Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1910-12-23
.0SE9H AND I14RY ANpIlE ar AFNZEHxN = -

the crashing of stones in the thunder Darrei anu
the shreking of pipes was calculated 70 ns.'i ~
the most obdurate heart wholesome rear OF "ha'
the hereafter might have in store for the unre
pentent.
The final spectacle of the stage the carpenters
were 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 hoisted up into 1t by mechan-
ical lifts and when the angels wished to descend
as for instance on the night of the nativity. over
the fields near Bethlehem, they did SO suspended
on ropes It was hard being God or an angel, TOT
there was little chance to get down and stretcn
ones legs With these heavenly characters abode
four others-Peace, Mercy Justice and truth,
imitation of Aristotle's four cardinal virtues. :
Such were In the main, the mansions ana
the characters for which the carpenters had tc
provide and the eight days succeeding the mon
sire" or grand parade were especially busy ones
for these artisans
Early the morning of December "a the long
awaited representation began The vast market
place thronged Every box filled with the
gentry; the roped-in space in front, out to within
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 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 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 tt
heart the lessons of the mystery. AS be retired
to convenient angle of the wall of Herod's house
whence he might advantageously be in position fol
prompting the actors deep amentation broke
out within hell. It Adam grieving over the SAD
and fallen state of
Thus the play goes for two days, passing
to limbo, whence the prophets issue to foretel
to mankind the coming salvation to Nazareth, Il
Bethlehem and throughout the whole cycle of thu
nativity. When Christ is born in Bethlehem, hel
redoubles its efforts, and Lucifer rolls about thu
stage in a mighty orgy of blind fury. The images
of the idols in the temple at Rome fall crashing
from their psdestals, and nigh above ALL the an
gels in paradise, or lowering on their ropes abov
the fields of Palestine chant majesticaly tn
praises of the Creator and proclaim the Pax II
terris."
Curious is the final scene. 1t is placed in Rome
in the chamber of Augustus The emperor. dresse
like a French duke, is seated a fancy chai
loaned by the mayor of Rouen. Evidently he is Il
at ease He is reading scroll Of the Sibyllin
writings wherein he finds a distinct prophecy +
the effect that Messiah is to be born in Palestine
In Bethlehem of Judea More and dsturbe
he becomes and as he PAGES the floor of his chan
Der he recites his in doggerel French az
companied by wealth of gesticulations. The su
is already down beyond the gables to the west G
the market place his monologue comes to a
end With a sudden inspiration. he falls to hi
knees and worships figure of the virgin that m
racuIously appears the wall. Satan and hi
crew give final salvo, and the crowd rises stifl
to its feet and wends its way back to the home
and taverns Of the city, much moved by the spe
taele it has been witness of for two whole day