Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-12-23

the crashing of stones in the thunder barrel and
the shriekng of pipes, was calculated to nstll 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
were erecting paradise. High placed above
everything else, it dominated all the scene. us
occupants, God the Father God the Son and the
blessed angels, hOisted up into 1T by mechan
ica lifts, and when the angels wished to descend
as for instance the night Of the nativity, over
the fields Bethlehem, they did SO suspended
on ropes. 1t 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 Arstotles 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 were especially busy ones
for these artisans.
Early on the morning of December "a the long
awaited representation began. The vast market
place was throEged. 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
thickly 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
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 or LABOR
had rehearsed the players in their parts, appeared
first in short prologue. After exhorting his
listeners to silence, he described for them briefly
the substance of what about to be presented
on 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, a deep lamentation broke
out within hell 1t was Adam grievng the sad
and fallen state of man.
Thus the play goes on for two days, passing
now to limbo, whence the prophets issue to forete
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
gels in paradise, or lowering 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. 1t is placed in Rome,
in the chamber of Augustus. The emperor, dressed
like French duke, is seated 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 a 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.
companed by wealth of gesticulations. The sun
is already down beyond the gables to the west Of
the market place ere his monoogue comes to an
end With a sudden inspiration, he falls to his
knees and worships figure of the virgin that mi.
raculousy appears on the wall Satan and his
give final savo, and the crowd rises stif1y
to its feet and wends its way back to the homes
and taverns of the city, much moved by the spec
tacle it has been witness of for two whole days,