The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-12-22
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the crashing of stones in the thunder barrel and
the shreking of pipes, calculated to instl into
the MIST obdurate heart wholesome fear OF what
the hereafter might have in store for the unre-
pentent.
The final spectacle of the stage the carpenters
erecting paradise. High placed above
everything ese it dominated all the It's
occupants God the Father God the Son and the
blessed angels were hoisted up into it by mechan-
ical lifts, and when the angels wished to descend,
for instance the night of the nativity, over
the fields Bethlehem, they did so suspended
ropes. It hard being God angel, for
there little chance to get down and stretch
ones legs. With these heavenly characters abode
four others-Peace, Mercy Justice and Truth, in
imitation of Arstotles four cardinal virtues.
Such were, in the MAN, the mansions and
the characters for which the carpenters had to
provide, and the eight days succeeding the mon
stree grand parade were especially busy ones
for these artisans.
Early on the morning of December "a the long
awaited representation began. The vast market
place was thronged. Every box was filled with the
gentry; the ropedin space in front, out to within
some yards of the stage front, had been covered
thicky with straw, and here the ground sat thou
sands, while the open stretch Immediately in front
of and rather below the level of the stage was
filled with crowds parading back and forth. Alto
gether 1t was a glorious and eager gathering.
The learned doctor whose midnight toll had
prepared the doggerel, and whose weeks of labor
had rehearsed the players in their parts appeared
first in a short prologue After exhortng his
listeners to silence, he described for them briefly
the substance Of what about to be presented
on the stage, and admonished them to take tc
heart the lessons of the mystery. AS he retired
to a convenient angle of the wall Of Herods house
whence he might advantageously be in position fol-
prompting the actors, deep lamentation broke
out within hell 1t was Adam greving the sad
and fallen stale of man.
Thus the play goes on for two days. passing
now to limbo, whence the prophets issue to forete
to mankind the coming salvation, to Nazareth to
Bethlehem and throughout the whole cycle of the
nativity. When Christ is born in Bethlehem he'll
redoubles its efforts, and Lucifer rolls about the
stage In mighty orgy of blind fury. The images
OF the idols In the temple at Rome fall crashing
from their pedestals, and, high above all, the an
gels in paradise, or lowering their ropes above
the fields of Palestine. chant majestically the
praises of the Creator and proclaim the "Pax IN
ferris"
Curious is the final scene It is placed in Rome
in the chamber of Augustus. The emperor dressed
like French duke, is seated on a fancy chair
loaned by the mayor of Rouen Evidently he is IL
at ease He Is reading scroll of the Sibynt
writings wherein he finds distinct prophecy tt
the effect that Messiah is to be born in Palestine
In Bethlehem of Judea. More and more disturbed
he becomes, and he PAGES the floor of his cham
Der he rectes his woes in doggere French, &C
companed by a wealth of gestculations. The SUI
is already down beyond the gables to the west O
the market place his monologue comes to al
end With a sudden inspiration, he falls to hi
knees and worships figure of the virgin that mi
raculously appears the wall Satan and hi
crew give final salvo and the crowd rises stiff
to it's feet and wends it's way back to the home
and taverns Of the city, much moved by the spec
tacle it has been witness of for two whole days