The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1910-11-25

What thoughts pass through the mind
as one stands in the old Suabian home
and the church they attended, made
sacred to the memory by father and
mother now in the home beyond A
visit from an American is an event in
the experience of these people who have
heard so much about our country and
virtually all the relatives to the number
of 20 accompanied me to the trainwhen
| left.
Having purchased a ticket for the
Oberammergau Passion play before visit
ing the parental home, found it neces-
sary to cut my visit short, and so hurried
back to Munich via the noted cities of
Tuebingen and Ulm, arriving at /
O'Clock a. m. AT little after a. m.
it was already necessary to take the
train for Oberammergau, thus finding
me in rather unfit condition to see the
world-renowned play that lasts from s
to noon and from p. M. to 6p. m.
As the train brings us within sight of
the famous Bavarian village lying in the
beautiful valley, the immense turtle
shaped structure that seats over 1900
people comes prominently to view.
Formerly the play was given under the
sky as roof During the last decade
fine modern rooted building was erect
ed.
For any one who may not be familiar
with the Passion Play, let me say that
it originated in 1888 A plague was
among the people and they made vow
to God that if the plague were stayed,
they would present the story of the
Lords trials and crucifixion in the form
of drama every ten years This has
been done with the exception of the time
during the Franco-Prussianss war.
1t is the ambition of every vilager to
take part : Over 600 persons do take
part. No. characters are permitted to
wear what is false. This, it is evident,
gives a very realistic tinge and tone to
the play. Old men are necessary to
take the parts of the Scribes and Phari-
sees, Annas, Plate and ia the portrayal
of the Apostle John we have a young
man, whose fair face and long growth
Of hair give him feminine appearance.
There are many children taking part at
times. But the most interesting char
acter is the one who assumes to be the
Christus, a man rather well-pleasing,
with full beard and long hair
The play is a most marvellous pro-
duction. After "a men and women
come upon the stage clad in exquisite
robes, the prologue is delivered by the
man in the center, after which they sing
stanzas descriptive of what is to be pre-
sented This is followed by tableau
which gives scene from the Old Tesla |
ment typical of the work Of Christ. Then
the play opens with the scene that por-
trays Palm Sunday Chirst's en-
trance into Jerusalem, the children
strewing branches and singing. 1t is
beautiful and impressive. The buyers
and sellers are driven from the temple
by Christ, the tables overturned, the
words spoken: MY fathers house is a
house of prayer, but we have made it
den of thieves This Anglers the au
Lhorities of the Synagogue and from this
lime forth they plot to put him out Of
he way
The tableaus are marvelously fine and
he scenes dramatized very impressive.
is this true when Christ is
brought before Plate the second time
md there are over 500 people on the
stage. How they act like one man in
demanding the release OF Barabbas and
he crucifixion Of Him in whom Plate
aid, I find no fault! The man that
ook the part Of Judas is considered the {,
,est actor. And wonderful piece Of {
.haracter portrayal it was. After real
ing that he had sold his master into
he hands Of his enemies, he comes into
state 81 such despair that be does not
NOV which way toturn. Anton Lang, 1
he man who is Christus, seems 10 act
lis part with reverence and dignity
There are many touching scenesi in which
70 is necessarily the center. but when .