West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-04-18

ing of special interest that would attrac
any one to see the scenery. OF places o
grea, historical value.
The way most Americans arrange ,hei
TIP is through some of the tourist bureaus
For any ono not caring to bother With IN,
trouble OF making arrangements. this is
very cheap aud quite reliable way to do.
Thursday night, 10 O'Clock. August TO
1900, left Care del Est, Paris. We
crossed the frontier the next morning abou
O'Clock. About II we got 10 Bale, ol
Basel, where changed cars. While wait
ing for the train, got out aud saw man,
very interesting old places.
Leaving Basel about 9 p. m, had de.
lighfnl journey along the Rhine till Il 90,
too dark TO see. The scenery along this
famous old stream is beautiful. Just at dark
We passed the Falls Of the Rhine. When
the train stopped ! could hear the roaring OF
the falls, but l couldn't see them. AT Con-
stance, on Lake Constance, just in one edge.
Is the frontier between Germany aud
Switzerland. Here you see two lines OF
ou,posIs jus, few feet from each other.
The next morning | took a boat and
crossed over to Lindau and ON up the
mountain to Munich.
II was nearly p. IN. Saturday, so had
no time to lose, for II was very probable
then 10y the time | would get to Ober
Alnmergau | would be too late to get a
ticket for Marnau, the junction for Ober
Ammergau aud get on the train.
Just after going into the car. young
gentleman came in aud sat down by me.
lie, seeing was an American, began talk
ing TO me found he was secretary to the
American Consul at Munich lie passed
some pleasant remarks aud then he asked
me IT | was going to see the Passion Play.
! said was. Then he expressed some
doubt as to whether would be able TO get
lodging in ober Ammergau that night, and
suggested that could 20 on down TO
Oberau, village about 10 kilo metres from
ober Ammergau stay all night there, get up
early the next morning and walk up in time
to see the Play. took him at his sugges-
ton aud found very good lodgings at
Oberau.
Getting up about $500 and eating light
breakfast, started to climb the mountain.
The day was cloudy but no rain. The
roads were not bit muddy, and as kept
on getting higher every step, beautiful
views wep presented, the atmosphere
was so cXhilaraling, the little mountain
streams bouncing down over the rocks and
dodging under the bridges were so beauti-
ful. The outside of the road where Il
curves around hill, has stone posts about
feet high aud railing placed in them, to
keep teams from going down the mountain.
This walk through that bracing air and
picturesque scenery, although all the way
up hill, was one of great pleasure.
About 1890 Arrived at Ober Ammergau
and found the people already astr. II wasn't
that quiet little village as so often described,
but one alive with three or four thousand
foreigners going In and out of the houses
and stores, all moving on over towards the
"Speil IIause."
inquiring of Cooks where to get tickets.
They told me to so on over to the ticket
Office by the play house. There they in
formed me that / wonld have TO wait till Q
o'clock. But long before that time they
opened the window and I got four mark
place. was delighted that I was there,
aud lucky enough TO get a ticket. Going
on around with the crowd, / found had an
excellent position, right by the 10 mark
places.
Already the house was pretty we'll filled.
by the time The Prologue began every
available place was taken and the side
aisles filed.
Although the day was uncomfortably
cool and damp, the crowd kept almost
death silence through all nc play; only
when the scenery changing or singing
going on, was any noticeable stir made, and
right here | would say that the singing was
very good. Some Of il would be a credit TO
any troupe The leader and quite mum.
ber # the singers had good voices. They
were trained, OF coached this year by
gentleman from Munich.
little after noon they gave an inter.
mission I'LL 1890 for the people to 90 out
for lunch. The second half, IL possible,
was more interesting than the first At
times many people in the house would shed
tears, aswhen Christ was carrying the cross.
Whenever he fell, many women could be
heard crying.
The thing that affected me most was
when the soldiers placed the crown of thorns
on Chiisrs head, then one on either side
took hold Of pole and pulled the crown
down over his head. Though knew il was
only being played, yet could not help Civ.
iug way little. Johann Twink, whC played
Judas certainly did remarkably we'll, rs
did "Peter" and 'John." I had the good
fortune Of Siding by two Cerman-Amercan
ladies. who explained many things / didn't
quite understand, as the play is given in
German.
As soon as the play was over, hurried to
the station and maaagcd to get on the sec.
ond train for Mnnich
Will. in the audience arc many Of the
elite Of America and England, you see very
few of lh, better class Of Germans They
iauvh I'd fhr Au.ar,rsre To- e,,,te.e, a.. g.. g..