The gold leaf., 1910-09-22
horuS and orchestra numbering

open, the sky and mountains ma
king a beautiful background. On the
rear wall is large painting repre-
senting the first Passion Play. The
play begins promptly at eight in the
morning and lasts until six in the
evening with an interval Of an hour
and a half for lunch.
The history of the Passion Play ia
a long one but I will try to give you
the main points as remember them.
1t is said that as far back as the
twelfth century, Passion Play was
played on a small scale, in this little
village of Ohefammergau but owing
to the wars or other reasons the GUS
tom was dropped.
Sometime during the fifteenth CEN
tury, a terrible plague, suppose some
thing similar to the yellow fever, or
black death, the plague which they
had in England, broke out in the
southern part Of Germany. Whole
villages and cities were destroyed,
but Obprammergau qnarantined it
self against the outside world, and
for awhile was spared. However, a
man by the name Of Caspar Schuchler,
who had left Oberammergau to work
in n npighh0ring village, was stricken
by the awful disease and desiring to
SEE his family once more before he
died, broke the quarantine around
OberAmmergau and came into the
villagp At once the disease spread
and 1t seemed as though the whole
village would be wiped away. So
one day the remaining natives OF the
village, in their despair. assembled in
the church to pray and discuss the
stu ltion There they made vow.
that if delivered from the plague
they would renew the old custom and
every ten years perform the Passion
Play. Records say, from that
time the plague ceased. those who
were stricken recovered and not
another person in the village died
from the disease. In this way the
Passion Play was once more renewed
and from that time until now, it has
been presented every ten years. It's
said that at one time the man who
played the part of Christ was called
down from the cross. to enter the
army. as war had broken out.
Though Caspar Schuchler brought
terrible plague upon the village of
Oberammergau, he gave back to the
world the Passion Play, which | think
is doing a wonderful good to the
people.
Now as to the play. The play
begins with Christ's entrance into
Seated upon the back OF
an ass. with the multitude strewing
the path with flowers, it makes a
beautiful picture. From this point
it leads up to the Temple where
Christ finds the traders using the
Temple as a market and money ex-
change. But you know the story
much better than | do SO it is not
necessary to go through the details.
The play is divided into sixteen acts,
the acts being separated by tableaux,
which are wonderfully beautiful. The
"Leave Taking at Bethany" is mar
velously portrayed, and the sorrow
of Mary, the Mother of Christ, brings
tears to the eyes of many. A few
more scenes bring us to "The Last
Supper" and then to "Christ's Be
trayal in the Garden of Gethsemane,"
the acting in this scene being re-
markably forceful and pathetic.
Then after the trial of Christ before
PLATE and Herod He is delivered into
the hands OF the multitude, the next
scene showing Christ bearing His
cross up to Golgotha followed by the
two thieves also bearing theircrosses.
The deep sorrow and grief OF Mary
the Mother as she meets Christ bear
ing His cross up the Mount, is won
derfully portrayed, and many of the
ladies break down completely and
give away to their feelings. This
leads US to the Crucifixion, where we
see Christ nailed to the cross, with a
crown of thorns on His brow, drops
of blood trickling down His forehead
and also from the hands and feet.
Then the suffering OF Christ upon the
cross and finally the death. Christ
raises His face toward heaven and
cries "It is done, Father into Thy
Hands ! commend my Spirit" :" With
these words His head falls forward
on His breast. Then a heavy cloud
descends amid thunder and lightning
and the rocks tremble.
Then comes the Resurrection.
But one more point about the
Crucifxion. Before the soldiers leave
one picks up a spear and thrusts 1t
into the side of Christ. With this
thrust. the blood flows from the
wound, in a wonderfully realistic
manner. AS the spear Is thrust into
His side a deep sigh or rather a
sob escapes from the vast audience
"a deeplyimpressive spectacle.
The last scene shows the Ascension.
Christ robed in white, stands in the
midst of His disciples, His Mother
and Mary Magdaline. He blesses them
and slowly begins to ascend. When
He reaches the center OF a great COM
pany of angels, the curtain falls and
the Passion Play is over.
1t is truly the grandest though the
saddest spectacle | have ever wit
messed.
| left Oberammergau xtmornlng
at nine o'clock and reached Munich
about twelve.
There met very nice young fellow
about my age from Minneapolis,
Mimi, and we spent the afternoon
and evening very pleasantly together,
visiting the Art Galleries, the old
Cathedral, and many other places
worth seeing.
Leaving next morning got back
to Aarau at eleven O'Clock last night
little tired and worn out but haV-
ing enjoyed the trip so that L feel
compensated for all that it cost me
In rest, sleep and the cash that l am
out.
When Merit Wins.
When the medicine you take cures your
disease. tones up your system and makes you
feel better, stronger and more vigorous than