The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-01-13
A COLLECTION OF HANGERS.
One Of the Sights In the New Bavarian
National Museum.

NdtiondI Muscum.
The great charm of the new Bava-
rian National Museum at Munich per-
haps lies in the fact that its collections
we're made first and its building after
ward. This method has resulted in un-
usual harmony and surprises at every
turn. 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 doorways to
fit the worn doors at his command, and
has built vaulted chapel to hold the
wealth of ecclesiastical treasures.
Among the many individual collec-
tions of the museum, by far the most
original is the so-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 county fair than for an art mu-
scum. But the Roman Catholic church
in its constant appeals to the eyes and
ears of its followers, has, through long
centuries, invented some very beauti-
full methods of teaching little children,
as well as those children of an older
growth, the unlettered and the un-
taught. Thus it is that the Holy Sep
ulcher 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 a group of
little figures gathered about a manger
Whoever has happened on such a
scene at Christmas time in Catholic
church In our own country has doubt
less been more impressed with the or
iginality 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 Christmas managers.
These have been a part of the equip
ment of churches and monasteries for
centuries, but in times of disestablsh-
ment and poverty many of them were
scattered abroad. About thousand
have been gathered into this SCHNEIDER
collection at Munich, which represents
German, Austrian, Neapolitan and ST.
Gillian workmanship, and for variety
and interest leaves nothing to be de-
sired.
Imagine, II you can, hundreds Of
little figures--dolls If you choose, but
rather miniature men and women, for
most of them are carved with skill
which amounts to art So full Of life
is every line and feature that ono half
expects TO see them move. Some are
Of wax, but most of wood or bisque
q few are only two or three inches
tall, but the majority are from eight
TO 16 inches. The coloring of the fea-
lures is lifelike, and the poses of the
figures are 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 well
Many of these fascinating figures
are displayed in cases which fill sev-
eral rooms, but the most interesting
part Of the collection consists Of
scenes actually arranged as they were
every Christmas in the churches and
monasteries for which they were
made. Great panes of glass are set
in the walls of darkened passages, and
behind these are constructed minia-
ture landscapes, the extreme back
ground formed by painted scenes
which seem to carry the eye 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 lfelike that one seems to be look
ing at human beings through reversed
opera'glasses, or to be as near tho
pane of glass.-From Emma Ernestine
Porters Christmas Managers" in the
Century.