University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-04-19

Let us imagine ourselves in an oPe
n marketplace, in the center OF an Ely
|. lish medieval town. 1t is early morn
e ing. On the previous day. banns nav
e been sent around and the entire vlllaS
e is fully informed i'm regard to the pleas
' ures of the day. The town gates ar
: closed. guards patrol the city to Keel
' the deserted houses from being the pre-.
: of thieves and to see that each man ma
left his harness. swords. and weapons
l at his inn and that all are behaving II
peace and i'm such manner as VIII re
dound to the glory of Christ. Fort!
days of absolution have been gained
from the Pope-a spirit OF peace ant
expectancy pervades the town.
, 1t is this religious faith in audience
and actors that has given the plays
their intense personal appeal, and tha'
is about to fill the rude lines with un'
written poetry. Months before, the
performance of Il series OF miracle
plays has been undertaken by the town
and all the inhabitants have been eager
To take part in the performance, Tor
such participation is a religious act, to
he counted unto the actor for right
eou>ne>>. \ solemn trumpet call. "le
cri du jeu.' has summoned all who
might desire. for the glory of Christ,
or the veal of their own souls. to as
>i>t in the representation. The vol
unteers have been required to place in
the hands of Il magistrate signed pa
per. wherein they made oath, on pain
OF death. or forfeiture of property, to
study carefully the role assigned, and
to be promptly on hand on the day of
representation. Here in England
where the plays are given by guilds,
each actor feels his personal response
bility to the guild. to his fellow towns
people, and for the reputation of his
town among strangers
At last the great day has arrived.
The market square. surrounded by
rows of quaint. narrow. gabled houses,
has lis windows alive with faces. Since
an early hour it has been thrOnged by
a motley multitude-Yorkshire rustics.
"rcen-clad yeomen. Young clerks and
>quires in many colored. picturesque
costumes. "owned and hooded friars.
kerchiefed women. here and there
knight in gli>tening mail. everywhere
hcg.ar>. children. dogs. all pressing to-
ward the lofty stage adorned with
crosses and >trcamerS. which rises in
the center OF the scene This stage
gives place 10 Others during the course
of the day. but one pageant succeeds
anothr 50 quickly that we scarcely
realize the shift of scenes: we are over
come by the actual performance The
principal Parsonage. whether needed in !
the be"innin" or not. comes first. He
has Il long speech. with befitting gray /.
itv and seriousness. Our fellow listen |
erS are eNpectant. eyes and ears intent /
on the entry and rant Of the hero and .
other characters. And we are not dis ,
whole range of Biblical +
and many nonBiblical dramas unroll
themselves before Us. The Deity.
clothed IN white. performs the actual
before our Very eyes by the
aid of lanterns. hawt horn branches. and
wooden images OF beasts. Lucifcr. a fine
serpent made with virgin face and
yellow hair. soon appears. only to fall
INTO the yawnin% hellmouth in compa-
ny with other devils. who. clothed in
white leather upon their first appear
'nce. soon re-appear Soiled and black
Ned by the awful horrors of hell fire.
Adam and Eve appear in white tights. I
'"on IL he whi>ked out of sight and
I'VE place to their children. We are {
at the extreme >auciness OF ;
IN unknown character. Gains plough :
10Y. and at the manner in which he ,
i"al> blows ~ the Yorkshire rustics.
ne first murder occurs in all its real
y. Next comes Noah with his white
air. lamenting over the sins of the
world. God descending from heaven 10 Il
id him build the ark Of refuge. ,be d
aunt> OF Noah'> >hrewi,h wife ,be :
Nely >cuffle that en-ue> between these d
enerabe worthie>. heads of the ONLY
lrtu"u> household lett on earth and t
he lahoriou- building Of the ark by IN.
hcumatic old shipwright. Even then o
l. stubborn dame refuses To leave her :
on the hill top. until the I
ave> >wa>h over her feet. and she
'mc> bounding into the ark in terror L
her life. Noah welcome. her v;,b
severe flogcing. because of her pr.. I,
lou> perversity. She retaliates bv call n
!" INN NAMES and by wishing him As
ell is all other husband. dead W. r,
20 81 Pau. stalking forth in the +,
'mpIete arEl"r of an advenrurous Il
night. and another >airt in a comnI.,a Iy
I>hop> robes. We behold the mar,,..r II
aced in all the ricor Of a Yorl.hir. II
inter We hear Herod and Pon,;us
Hate swear by Mahomet. and Isaac
IL,