The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-09-28

from Munich, and the trip is most
delightful one, the scenery being pic
turesuue all of the way. The railroad
runs over the foothills of the Tyrolean
Aims and follows, for a considerable
distance, along the shores OF Lake
Stamberg-a famous bathing resort.
The shores of this lake are dotted with
beautiful homes, the finest OF all be-
ing the castle erected in memory OF
the late insane king of Bavaria. Ober-
ammergau is a quaint, old fashioned
village of 400 people, obscurely built
among the Bavarian hills-a little
stream called the Ammer runs through
it. Not many years ago the town was
accessible only by wagon, but now
the screeching of the locomotive
echoes among the hills. One wonders
how the village can maintain its sim
plicity and unconcern, which are the
strength and power of its marvellous
art, with all the world agape and DO
ing homage. The blight of self con-
seriousness has not fallen upon them,
they are retiring in their manner ana
possess that innate refinement that is
always attractive no matter now hlgn
or how lowly ones station in life may
be, The streets, with their npre-
tentious homes, are scrupulously clean
and are typical of the lives OF the
people. All of the homes are thrown
open to the public, there being only a
few small hotels there. Imagine what
a task it must be for such a small
town to care for so many visitors. In
1900 there were 100000 people there
and it is expected that the number
will be doubled this year.
The chief industry of the village is
wood carving and they sell quantities
of it to the tourists. Pottery is made
also, but only to limited extent. The
Passion Play had it's first performance
in 1888. The origin of it, as it is
handed down from father to son
among the peasants, grew out OF
deliverance of the villagers from a
great plague, and from that day until
the present, the Passion OF Christ has
been commemorated in Oberammergau
every ten years. In early days the
play was given in the church yard
and under crude conditions, but now
there is a comforta BILE theater with a
seating capacity of 1920. The audi
torium portion of the building is
rooted, but the stage is in the open
air, save for a background which is
partially painted scenery, the other
part being the beautiful green hill.
sides of Mount Koeful. The perform
ers are at all times exposed to the
elements and give the play with the
same grace in drenching rain or
hail storm as they do on calm, beau
tiful day. There are no make-ups,
no powder, rouge or wigs. All OF the
men and women who take part (and
there are nearly 5000 have long hair
and they wear it hanging full length.
The costumes are flowing garments,
some very deliberately embroidered,
these especially beautiful are worn by
Herod, Pontius Plate and high priests.
The costumes are, of course, correct
from historic point of view.
;e, ,bof
Wagnerian in style-it is pure and
classical, sweet and soft and chiefly
in a minor key with an undertone of
sorrow running through it that sug-
gests the sad story.
Father Daisenberger, the parish
priest of Oberammergau, wrote the
play as it is given today. Dedler, one
of the village school teachers, COM
posed it's strikingly beautiful music.
erything connected with the play has
come from the natives. They have
never sought aid of any sort from the
outside world. Ludwig Lang, who
drilled the performers, travelled ex-
tensively through Europe and ran
sacked the art galleries to get his
ideas for the costumes, groupings and
poses, but aside from this, all credit
is due to the people.
The play begins at a. m. and the
first part concludes at II; the second
part begins at 2 p. m. and concludes
at 6. Imagine any worldly play hold.
ing an audience entranced for eight
hours. The Passion Play does it.
was never in more respectful audi
ence, not even in any church, and that
respectful demeanor remained through
out the day. The keenest interest and
greatest appreciation were apparent
on every ones face.
The play consists of twenty-five
tableauX and acts, each being intro
duced by choir of forty people. Each
tableau is scene from the Old Tes
lament bearing upon the events OF