Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-06-29
LETTER
FROM RAY ROBINS0N
Is TRAVELLING ABROAD AND
WRITES FOLLOWING LETTER
TO HIS PARENTS.
DEsGalBls THE PASSION PLAY.
Gives Details Of the Most Remark
ablt Religious Play Ever
staged.

abIf Religious Play Ever
staged.
Dear Papa and All.
Braunschweig, June 3. 1910.
Am here ALL OK and feeling fine.
Ann with the American family and
they are very good TO me. Am on q
good street, quite near town. Didn't
you get my cablegram on the 18th OF
May! l cabled the second day IN
Hamburg as the first day was a holi-
day and everything was closed.
Lett Munich Sunday the 30th for
Oberammergau, about go miles dis
tant. Partly by steam and partly by
electric road through the mountains,
standard guage SO would take steam
cars. Very fine scenery; on one side
high snow capped mountains, below
us little villages in the valleys, and
here and there fine little lakes. Saw
several wild deer on the mountain
sides. The forests here are under
the control OF the government. AS
soon as trees are cut down, young
ones are planted. except where the
ground Is used for farming. Got my
ticket for play through Cook and had
- place to go to as soon as arrived.
Another Iowa boy at same house
from Atlantic. Iowa, in the consular
service OF the U. s. He has been
here 8 years and expects to come
home during next year. He says there
is Civil Service Exam, but he has
not taken his final yet. still has a
good position There was very
large crowd Of people at Oberammer-
gau Sunday; all OF those for the Sun
day performance. and all those COM
ing for Monday. A large number Of
Sundays were Americans, while Mon
days were mostly Germans, many of
the peasantry. Lots Of the Tyrolese
mountaineers in their green embroid-
cred waist coats. knee breeches, bare
legs and nice little hats with feath-
ers. Several of the peasant women
were there In their gay colored fest
clothes. Very picturesque crowd,
most OF which seemed to be touched
by the religious influence, that Is felt
by all who go to- Oberammergau.
Oberammergau Is In deep valley.
surrounded by the snow covered mts,
not very high and quite regular. About
1900 people residents. but 6 or 5000
on play days. The people look good,
are Of Zine physical build. and are in
teihgent. Not an ignorant peasant
crowd as Is some times said Of them.
The village Is built along the banks
of the Ammer. hence the name, a
dlnky little creek like the dry run.
Old houses. but all have been repaint-
ed and some have modern improve,
ments. such as bath, electric lights,
etc. In fast. 1t Is getting to be mod
erni1ed and everything is commarciar
lied and loses, some OF the true noun
tain village taste that one would ex
pect and like.
The stage OF the play is partly OPP
en-, where the chorus stands, and al.
SO both sides of the stage opening.
showing 2 streets Of Jerusalem and
two houses. one Of PLATE. other OF
Annas. The stage is 1875 feet wide.
proper stage opening, wk9re the tab
leans are. 20 It wide, 4s 1t high and
Is 1t. deep. At times over 500 PEG.
pie on stage at once. yet no crowd.
Ing, every one in the proper place
and things go just as smooth as
could be wished for. Where we sat
is enclosed, room for about $500 peo-
pie. seats from 2 to 1Omks. boxes, re
served for royalty. 20 INKS. No roy.
atty there on Monday the 3Oth. e1-
ceph. the Americans.
At 8 p. IN. the chorus appears, 40
singers, the leader and the prologue.
Prologue a man who tells, in High
German. what is going to happen,
and relation OF the various scenes ts
one another. The leader Of chorus
and prologue are finely costumed. ant
the singers from right and left OF
these two are clothed alike, thus the
colors blending into a gorgeous line
Of color All wear white robes, with
yprious colcred nantes. and fine
gold crown. Some OF the men Sing
| ersi have beautiful long hair. such 81
| lny woman would like to have. Nc
artificial make up at an.eyerythinf
natural, long boards. fine heads o.
hal, and no stage paint
The chorus appears promptly at 8
from the two sides Of the stage, whic
has columned gallery on each side
AMI the prologue starts the play. Al
loon as the stage setting is ready
the signal Is given and the choru
Efans tack 8, as to leave a clear vdev
of the central stage. First was
tableau Of the expulsion of Adam an
Eve from Eden. Again chorus take
place. then another tableau. adore
lion of the Cross, This is one Q
the prettiest Of all the scenes. No1
starts the first act Of the first part
;. Christ's entry into Jerusalem. Chris
surrounded by disciples and man
women and children, comes from on
e the side streets. and as soon 9
he reaches the center of the stage Il
curtain rises. showing the traders
the temple. He takes a rope. VIII
.. AMI drives them from the tempt
/. One Of the priests and the chi
!. trader incite the people against Chr
ana during the commotion the fir
act closes,
q The chorus now returns. after Il
4 a l.