The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1904-01-01
A COLLECTION OF HANGERS.
One of the Interesting Sights in the
New Bavarian National Mu-
scum at Munich.

The great charm of the new Bavarian
national museum at Munichperhaps lies
in the fact that its collections were made
first and its building afterward. This
method has resulted in unusual harmony
and surprises at every turn, writes
Emma Ernestine Porter, in Christmas
Managers" in the Century The architect
has planned arches to be borne by stone
columns from early Roman Bavaria, and
rooms to be ceiled by genuine. panels
from the middle ages; he has cut door
ways to fit the worn doors at his COM
mand, and has built vaulted chapel to
hold the wealth of ecclesiastical treas
ures.
Among the many individual collec-
tons Of the museum, by far the most
original is the s0-called "Krippen-
Sammlung." or collection of managers.
To the ears of Protestant America this
expresses little or nothing. and seems
to be a more appropriate department
for a county fair than an art museum.
But the Roman Catholic church, in it's
constant appeals TO the eyes and ears
of its followers. has. through long CEN
turtles. invented some very beautiful
methods of teaching little children, as
well as those children of an older
growth, the unlettered and the untaught.
Thus it is that the holy sepulcher is still
built on Good Friday in many foreign
churches. while on Christmas eve the
story of Holy Night is represented to
the eye by group of little figures gath
cred about manger.
Whoever has happened on such scene
at Christmas time in Catholic church
in our own country has doubtless been
more impressed with the originality Of
the method than with any artistic merit
in the figures; but in the land of artists
across the sea, much skill and beauty
have been wrought into the little Christ
mas managers. These have been part
of the equipment of churches and mon
asteries for centuries. but in times Of
disestablishment and poverty many Of
them were scattered abroad. About
1000 have been gathered into this
SCHNEIDER collection at Munich which
represents German. Austrian. NeapOli-
tan and Sicilian workmanship, and for
variety and interest leaves nothing to
be desired.
Imagine if you can, hundreds of lit
tie figures-dolls, if you choose. sbut
rather miniature men and women, for
most of them are carved with a skill
which amounts to art. So full Of life is
every line and feature that one half ex-
poets to see them move Some are of
wax but most of wood or bisque few
are only two or three inches toll. but
the majority are from eight to Is inches.
The cOlOring of the features is lifelike.
and the poses of the figures arc natural;
the costumes are elaborate. and would
charm the doll-loving little girl. while
the soldiers, clad in full armor. would
delight her brother as we'll
Many of these fascinating figures are
displayed in cases which fill several
rooms. but the most interesting part
of the collection consists of scenes actu-
ally arranged as they were every Christ
mas in the churches and monasteries
for which they were made. Great panes
of glass are set in the walls of dark
ened passages, and behind these are con-
structed miniature landscapes. the ex-
IRENE background formed by painted
scenes which seem to carry the eve for
miles. The only light comes from above,
and is so cleverly arranged that it adds
the last touch of reality to the whole.
In such settings the little figures are
so lifelike that one seems to be look
ing at human beings through reversed
operal glasses. or to be as near the land
of Lilliput as the thickness of a pane OF
glass.