself the
Christ.
Anna Flunger who personates Mary
the Mother is eminently sweet and
womanly, Peter Rendl is an ideal John
and Johann Twink as Judas is incom-
parable. Marvellous, indeed it is that
this last mentioned part can be so
wonderfully rendered for naturally,
with these people so filled with love to
the Master it is the character most
dreaded.
All the characters, in fact, seem
most perfectly chosen and it is indeed
surprising to nCte the great likeness ol
the faces to those made familiar to US
through the paintings of Leonardo da
NlnCl and others.
1t is natural, perhaps, that to many
the performance of this great play
should seem sacrilegious but I have
failed to find this feeling among any
who have once witnessed it, Few, il
any, sit unmoved and the hush that
falls upon the audience fingers after
the precincts of the theatre are left
far behind.
From S A. NJ. to $50 P. M. with ar
intermission of one and one-half hours
at noon is the prescribed length O.
time for each performance. 1t rain:
very frequently and many make the
mistake, as we did, of going totally
unprepared for cold and wet. In spite
of these di5comforts, however, the day
passed all too quickly and we returned
to our lodging place feeling that thu
expectations which had grown with
years of waiting were more than real
lied.
During the afternoon the sun burs
suddenly through the clouds, lighting
up the snOw-crowned peaks, the hill
green-clad and the stage with all it
settings, bringing out the gorgeou
colorings of the costumes and resting
like benediction upon the face of tn
Christus in the scene before Plate
Once more from the windows of ou
room we saw its rays rest for a momen
upon the cross of the lofty Kofel, tn
marble group of the cruciixion stand
ing we'll up on the mountain-side an
the pretty, masque-shaped dome of tn
village church, darting down to kis
the waters of the Ammer ere taking
final plunge behind the western hills
and again it seemed a benediction.
We visited the church and the store
filled with the beautiful specimens {
wood-carving for which these villager
are famed and again seeking the CON
fort of our feather-beds, fell asleep t
the music of the rain.