The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1910-12-23
yOSEPH AND hzARy ARRIE ET 6EDLEj4Z19 II AI

tho crashing of stones In the thunder barrel and
the shriekng of pipes, was calculated to msti INTO
the most 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 was paradise. High placed ABOVE
everything else, it dominated all the scene. It's
occupants, God the Father, God the Son and the
blessed angels. we're hoisted up into it by mechan-
cal lifts and when the angels wished to descend.
as for instance OIL the night Of the nativity over
the fields near Bethlehem they did so suspended
on ropes It was hard being God or an angel, for
there was little chance to get down and stretch
ones legs. With these heavenly characters abode
four others-Peace Mercy Justice and Truth, in
imitation of Aristotle's four cardinal virtues.
Such were, in the main, the mansions and
the characters for which the carpenters had to
provide, and the eight days succeeding the mon
sire" or grand parade 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 it was 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 exhorting his
listeners to silence he described for them briefly
the substance of what was about to be presented
on the stage and admonished them to take to
heart the lessons Of the mystery. AS he retired
TO- oIo IF ho wall Of DC
whence he might advantageously be in position for
prompting the actors deep lamentaton broke
out within hell. 1t was Adam grieving over the sad
and fallen state of man.
Thus the play goes on for two days, passing
to limbo, whence the prophets issue to foretel
to mankind the coming salvation, to Nazareth, to
Bethlehem and throughout the whole cycle Of the
nativity When Christ is born in Bethlehem hell
redoubles it's 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 on their ropes above
the fields of Palestine, chant maestically 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 a French duke is seated on a fancy chair
loaned by the mayor of Rouen Evidently he is i'll
at ease. He IS reading scroll Of the Skyline
writings wherein he finds distinct prophecy to
the effect that Messiah is to be born in Palestine
in Bethlehem of Judea. More and more disturbed
he becomes, and as he PAGES the floor of his cham.
Der he recites his woes in doggerel French, &C.
companied by wealth of gestculations The sun
is already down beyond the gables to the west Of
the market place ere his monologue comes to an
end With sudden inspiration he falls to his
knees and worships figure of the virgin that mi
raculously appears on the wall Satan and his
crew give final saivo and the crowd rises std1y
to its feet and wends It's way back to the homes
and tayerns Of the city, much moved by the spec.
tacle it has been witness Of for two whole days.