The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-02-01

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| HOME oFSTHE PASSION PLAY
A DESCRIPTION BY The REV.
WIN. e. BARTON, D. -. 3,
A little village of 1,4oo, situated In
the BavarAn highlands. is preparing
10 care for fifty thousand American
visitors, and other thousands from all
over the world. Every "Wednesday and
Sunday. from May gill October, will
find this little town with three to four
visitors to every resident, and an eager
multitude viii Be Knocking al the
doors. Happy viii Be the tourist who
has made bis arrangements % advance,
for this :~ill be hard year for The
tracvtcr who trusts 10 luck b cher IN
mergau. Not only is that little village
prospee tiYely crowded already with
the tourists, but ships that sail for Gu.
rope during the height Of the season
arc entirely sold out, in many eases.
and It will BE difficult to secure hotel
accommodations IN many of the prin-
c!paI cities. Unless a tourist has had
much experience in European travel.
and has made ali his arrangements in
advance, Il vii! be better for him this
year to arrange his trip through some
reliable tourist agency, that has made
eeasonabie reservations.
In the Middl. Ages. when few pee.
Pile could read, and when the services
Of TIE church were m Latin, there were
three agencies that helped to popu-
lar knowledge Of The Bible. One was
the organization Of Companies Of
preaching friars. who iourneyed about
preaching as they went. Another was
the pictures which adorned the wall.
of the churches. a third was the
dramatic representation Of the Passion
Of Christ, y cry many communities
ilayed the Passion Play. But 1t grew
to be a gross and irrev:rent perform
anee. Judas was a clown, te provoke
the laughter Of THE crowd; and the
play was attended with great abuses.
SO that both the church and state com
blnetl to crush It cut.
in one single community. however.
it still fingers. In oberamnergau
solemn vow wac made in a time of
pes.iIencc that in return FOR the mercy
of God in snaring the lives Of the peo-
Pile. after Some hundreds OF them Rad
died, they would perform once in len
years this drama in memory Of the
Of Christ. To the people 0,
oberam:neraau 1t became a sacrament
ia! obligation. To them, the vote Of
Jesus seemed to apply. ...'.This do In re-
membrane OF ME" sis
And 50 1t comes about that once in
ten years the. world turns its gaze or
and people who yes
terday were peasants are known by
name and face throughout the world.
What is Anton Lang, for instance
He is potter. He sits at his little
wheel, and turns out small flower pots
and kitchen utensils, and deeoratee
them by hand with a certain rude art.
and sells them. And he Is happily mar
ried to bright girl Ct oherammergau
and has a family Of three small; chill
~
the streets OF obcrammeraau
a patient little donkey, their playfel.
low. But what will Anton Lang he
next summer. as he rides this same
little donkey across a stage before
which sit 400 people from all over the
world who follow him with breathless
interest till he hangs on the cross be-
fore them. his liva,n form outstretchcd
and uplifted for twenty-five minutes
of tragic suspense2 The eyes Of the
world will be upon him and his feifc"
townsmcn.
1t Is this sudden and almost shock
ING transition form obseurlty into
world publicity that gives oberammer-
= ..a 81 81
pau It's unique interest. It Is the corr
trast between these humble peasants
as they are at their work, and the
powerful interest OF that for which
they are to stand next summer that at
once inspire. and disInays. NO.
have been a guest in the ho,ne of
Anton Lang, have played will, his chil.
dren, turned the wheel In the pottery
and ridden behind tho. patient little
donkey, and it is al, very simple and
natural and peasant-I:xe. have sat
with him ate,is table, and .have bowed
Fl : - z air ). ! "