Cañon City record., 1911-02-16
ROBERTSON.
CA N {.
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land of loveliness? Doesn't it seem
TO give you sense of peacefulness
and a broader, more intelligent view
of the world? We VINO saw the Pas
sion Play last night seemed to ex-
perience such a transformation. At
least, we all felt we were experience
ing the sweet joys of delightful
dream We went to the Methodist
church and took a seat (that is, some
did-the first thousand early ones-the
rest of us stood up, some went away
unable to get in;) but Mr.. Robertson
didn't want US to stay in Canon City
so he took us for trip to Ober-Am-
mer-Gau. 1t was dandy, it was more
it was delightful; it was magnifi-
that would appear more real. more
true, more realistic. The pictures of
Bavarian scenery shown have never
been surpassed.
Mr.. Robertson was our guide. He
showed us the ship that we left Amer
lea on, he showed us our companions,
both when we left America and when
we arrived on the other side. Then
he furnished us with an automobile
SO that we wouldn't have to bother
with the dust and disagreeableness OF
a railroad trip. Our luggage" was
thrown into the auto. too. We were
glad that Mr.. Robertson was so con-
siderate of us for we travelled over
roads that were as level as a floor
and that were marvels of road build
ing; we saw scenes of Undesirable
grandeur that we could never have
enjoyed from carriage" on the
train.
Only too soon, for we had been so
thrilled with the beautiful sights
along the way, we rounded a curve in
the road and looked down upon the
peaceful little city of Ober-Ammer-
Gau. It did not take us long to get
into the town and then Mr.. Robertson
busted himself making us acquainted.
First he told us the literal meaning
OF Ober-Ammer-Gau; Ober meaning
over: Ammer the name of the river
that runs through the town; eau des-
ignating the name of the province or
district in which lhe town is situated.
He showed us The different streets
and the various public buildings We
saw the hotels but we didn't stop. We
went to a private home where We
stayed for the Pas ,ion Play. Every
where the religious sentiment of this
Roman Catholic people was apparent.
The exterior of nearly every home
was decorated vita mural paintings
of biblical lore. These homes were
not small huts either, they were large
and roomy and appeared like man
sions. Judging from the magnificent
homes. we think IT wouldn't be so bad
to be a Bavarian peasant.
We We're introduced to the variors
persons who assumed the different
roles in the Passion Play. We met
ST John, St Peter. Judar. Mary and
numerous others. We were told that
there were 6S2 in the play. sc OF
whom were women and 55 of whom
had speaking parts. We were in
formed that no moving picture had
ever been taken OF the play. The his
tory of the origination Of the play
was given us. At one time the peas
ants of the little valley were afflicted
with a plague. To get rid of II they
gathered together in the hills above
the city and vowed that II God would
relieve them of their trouble they
would react his passion and death
every ten years. The plague disap-
peared the next day and in 1888 they
gave the Passion Play. Every ten
years, for the last 500 years they
have repeated the performance.
We saw the Passion Play. And no
more magnificent, ennobling tragedy
has ever been staged II is wonder
full and we Of prosaic minds can hard
ly conceive how it could all be staged
SO beautifully and acted SO splendid
ly. From the prologue to the ascen-
sion we were held entalled with the
art and grandeur Of 1t all.
1t is safe TO say that Mr.. Robertson
has come back" with far better trav-
elogues than he had last year and
that by his version OF the Passion
Play has gained many new admirers.
The receipts for admissions and sea-
son tickets up TO Monday night were
about equal to the total receipts for
the whole week Mr. Robertson was