The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-01
Elazl lin lUN[IMI SNyNkdNNcNR5yI

wear full skirts with brightly colored,
tight-htting hodices, q kerchief plaided
across the breast. and invariably
large, spotlessly white apron. The
dress OF the men Is that Of the typical
mountaineers, with knickerbockers
laced at the sides and ornamented
seams. They wear the inevitable
plume In soft felt or straw hat. In
stead OF stockings the men wear a
tightly wrapped bandage which comes
just below the knee. The general color
Is green, seeming to imply that the
(, people desire as near as possible to
keep to nature in their environment.
| AS is generally known. the main oc-
cupauon OF the men Is that OF wood
carving the product of which industry
Is sold largely In nearby towns and
IN Paris and Liverpool by George Lang,
relation OF Anton Lang, who takes
the part of Christus in the play
The surroundings of the village are
reminiscent Of the power and old-time
reverential splendor of the Bavarian
Kings and the relics of the Napoleonlc
wars OF the eighteenth century In
particular the monastery of Ettal is
closely bound up with the history of
the village. 1t was founded in the
| fourteenth century by the Emperor
Ludwig to commemorate his safe re-
turn from his journeyings in Italy. It
has passed through many hands, be-
ing alternately owned by monks and
knights (but 1t is now in the possess
sion Of the Benedictine monks, who
originally owned It,
In close proximity to the village is
the Linderhof. the one-time favorite
resort of King Ludwig H.. who was SO
lar enamored of the palace that he
spent small fortune in making adj
ditions to 1t, and 1t is now open to
visitors, who compare its luxuriousness
with that OF the palaces of Louis XIV.
Tho parish church. with which are
associated such names as Ruchus Ded-
Ter and Father DaIsenberger Is we'll
worthy of study, besides the Group of
the CrucifHton." the Morocco House
and the Chapel Of ST. Gregor.
II Is not the aim of this brief arti-
Gle to tell much OF the story of the
play, other than to say that 1t has
been performed almost continuously
since the early portion of the seven
teenth century. The text has been
rewritten and revised several times.
the last version being that of Father
Weiss. whose pupil, Father Joseph
Alloys Daisenberger. became the village
pastor and rewrote his masters YER
sion. which will be presented this year
Everything connected with the play
is the mental. moral and physical pro-
duct of the villagers, even to the de- |
signing and making of the garments, |
Ludwig Lang and Joseph Mayr being !
largely responsible for the designing |
of the costumes, Of which there are /
more than ZOO while Miss Joseph Lang
and the village steamstresses devote |
themselves lovingly to the task OF
making them.
The play is divine sermon and a
drama of wonderfully artistic mount
ing. John Twink. who takes the part
Of Judas, is in private life delight
fully simple and charming man. Anna |
F1unger, as the Virgin Mary of the
play, is as noble a woman as one could |
conceive In the part. while Anton Lang
seems to blend into his dainty life the
simplicity and devotion to the people
and his noble mission that the part
OF Christus would suggest. Thomas
handle as Peter, Peter Randle as John.
and Sebastian Bauer as PLATE, and |
dear old Joseph Mayr as the Prologue
sponsor, are specially to be commend
ed for their splendid work