The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-13
RxMYRTLE MILES

OF peculiar interest at this time is the
Passion Play. and many prospective
travellers are preparing themselves for
the wonderful religious pageant by
study that will be splendidly augmented
by the lecturer. Miss Josephine r. Short,
who is expected in Birmingham within
the fortnight to address the Women S
club. Miss Short Is not unknown to Bir-
mingham club women. having visited here
several times-her last visit about four
years ago. when she was the guest of
Mrs. R. H Pearson. She was then a re-
turned traveller and addressed the mem
bers of the Cadmean Circle. She is a
speaker of much charm and has made a
delightful impression upon all who heard
her, both because of her attractive per-
sonality and her clever accounts Of tray
cling experiences, such as befall the
woman of keen observation.
Miss Short has travelled for 20 years, not
only visiting. but living among the peo-
pie Of many lands. She made her home
with the peasants of Oberammergau, liv-
ing their life and gaining a perfect I'M
Outstanding of all that the Passion Play
means to them. She tells s. thrilling
story Of this quaint religious custom, and
the interest is increased by the fact that
she has known anton Lang, the Chris
tus' of 1900. and of the present year, as
neighbor and friend.
Knowing that Mrs. R. II. Pearson is
the warm personal friend of Miss Short.
I ventured to question her as to the com
ing of the lecturer to Birmingham, and
found her as deeply interested as are
the other club women who are so eager
to inform themselves upon a subject
which is attracting the attention of the
world. She told me many personal
stories Of her friend, stories that reveal
the gentle soul of the woman as well as
her superb mentality. Miss Short
speaks five languages, she informed me,
mot in the desultory fashion of those
who have made them superficial study,
but fuently. She converses IN German,
French, Italian and Spanish like native.
The reason, I think, that she has ac-
quired such fiuency is that she has made
herself practically native when she Wis
tied in these countries. She spent four
years, for example, in India. This No
vember' she returned from an extended
stay in Spain, where she is interested in
the American school for girls, located at
Madrid have known Miss Short long
= time and, indeed, Travelled with her in
Europe a few years ago During her
stay in Cberammergau l was impressed
with the manner in which she was treat
ed by the people. Jaboering with them
like one Of their own. she entered with
real interest into their personal affairs,
and they loved her with all their honest
unaffected peasant hearts. was walking
with her one day and as We approached
a peasant home we noticed a woman
who had finished her washing and was
engaged in hanging the clothes upon a
line. Miss Short called her name and as
she turned with her hands still poised
above on the garment that she was fast
enipe to the line. I was impressed with
the beauty of soul that shone in her
sweet face. She ran with cry of pleas
ire and embraced Miss Short greeting
her and receiving the travellers replies
in her own tongue. Miss Short informed
me that she had been Mary in the last
Passion Play. and I was not surprised,
for hers was indeed the Madonna face. 50
And will she, like Anton Lang, again
take part in the playP" l asked. And
Mrs. Pearson said: II have not heard
who will be Mary this year. Possibly
she will. After the participants fulfill
the requirements once it is usually the
custom to retain them, If at the end of
the ten years they still 1--we. Meyer the
'Christus' before Lang. had assumed the
part three times. This, you see, is as
many times as it could be done. I think
his age the first time was about "a years
They must prepare for the role long be-
fore the celebration. Lang has been
making himself ready for the past two
years. II, since the last play anything
in his life had not been absolutely ex-
emplary, he would not be retained You
r..If 4, fI..
peasant people. 1t Is the ambition OF lit
tie children TO some day take part in the
Passion Play, and with the purity OF life
which this requires, the result is a people
Of unusual nobility. One is often sur
prised at the culture that some have at
tanned. for their manner of life is so sim
pie and without affeetation. We were