The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-12-23
U0SEeH AW WY RRIW W AUNEEW ~ ~

the crashing Of stones in the thunder barrel and
the ~shrieking of pipes, was calculated to instil into
the most obdurate heart a wholesome fear of what
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, 1t dominated all the scene. Its
occupants, God the Father, God the Son and the
blessed angels, were hoisted up into it 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 wa hard being God or an angel, for
there was little chance to get down and stretch
ones legs. With these heavenly characters abode
four o~thers-Peace, Mercy. Justice and Truth. In
imitation of Aristotle's four cardinal virtues.
Such were, In the main, the mansions" AM
the characters for which the carpenters had to
provide, and the eight days succeeding the mon
stre' or grand parade were especially busy ones
for these artisans.
Early on the morning of December "a the long.
awaited representation began. The vast market
place was thronged. Every box was filed with the
gentry; the roped-in space in front, out to within
some yards of the stage front. had been covered
thickly with straw, and here on the ground sat thou
sands, while the open stretch Immediately in front
of and rather below the level of the stage was
filed with crowds ~parading back and forth. Alto
gether 1t was a glorious and eager gathering.
The learned doctor whose midnight toll had
prepared the dog9erel. and whose weeks or labor
had rehearsed the players in their parts, appeared
first in a short prologue. After exhorting his
listeners to silence, he described for them briefly
the substance of what was about to be presented
on the stage, and admonished them to take to
heart the lessons of the mystery. AS he retired
to a convenient angle of the wall of Herod's house,
whence he might advantageously be In position for
promrting the actors. a deep lamentation broke
out within hell. twas Adam grieving over the sad
and fallen state of man.
Thus the play goes on for two days, passing
now to limbo, whence the prophets issue to ~foreteIl
to mankind the coming salvation, to Nazareth, to
Bethlehem and throughout the whole cycle of the
nativity. When Christ is born in Bethlehem, hell
redoubles It's efforts. and Lucifer rolls about the
stage in a mighty orgy of blind fury. The images
OF the idols in the temple at Rome fall crashing
from their pfdestals. and, high above all, the an
gels in paradise, or lowering on their ropes above
the fields of Palestine, chant majestically the
praises Of the Creator and proclaim the PAX in
teAris.'
Curious Is the final scene. 1t is placed in Rome.
In the chamber of Augustus. The emperor. dressed
like a French duke. is seated on a fancy chair
loaned by the mayor Of Rouen, Evidently he is I'll
at ease. He is reading a scroll OF the Sibylline
writings. wherein he finds q distinct prophecy to
the effect that a Messiah is to be born In Palestine.
In Bethlehem OF Judea. More ard more disturbed
he becomes, aud as he PAGES the floor of his cham.
Der he recites his woes in ~doggerel French. &C.
companied by a wealth OF gesticulations. The sun
Is already down beyond the gables to the west Of
the market place ere his monologue comes TO an
end. With a sudden inspiration. ne falls to his
knees and worsnips a figure OF the virgin that mi
raculously appears on the wall Satan and his
crew give q hnal salvo, and the crowd rises stiffy
10 its feet and wends It's way back to the homes
and tayerns OF the. CITY, much moved by the spec-
tacle II has been . witness OF for two whole days.