The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-19
PASSION PLAY IS
IN FULL SWING
And the Village of Ober- Am
mergau Is Crowded
A RACE FOR BIG SHIPS
II Is Up to England to Say When 1t
Shall be Called OF Among the
Nations-CoPgress of Free
Christianity
A RACE FOR BIG SHIPS

Berlin, June 1s-(Special 1.-THE Passion
Play at OberAmmergau is now in full
swing and the little village in the Bava
rian highlands, which for nine years in
each decade differs little from the other
little villages in that part of the world,
is crowded to its capacity with visitors
and will be until the cool days come in
September. 1t is safe to say that every
American tourist in Europe this summer
has Ober-Ammergau in his itinerary. So
much has been written about the place
and play that I do not intend to bore
you with any description but had a talk
recently with Fraulein Helene Lang, sis
ter of the man who plays the part of
Christ and to whom is assigned the ask
of dressing the play, and from her Sc
cured some information which 1 think
will prove interesting.
I found that she cuts out every single
garment worn in the play and that eacn
garment is made by Bavarian peasant
women under her immediate supervision.
Fraulein Lang did not understand much
English but she kindly took me to some
of the women who were at work on the
garments.
| The greatest pains are taken to make
the decorations as brilliant as possible.
| Every sham is avoided Even the hair
and boards are real. No cheap, tinselly
stuffs are used. Only really good mate
rails are employed, which cling to the
body, fall in graceful folds, and can stand
sunlight and rain. This naturally costs
good deal of money since every ten
years part of the costumes must be
renewed, the old ones having been used
up for rehearsals, cut UP. or otherwise
| spoiled.
| Fifteen to twenty thousand marks are
] given every ten years by the Passion
Play committee for this purpose. The
| principal characters wear rich wooden
stuffs, silks and real gold trimming The
| Jews and the Roman soldiers appear in
| these costumes, which the traditions of
| the middle ages have handed down to
us, while warriors in shining armor, exc
| cutioners and menials can satisfy the
most exacting taste.
Whilst going from one house to an
other F'raulein Lang gave some figures
relating to the play. She told me, for in
| stance, that one of the finest costumes
has cost nearly 800 marks.
| Asked as to the number Of the costumes
needed she replied: about 1000'' so the
Ober-Ammergau stage will have big
cast Fraulein Lang informed me fur
Their that this year she had had to cut
out more than 900 extra costumes for the
play.
| Then I asked 'my informant If she
would tell me anything about the salaries
of the players and she told me that each
player receives from so to 1900 marks, ac-
cording to the part he or she plays. This
sum is from May till September.
| Perhaps it may interest you to know
exactly what is done with the proceeds
Of the Passion Play. Many persons seem
| 10 imagine that the villagers are fat and
| fourishing. This is not the case. The
play sadly dislocates business. Many of
the players can do regular work for
| six months before the performances. for
| they have so many rehearsals to attend.
The Bavarian government has made a
condition that a full third of the clear
profits should be used, after all payments
of COSTS for the general and public well
fare of the Inhabitants of the village.
The new theatre has just cost ODER
Ammergau the sum of $4,000
1t is up to England to say when the
race for Dreadnoughts will be called off,
according to the Deutshhe Tages-Zei-
tung. That paper says:
If the English want to bring about
change in the naval situation let them,
as the overwhelmingly superior party,
take the Lead. We shall not all begrudge
it them. The Daily Mail and it's friends
must accustom themselves to the fact
that Germany feels herself in every re-
spect on a plane of equality with the
British world power and will proceed ac-
cordingly, whether it COMFORTS with En-
glish arrangements or not If serious
minded Englshmen cherish the hope that
this attitude will in any way be affected
by the Kaiser's visit to England they
would do we'll to abandon such Illusions
forthwith.
1t is reported from Dresden that Rich
ard Strausss next opera, Cavaliers of
the Rose will be produced for the first
time there early in December. The IL
bretto is by Hugo Won Hofmannstal, and
the subtitle for the opera is comedy
for music The plot is the hackneyed
one-a young elegant entrusted with a
proposal of marriage on behalf of an
elderly, rich suitor falling in love with
the lady and having his love returned
The scene is laid in the middle of the
18th century. in Vienna, at the time of
Maria Theresa.
At the International Congress of Young
Womens Christian associations, now sit
ting in Berlin, Professor Wagner de-
sorbed the immense hats now in vogue
as sign of decadence and degradation
and Professor Herkner denounced OPEN
work stockings as improper.
wo choir boys In reformatory at
Resented, near Munich, have been SEN
fenced by the childrens court to serve
several years Imprisonment for poison
ing sacramental wine. The elder boy stole |
some hydrochloric acid, and the younger,
who was assisting the priest at mass, |
poured the poison into the wine.
Queen Mary has been appointed honor |
ary colonel of the Fifth Pomeranian |
(Bluecher) Hussars in succession to |
King Edward VII.
Lord Kitchener has, it is understood, |
received a special invitation to attend the |
Forthcoming grand maneuvers of the Ger |
man army as the guest of his majesty |
the Kaiser.
Berlin is ready to take care of the |
Fifth Congress of Free Christianity and |
Religious Progress which is to be held |
here beginning August 6. There will be |