Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-12-23
.OSEe9 AM /zARy ASR/>E AT 6EUZEHzW * As-

some 10000 verses and had rehearsed the actors
in their parts so that all in readiness. On
the morning of the twentyfourth the play would
begin in the market place of the city, and by
the grace of God it would be finished by even
ing of the day following. Let all attend! The
crer then made proclamation for the mayor that
all shops save those of the victuaers should be
closed on those two days. Citizens need have no
fear at leaving their houses unguarded, 1or Spe-
cial troops of the archers would patrol the CITY,
and Furthermore the gates of the town would pc
closed against either ingress or egress. Let all
attend
Now let us turn attention to the market
Mace It is a large square in the center of Rouen,
into which the principal thoroughfares OF the
CITY debouch. On all CT it's four sides is conlu-
sion Along one entire dimension is being erect
ed a row Of private boxes for the mayor ana
other dignitaries of the town. and for such or the
clergy as are not impersonating parts in the mys-
+arv The two abutting sides are given over to
tho victualers whose booths will feed the hungry
throngs during the entreactes of the play AND
the fourth side, that facing the private DOXes, Is
allotted for the stage In all, this structure COM
passes some TO- 900 square feet; but this small
space fer the time represents two countries, Pal
estine and Italy-to say nothing of two realms
not to be located with SO much geographical GER
tainty-paradise and hell.
On it's extreme left is Nazareth, and the mouse
of Joseph and Mary. In fact, the mouse is all
there is to the town, except sign BOARD III
scribed with the name of the place. Next is
Bethlehem typified by an inn and stable, and
lust beyond Bethlehem lies mansion" or cur
tained-off square. At the appropriate moment
the screen here will be withdrawn, disclosing to
the eyes of the onOOkers the band OF shepherds,
watching their focks by night, and incidentally
making the welkin ring with the sound OF song
and shrilling of the pipes. The field of the shep-
herds lies betwixt Bethlehem and jerusalem that
otvuiyt he
house of Herod, which stands for the holy city.
The next few feet leap oceans, for at the side or
Herods house stands the temple Of Apollo IN
Rome the chamber of the Roman emperor and
the capitol, besides the haunt of the Sibyl, that
strange figure of medieval church lore, who, pa
gan though she was, ranked with the Hebrew
prophets, and was celebrated in the greatest Of
church songs the "Des Irae," along with David:
Dies irae dies illa
Solvet saecum in favla,
Teste David Sibya.'
Adjoining the house of the Sibyl is limbo. So
close are they that during the course OF the play
their inmates can reach across the intervening
space and exchange the courtesy of a sip of vine
from the flask Limbo is merely square tower,
with a front strongly grated. 1t serves to hold
the materialized souls of such of the worthy de-
parted as dwet on earth during the old dispensa-
ton Here will reside, during the two days of
the representation the prophets the patriarchs
and select few of the pagans. Their lot is not
an unhappy one-they live only in unsatisfed
hope They may we'll be content with their fate
when they look upon their neighbors to the right,
at the end Of the row of spectacles. For here is
hell-mouth. Of all the grotesque and impressive
spectacIes of the mystery play, hellmouth took
precedence. The most skillfu carpenters and
mechanicians we're employed in it's fabrication,
and the art of the most expensive painter was
none too good for it's adornment When complet
ed hell-mouth stood II or Is feet high and as