Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1910-08-16
Our Foreign Letter.
Charles Toson Ladies Cross the Alps and
Witness the Wonderful Passion Play.

Much of our pleasure this summer has
been our railroad travel. With the excep-
ton of two horrible journeys, one cross
ing the Apprentices. from Florence to
Venice through "a tunnels. and one tire
some and rough, from Munich to Lindan
we have found the railway transit slow
but delightful The country is always
interesting here in the Alps, there are ex-
qulsite views of lake, river and mountain,
with villages whose quaintness and charm
can hardly describe. In many places
the scenery is not unlike our own where
the hills are distant and blue. the fields
verdant with new mown hay. wheat not
ready for harvest and little corn about
IL inches high. When l remarked to a
Minnesota traveller that the soil was black,
she said, why SO is ours" and upon
| learning that the soil in the Valley of
Virginia is red. she thought iii must be
very poor"
Here among the pasture lands are won
derful stretches of buttercups. English
daisies and larkspur, popes and the Ger
man corn flower. The blossoms are enor-
nous in size and of gorgeous color. Yet
have seen nothing finer than an April
ride up the Cumberland Valley when APP
pie bloom and dogwood and the pale
green Of budding trees made the whole
world fairy-land of beauty.
Oberammergau the home of the Pas
sion Play is little town set amid noun
tains and grass lands such as have been
describing. To save the town from
plague two hundred years ago vow was
| made. the fu6lment of which has given
character and worldwide celebrity to
this most secluded spot in the Bavarian
Alps. To see these simple wood carvers.
a plain and honest peasant folk. fill the
worlds stage with such consummate
art; and with a feeling apparently Sc
genuine and pure. gives indeed food for
reflection in this rushing twentieth cen.
tury. Everywhere in Europe one is i'm
pressed by the fruit. magnificent and i'm
posing, of years of silent. patient toll
gardens on the terraced sides of mac
cessible mountains. astounding feats Of
masonry and engineering, buildings
whose solid walls have defied the ages
and whose rich decorations represent the
art of centuries, handiwork remaining
where hand that chiseled and brain tina
inspired have long since passed away
So is the achievement of Oberammergat
| flor it is verify an achievement, the life
work of the village and of many genera
tons of villagers. 1t was an exquisite
day when we saw the Passion Play. l h
vast theatre seating 5000 is under cover
but stage and stage setting are open, ant
the blue hills rising behind, the cedar
and the lovely summer sky might hav'
been those that overlook Jerusalem. TIL
full play of wind and sunlight height
ened the effect of labor and music. ant
made even more beautiful the wonderful
drama. Anton Lang. who takes tn
principal part, is comely, strong. force
full, of much finer intellectual fibre thai
we would have expected. He is potte
by trade. and the jars. plates and vase
of his fabrication are simple in line an
of good color. Of course they are muc
sought after by tourists. And indeed
will be miracle if the adulation c
travellers and their money does not spo
these humble villagers. Already thei
charges exceed those anywhere else /
: Germany. But the cost of the play
very great. and 1t is strain upon wi
lage of I. 500 to accommodate the hos
of strangers who are literally thru:
upon them. They begin their sem
weekly rehearsals in November. unde
the training of professors from Munich
Their costumes are rich and varied. an
r are frequently spoiled by the rain. TheI
r are 500 participants in the drama.
5 chorus of twenty-three women and se'
enteen men introduces each act, as
the old Greek tragedy, by an explains
ton of what is to follow. Scenes froi
, the Old Testament given in tableau, RI
lleve the tension and give backgroun
historic and prophetic to the events
., the lite of our savior. These begin wit
the entry into Jerusalem. and includ
the resurrection and ascension, and
these l shall not speak. 1t is thing t
e be seen once in life time. and shoul
= be regarded as a religious rite, as il
/ deed it Is. Someone said: why, a
70 these Germans around us are crying, e.
pecially the men," And in an audienc
! of five thousand the most absolute S
u lence and reverence prevailed. The d,
= ration of the play. eight hours. with a
s intermission from IL to 2, seems nj
to weary in the least. Naturally man
e of the parts are disappointing. Man,
u as the unfortunate Judas, Plate and I'll
d Chief Priest are magnificent. Altogetl
: er the impression is beautiful and real
+ 1t is relic of the past. full of poetr
Il and pathos. If IT is medieval SO is niue
:, else that is seen in every part of Europ'
A To ME it seems to rank with the art {
Raphael and of Michael Angelo. il
spired by simple faith and pietv fe
which our times afford no counterpart
/ 1t is pleasure to be in the little villag,
e to go IN and out among these kindly pee
+ pie. to observe their sincerity. to beliey
. in their religious inspiration. and to TAX
e for what they are worth the words {
+ their venerable pastor. now dead. VIII