Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-25
AT OBERAMME RGAU.
The Passion Play and the SIM
pie Peasants Who Give II.
The Journals Correspondent Visits the
Homes Of the Principal Actors.
Wonderful Influence oil The PLAYA Visit 10
village Shrine.
Oberammergau. j

conceived than that existing between the
most fashionable, elegant, base q cities
and the plain. humble deVout little vii
lage. far OFF in the Bavarian Mountains
While in thought and purpose as lar
asunder as the poles, yet through the time
and the hour, inevitably theE are con-
nected-together concentrating on them
selves the attention of the world. It Is
not possible to visit these two places In
this exceptional year to look at all the
achievements Of centuries AZ shown AZ
the Paris eXpoSition'-then later al
Oberammergau see peasants enact with
deepest reverence the Passion Play,
without receiving impressions as vivid
and lasting they are unusual While
many reasons determined US to witness
the representation. our thoughts ana eN-
pectations We're all unfaVOrable-eVery IN
stinct every prejudice cried out against
it, That each adverse thought and feel
ing has been wholly changed, is but a
feeble acknowledgment to the power oi
the impressive scenes. one strong desire
we purposed to crafty, II possible. At
any cost; this was to secure our abiding
place in the home of some one of the
leading characters. Our wish to come in
contact with the people, to near them
talk. to know somewhat Of their daily
lives is one, we know. shared with many
who visit this our OF the way spot In
spite OF early application to Oherammer-
gau. we merely received a receipt, enti-
Ting US to what is termed tirst-clasS ac-
commodations; the invariable rule being
individual places are only assigned the
day previous to each representation.
1t is needless to state, the very earliest
train leaving Munich on the eighteenth,
found US ready ana waiting. Plctuf-
esque landscapes on the way meant for
Us but little, our eyes ana minds were
absorbed In every published German and
English text and description OF the play
attainable The three hours ride was
over before we had read half rs the
crowded train stopped, each passenger
hurried OUT along the slretch OF road
leading to the "Wohmings bureau" our
desire carried us swiftly on. Till we
reached the pam square pubic building.
We TOOK our places almost HrSt IN me.
anu IN Il moment T. turned eNSiumlhS
loEluly. WI W. are " nt II lht mousse ~
POntiuS l'llate-nur seats ~ the middle
OF the the9ter about ten rows from the
front me most unusual thlhS ABOUT
the village, unuu"Su"nahlE Is me people.
one has hut 70 spend an h0ur in bher-
ammergau 70 realize ~" wonderfully an
al ptrEaulhS thought Iur centuries mas
stamped Itself upon the human counte-
nance. me type 81 lace Is wholly eNcrp-
ti0nal, not only as among peasants, put
differing from any elSeWHerr seen. Miid,
earnest serious the httie children even
JOCK with grave eyes. IRON INFANCY 70
r!d aS' one lde;i d9InlIilts' controls thtlr
lNrs-the fdSsl"n ildE. H. u strange ITS
fnhuehte Is maze manifest IN look ana
manner! We followed niue Hans. our
guide. t. FRAU Rauer's home, feeling We
were indeed transported ~ different
age Inc small ComtnrtlbIe. low stud
Died house was plainly furnished, hut
decd they VIII All IIAhiF welcome YEN.
was our hostess assurance, IN answer %
onr inquiry
Later, emb"ideneI by the encouraging
words We started ,fnr tine vine covered
home ~ Anna FRnEcr which WE cOUlL
see snort dlstlnce iiIm rs. the door
was opened by the Maria" of many
pictures, serious dark-rEcd girl of
twenty, who talked with MS freely Saying
in most simple way "Nu. / am mpt merry
Gus. my only thought is Ii cxprcy. IN
what and It all f,..I. ,,F
one interesting face upon the wall she
said, This is my aunt, She was thr Ma
donna many years ago" AT our request
across her picture she wrote her name.
and with parting thanks We turned To-
find the house Of Mary MaEIdalene. 1t
IS not difficult 10 learn the WHY Of Oher-
ainmergaUS one street ana soon We
reached the inn, where we found Bertha
" off serving many guests sclt-pOsSeSSrd
unaffected In her speech like an. II can
not remember when / ala NOT long II
have some part" was her earnest ans
wer to a question. "As little children all
our plays are from the Bible ana We an
en- The alternate days before the play
one and all. 60 about their duties. ia
many this seemed incongruous but to lis
was most natural, as MOI placing them It'll
any way above or separate from lnoSr
around. Each hour brought new crowds
of people whole families of peasants
came on foot titled men and women
walked through the street All grades he
tween commented ana Looked with eappr
interest. High priest and Pharisee guar
dian angels with long hair flowing tn their
shoulders passed bv us. THAT surely IL
Judas" we cried as we caught Il IN .sinp
glimpse of n sharp Jewish face After
learning he was the John of twenty vears
ago we found IL difficult i'm looking IN ~
pictured youthful. beatific coIntenance
10 reconcile 1t with the black. curling
locks and wholly changed expression of
the Judas.
We crossed the bridge to the small
wooden building whose windows were
filed with many carvings which bore tho
name of Peter RendI The first glance
within showed imnadiatpIv Job3npe-
The long dark slightly waiting hlir ~
clear cIlt features with ia indascrih
ably mild vet strong expression are
shown i'm his nhotogranhs uxactlv as thev
are Tho unusuaIlv Inv voice tha nordilr
hand CLASH Are for us abiding memories
Throughout the time there vas a name
less uiIiet in the very air ono Thought
predOminated among the thousands Gath
cred which showed IN look ana snppch
While We stood watching the ceaspiess
movement IN and down the street we
heard far off strains of music Nearer If
came and passed the orchestra for tho
coming day All things connected with
the play must have their birth in ODER
ammergau. no person taking the slight
est part but natives of the village Jed
Ter. the writer Of the Passion music WAS
born here more than q century ago. ana
still is honored as their first composer
There is much melodiouS beauty in this
II - Il.