The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-12-22


the shriekng of pipes, calculated to insil into
the most obdurate heart 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. It's
occupants God the Father God the Son and the
blessed angels were hoisted up into 1t by mechan-
ical lifts and when the angels wished to descend.
as for instance on the night of the nativity.
the fields Bethlehem, they did suspended
ropes. It hard being God angel, for
there little chance to get down and stretch
ones legs. With these heavenly characters abode
four others-Peace, Mercy, Justice and Truth, in
imitation of Aristotles four cardinal virtues
Such were, in the main, the mansions" and
the characters for which the carpenters had to
provide, and the eight days succeeding the mon.
sire" grand parade especially busy ones
for these artisans
Early on the morning of December "a the long
awaited representation began. The vast market
place thronged Every box was filed with the
gentry; the roped-n space in front, out to within
some yards of the stage front, had been covered
thickly with straw and here the ground sat thou
sands while the open stretch Immediately In front
of and rather below the level of the stage was
filled with crowds parading back and forth Alto
gether 1t was a glorious and eager gathering
The learned doctor whose midnight toll had
prepared the dogserel, and whose weeks of labor
had rehearSed the players in their parts, appeared
first in short prologue. After exhorting his
listeners to silence. he described for them briefly
the substance of what about to be presented
on the stage and admonished them to take to
heart the lessons of the mystery. AS he retired
to convenient angle of the wall of Herods house
whence he might advantageously be in position for
prompting the actors, a deep lamentation broke
out within hell 1t Adam grieving over the sad
and fallen state of man.
Thus the play goes for two days passing
now to limbo, whence the prophets issue to foreell
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 its 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 pedestas, and, high above ALL the an.
gels in paradise, lowering on their ropes above
the fields of Palestine chant majesticay the
praises or the Creator and proclaim the PAX in
ferris"
curious Is the final scene. 1t is placed in Rome
In the chamber of Augustus The emperor dressed
like French duke, is seated on fancy chair
loaned by the mayor of Rouen. Evidently he is III
at ease. He Is reading a scroll of the Sibyne
writings, wherein he finds distinct prophecy TO
the effect that a Messiah is to be born in Palestine
in Bethlehem of Judea. More and more disturbed
he becomes, and as he PAGES the floor of his cham.
Der he rectes his woes in doggere French ac.
companied by a wealth of gestculations 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 he falls to his
knees and worships figure OF the virgin that mi.
raculously appears the wall. Satan and his
crew give hnal salvo, and the crowd rises stifly
TO It's feet and wends its way back to the homes
and taVerns Of the city, much moved by the spec
tacle II has been witness of for two whole DAYS.