The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-18

July 10th, 1910, found me With "a
party OF friends in Munich, the capital
of bavaria. We had not visited that
interesting city for the purpose OF
enjoying It's far-farned art treasures
and beautiful churches. though they
had been visited during the preceding
days. For us, as for thousands OF
others, the metropolis of South Ger
many was simply the most convenient
point from which to visit the little
village of Oberammergau which Is
some distance to the west, isolated
from the world by the grey Bavarian
Alps.
We reached the railway station at
an early hour and found the place
p scene of hustle and excitement. The
platforms were crowded. And such
q crowd. Every country In Europe
was represented. Every language in
Europe was heard. Perhaps we
should say every language of Europe
was spoken; for. above the sonorouS
German, or rapid fire Of French and
Italian, quite drowning the 'Pawdon
me- of some observation-disclosures
OF tho noise about him. was to be
heard the unmistaka'ble accent of the
citizens of Uncle Sam. Here was 70
be seen a party composed of business
men. wno accustomed to the crush
Of Brooklyn Bridge, pushed their way,
with easy. good nature. through the
fhrong with curt excuse me- or
look out there: there was party OF
ladies all talking at once and presided
over by a conduCtress who ordered
everybody about in English with look
and tone used In bringing n classroom
of uuruly boys into subsection. IL
was hard to say whether we we're on
n foreign platform crowded with
Americans or 30 American depot fill
cd With foreigners. Amidst all the
confusion there was spirit of good
nature which appealed to everyone.
save perhaps the almost distracted
officials.
A run of couple of hours through
country which knows no ancul-
tiyated OF waste places. hroUg 1t It's TO
the mountains surrounding the Am
mcr Valley. AS VIC approached our
destination the first object which ar
rested our attention was the cross
on the Kopfel. keeping guard over tn
valley and it's inhabitants. 1t is right
and Just that It should be so. for, the
lives Of the people of this valley are
spent In q study OF the story Of the
cross that they may tttingIy repre-
sent IL to the world.
village a. cosramTergau.
The village CT Oberammergau is
situated in a valley on the northern
side Of Ike al-s when divide 32vdi
ion from Austrian Tyrol. II Is about
equal distance from Munich and Inns
bruck. Seen from the mountains il
is 90 ideal village in an ideal set
ting The white walls and green
hluds Of the houses look clean and
fresh In the bright sunshine. The
homes are not built In regular streets
but group round the church, which
witb it's mosque like spite so COM
mon in Southern Germany AM Aus
tria. forms the center os the village.
In every Tyrolese village sue church
Is the centre moi only in location but
morally and socially. The people as
semble there every morning Tor Holy
Mass and in the evening for night
prayers. Near the church are the
school house and village hall where
all social functions are held. In f'ber-
ammergau the church Is the very key
stone OF the arch. The red and grey
tiled roofs on either side of the crys-
tai Ammer. seem to cluster round its
spire nesting under the protecting
shade Of the eternal hills.
On arrival in the village we secur-