The Irish standard., 1902-04-05

inc peasant population or ODcrnm-
mcrgau is quite astonishcd to find that
so ordinary an occurrence as the be-
trothal of two of it's number should on
cite tho interest of all the great world
beyond the Alpine peaks which hem in
that little Ravnrian village, says a vi
emma correspondent of the Chicago
American. ....
These simple villagers do not see
even the elements of Il romance in the
happy cOurtSlIip of Anton Lang. who
sits all day ut his spindle faslioning
clay into pots and jars: nor any special
significance in tho fact that he has won
for his wife Mnthildc Ruiz. one of the
industrious female workers of tho
thrifty little town.
Tt is hard for them to realize that in
every center of civilization throughout
the world Anton T.nn"'S namr is IA
milar as that of the one man in Chris
tendon who impcrSOnatcS the ChriStus
uDon tho public stage. ana that Ma
thildc Ruiz is another important mem
her of tho Ohcrnmmcrgn,l company OF
Sinlplc-minlcd ami simplc-ivine peas
ants who in 1000 presented the "pas-
sion Play" before such immense and
distinguished audiences as never as
scrubbed before to- witness n dramatic
performance.
But there is still another reason why
fashionable society in Vienna. this EN-
r0rcan metropolis nearest to Ohcram-
nl"r"nI. is discussing this hctrothnl as
the nrrtticst romance of the time Ma
tllildr Ruiz has not appeared in the
character OF any one of tho women
who figured in the life OF Christ She
has not distinguished herself in tho
part of Mary. the mother of Christ
except as 81 substitute ut one perform
anrc when Anna ITIungcr was unable
to apprnr--nnr as Mary Magtlnlcn:
most OF the time she has been behind
the scenes. ana ut other times has APP
pcnrrd among the chorus for her part
in the performance is to sing in the
choral part Of the "Pnssion Play"
And Anton Lang. prior to being So
lcctrd for the part Of Christine great
est honor that can fall to a citizen of
OIrrnmmcrgAu-w only n humble
member of the chorus. Now back to
the chorus goes the star Of the COM
pnny for his wife. This is the finish
ing touch TO the romance, which has
captivatc1 the Vicnncsc. .....
It is whispered. too that Anton Lang
did not win his bride easily Though
| she sang much behind the scenes and
impcrsonatcd no Biblical character.
she was sOoist of the company, and
her rendering of the "Mystical Song"
made her famous. If Anton Lang had
remained merely an ordinary MANI
! Well. IT is only since the present tri-
/ umph achieved by Lang ut the per-
Torrance of 1900 that his suit has
prospcrcd.
Inquiry in the village of Obcram-
mcrgau shows that Anton Lang has
been devoted to Miss Ruiz since the
summer before the last performance
Of the "Passion Play" This was in
1890, and he was then twcnty-four
years old. She was about four years
younger, and the daughter of Herr
Ruiz. the village blacksmith.
Tn Oberammcrga,l, as in most old
country villages, the man Of the forge
and anvil is among the most public
spirited citizens. He is often the best
educated, and nearly always the most
energetic and cntcrprising He is gen-
orally either literary or musical; If the
latter. he is sure TO be either leader Of
the choir or of the local band or Or
chcstra.
Next to Joseph Mayer. the Christus
of three successive performances, Herr
Ruiz blacksmith, was the most i'm
pOrtant citizen of Oberammergau. His
part in the "PassiOn Play" was that Of
Nic0dcmus. He was also prominent in
the management, MS was to be expect