Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-03-24
TELEeRAPHIc eRevlTIEs.

the first time in the world, II Is said
OF the Passion Play"
A few mcnths ago company OF
Partisan artists was brought here tn
produce the piece. AS soon as 1t was
announced the church authorities
frowned upon it, but did not absolute
ly forbid it. There was little public
interest at first, but yesterday fully
5000 persons tried to get into the
great hall of the Monument National.
the French Canadian National build
ing, where the performance is given.
The news went abroad and last
night street cars in st, Lawrence
street the Broadway OF Montreal.
were stopped by order Of the police
under the thousands who were una
BILE to gain admission to the hall
1t was even worse today At the
matinee business in the immediate
neighborhood was practically sus-
pended, and all traffic was stopped for
nearly half an hour. No theatrical
performance here has ever attracted
such tremendous crowds.
| When an attempt was made ten
years ago to play the piece, Archbish-
op Fabre forbade it, and it was called
off. but this time the new archbishop,
Archbishop Bruchesi, has only 50 far
declared that he will consider the
matter very soon.
| Meanwhile, whole church congrega-
tions are turning out to see the pro-
ductions, which. of course, is not an
exact reproduction of that given at
| Oberammergau. No audience in this
country is likely to remain through a
nine-hour performance.
The version used here was prepared
| by Germain Bealieu, advocate, of this
city. It consists of five acts and sew
en- tableaux. The play opens with the
scene at the entrance of the temple
and the triumphant entry of Christ
into Jerusalem. Then the last sup
per is presented the Garden of Geth-
semane and the kiss of Judas, the pal
ace of Pontius PLATE, and the con-
domination of Jesus: the road to Cal
vary, Jesus falling for the third time,
and the crucifixion. The closing
scene is the ascension.
The characters are assigned with
regard to the accepted idea of their
personal appearance, the performer S
lcapacity for acting and such reasons
as would apply in casting any drama.
The company is from France, and is
augment by men and women who have
on various occasions in Montreal
shown histrionic ability.
The audiences are composed of
some, no doubt, who simply go to see
a dramatic spectacle, but as whole
the spectators are most reverential
in their demeanor Well delivered
speeches win applause, and beautiful
final tragic scenes come on the vast
assemblage is hushed into absolute
silence, and the deep feeling of an
emotional people is most apparent.
Some of the scenic and mechanical
effects are most startling, and the
company seems thoroughly alive to
the solemn nature of the task it has
undertaken, the noble lines as rule
being delivered with thrilling power
The performance appears largely to
have been accepted here with some OF
that religious fervor which character.
ICES the audiences at Oberammergau
and those who attend number many
who are not usually to be classed as
theatergoers.
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 90
The fight which the Democrats of the
house have undertaken in behalf the
Boer cause is predestined to defeat
laccording to statements Of the Repub
lican leaders. At the Democratic eau
Gus last night the Randall resolution
lpledging the Democrats to use theiI
efforts to force a report to the house
of one OF the pending pro-Boer reso
lutions, was unanimously adopted
The fight will now be carried before
the committee on foreign affairs. II
lis quite likely that the committee will
vote against any action, as Republi
can leaders are determined there shal
be nothing done by congress in re
gard to South African conflict.
| GALESBURG, ILL.,, March 2O.-Af
ter treatment for months for suppos
ed acute Indigestion, an operation OF
Matilda Ward, aged 20 years, has re
l
that the vital organs were uniting
) and closer observation established thu
fact that the adhesion was caused b.
chewing gum of which Miss Ware
had been constant consumer for th'
past eighteen years. She will recov
err
NEW YORK, March 20.-Collis F
Huntington's estate Is being inven
torled by state officials to get at in
/ heritance tax. The estate will
: amount to about twenty nine milliol
2 dollars.
( The executors find an enormou
2 number of notes made by friends @
, deceased and representing loans mad
lby Huntington Most of these note
? are not collectable. The magnate'
? heart seems TO have responded heal
S tily to calls for assistance.
= HAVANA, March 20.-Governo
T. General Wood left for Washington las
: night at the request of the presiden
+ Governor Wood expressed disapprovs
g of the bill granting tariff reduction c