The progress., 1904-01-16
A COLLECTION OF MANGERs.
One of the Interesting Sights in the
New Bavarian National Mu-
scum at Munich.

The great charm of the new Bavarian
national museum at Munich perhaps lies
in the fact that its collections were made
first and it's building afterward. This
method has resulted in unsual 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-
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 an art museum.
But the Roman Catholic church, in its
constant appeals to the eyes and ears
of it's followers, has, through long CEN
turies, 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
have been wrought into the little Christ
mas hangers 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
German, Austrian, Neapoli
tan and Siciian workmanship, and for
variety and interest leaves nothing to
be desired.
Imagine, if you can, hundreds of lit
tie figures-dolls, if you choose, but |
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 tall, but
the majority are from eight to 16 inches.
The coloring of the features 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
1elight her brother as well.
Many of these fascinating figures are
displayed in cases which fill several
rooms, but the most interesting part
If the collection consists of scenes actu-
ally arranged as they were every Christ
mas in the churches and monasteries
or which they were made. Great panes
IF glass are set in the walls of dark
sned passages, and behind these are con-
,tructed miniature landscapes, the ex-
RENE background formed by painted
'cenes which seem to carry the eye for
niles. The only light comes from above,
ind is so cleverly arranged that it adds
he last touch of reality to the whole.
n such settings the little figures are
70 lifelike that one seems to be look
ng at human beings through reversed
'peral glasses. or to be as near the land
# Lilliput as the thickness of pane of
lass.