The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1910-12-21

the sbrieking of Mines was calculated to inst into
the most obdurate heart wholesome fear OF what
the hereafter might have In store Tor the uhre-
pentent.
The final spectacle OF the stage the carpenters
erecting paradise. High placed above
everything else It dominated all the scene. Its
OCCUPANTS God the Father. God the Son and the
blessed angels, hoisted up Into II by mechan-
ical lifts. and when the angels wished to descend
as for Instance the night OF the nativity, over
the fields near Bethlehem. they did so suspended
on ropes. IT 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
Initiation Of Aristotle's four cardinal virtues.
Such we're 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 were especially busy ones
for these artisans.
Early on the morning of December "a the long
awaited representation began. The vast market
place thronged. Every box was filled with the
gentry: the roped-in 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 paradlng back and forth. Alto
gether IL was glorious and eager gathering.
The learned doctor whose midnight toll had
prepared the doggere and whose weeks OF labor
had rehearsed the players In their parts. appeared
first in n short prologue. After exhorting his
listeners TO silence he described Tor them Dreny
the substance of what about to b. presented
the stage, and admonished them to take to
heart the lessons of the mystery. As he retired
to a convenient angle of the wall of Herod's house.
whence he might advantageously be in position for
prompting the actors. deep lamentation broke
out within hell. 1t Adam grieving over the sad
and fallen state of man.
Thus the play goes for two days. passing
to limbo whence the prophets issue to foretell
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 its efforts. and Lucifer rolls about the
stage in a mighty orgy Of blind fury. The Images
of the idols in the temple at Rome fall crashing
from their pedestais. and. high above all. the an
gels in paradise or lowering on 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. II 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 Ill
at ease. He is reading a scroll OF the Skyline
writings wherein he finds distinct prophecy to
the effect that a Messiah is 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 rectes his woes in doggerel French. ac-
companied by a 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
Taculously appears the wall Satan and his
crew give a final salvo and the crowd rises stiaiy
its feet and wends its way back to the homes
and taverns Of the city. much moved by the spec
tacle 1t has been witness of for two whole days.