The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-12-23
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some 10000 verses, and had rehearsed the actors
in their parts, SO that all was in readiness On
the morning of the twenty-fourth the play would
begin, in the market place Of the city, and by
the grace OF God it would be finished by even
ing of the day following. Let all attend The
crier then MAIDS proclamation for the mayor that
all shops save those of the victualers should be
closed on those two days. Citizens need have no
fear at leaving their houses unguarded for spe
cial troops of the archers would patrol the city,
and furthermore the gates of the town would be
closed against either ingress or egress. Let all
attendi
Now let US turn attention to the market
place It is large square in the center of Rouen,
into which the principal thoroughfares of the
city debouch. On all of its four sides is confu-
sion Along one entire dimension is being erect
ed a row of private boxes for the mayor and
other dignitaries of the town. and for such of the
clergy as are not impersonatng parts in the mys-
terry The two abutting sides are given over to
the yictualers, whose booths will feed the hungry
throngs during the entre'actes of the play. And
the fourth side that facing the private boxes, is
allotted for the stage In all, this structure COM
passes some 10000 square feet; but this small
space for the time represents two countries, Pal
estine and Italy-to say nothing of two realms
not to be located with so much geographical GER
tainty-paradise and he'll.
On its extreme left is Nazareth, and the house
of Joseph and Mary. In fact. the house Is all
there is to the town, except sign board In
Scribed with the name OF the place. Next 10
Bethlehem, typihed by an inn and stable, and
Just beyond Bethlehem lies a mansion" cur
tained-off square. At the appropriate moment
the screen here will be withdrawn. disclosing to
the eyes of the onlookers the band of shepherds,
watching their focks by night, and incidentally
making the welkin ring with the sound of song
and shrilling of the pipes. The field of the shep-
herds lies betwixt Bethlehem and Jerusalem, that
is to say, betwixt the inn and stable and the
house of Herod, which, stands for the holy city.
The next few feet leap oceans, for at the side of
Herod's house stands the temple of Apollo in
Rome the chamber of the Roman emperor and
the capitol besides the haunt of the Sbyl, that
strange figure of medieval church lore. who. pa
gan though she was. ranked with the Hebrew
prophets, and was celebrated in the greatest of
church songs. the dies Irae." along with David
Dies irae dies illa
Solvet saeclum in favila.
Teste David cum Sbylla."
Adjoining the house of the Sibyl is limbo So
close are they that during the course of the play
their inmates reach across the intervening
space and exchange the courtesy of a sip of wine
from the flask Limbo is merely a square tower,
with front strongly grated. 1t serves to hold
the materialized souls of such Of the worthy de-
parted as dwelt on earth during the old dispense
ton. Here will reside. during the two days of
the representation, the prophets the patriarchs
and select few of the pagans. Their lot Is not
an unhappy one-they live only in unsatisfied
hope They may we'll be content with their fate
when they look upon their neighbors to the right
at the end of the row of spectacles For here is
hell-mouth. OF all the grotesque and impressive
spectacles Of the mystery play, helmouth took
precedence. The most skillful carpenters and
mechanicians were employed in its fabrication
and the art of the most expensive painter was
none too good for its adornment When complet
ed. hell-mouth stood II or Is feet high. and as