Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-12-21
Christmas
Cribs of the
Tyrol

ulbt ItSlluB pldNc Vi tue luldn
Christ, which one sees ocea
sionally In the churches of this
country are not to be compared with
those OF Europe especially the remark
able ones made by the peasants Of 1t
ally and OF the TyroL In the latter
country there has been OF recent years
decided revival OF interest In these
groups representing the nativity OF
| Christ
1t is not unusual to see one with sew
eral hundred figures. Not alone the
birth of the Saviour, but the alteration
of the shepherds, the arrival of the
Kings with their soldiers and courtiers.
she flight into Egypt. Jesus In the tenn.
are represented
The Tyrol's cribs have been famous
for centuries. and the people were just
~ proud Of them until the spirit of
modern enlightenment invaded the
land and crib building was denounced
as chlld's play. Enterprlslng antigua
rlans and art sellers eagerly bought up
all the old cribs and then sold them al
good profit to tourists.
Many fine specimens have disappear
ed from the land. but fortunately a
few OF the best we're acquired by ma
tional museums The best two Tyrol Is
known to have had, the "Ursulinen-
krippe" OF Innsbruck and the Moser
4, In, Ia na 81
National museum at Munich A third.
the Jaufenthaler crib Is In the Vienna
museum
Originally 1t belonged to a family in
Wilten, now a part of Innsbruck. 1t
contained 154 animal figures "a build
ings and 2jG human figures. 1t in
cluded solid woodcarvlngs. figures the
heads of which were wax and others
whose heads and limbs were movable.
Some OF these date back as far as the
year 100. Seven scenes were repre-
sented
The Moser crib Of BoZen was much
more extensive Moser's city" was in
itself a masterpiece and included pal
aces, gushing fountains, monuments
Of King David and towers with six
city clocks striking the hours of the
night. 1t was valued Mt more than
SIS, 900 during Moser's lifetime.
The Ursulines' crib was particularly
famous on account of the gorgeous
dressing Of the figures. The angels
were clad as courtiers of heaven in
the rich court costumes of the seven
teenth century.
These masterpieces are now lost to
Tyrol. 1t can hardly cause surprise
then. that serious minded men began
to entertain grave fears for their re
naming works Of art. This fear had a
practical result In the formation of
society whose object was to prevent In
future the reckless expectation and
selling of old cribs and to revive the
spirit that produced them.
Tyrolese cribs may be divided into
two general classes, the oriental type
and the Tyrolese. In the latter class
the crib owner takes 1t for granted
that Christ was born In Tyrol, hence
scenery, people and dress are purely |
Tyrolese. In all the cribs the stable
Of Bethlehem Is either the ruin Of
castle according to legend, Christ first |
saw the light of day in the ruins Of the
tower Of David or part OF temple
TO show that the stable of Bethlehem
was the first Christian temple, or else
1t is a simple cave on the mountain
side.
The stable Of Bethlehem and its In |
mates always remain the center of the
great scene. the rest is merely the set
ting. The crib means much to the |
family. After weeks Of careful, pain
labor everything is ready. but |
the holy family is not there. After
supper on Christmas eve the parents.
lomestics and children gather about |
The crib, the gospel scene Is read aloud. |
and the little ones, quick to detect the /
absence OF the "Christkind," are told |
hat the holy family are still seeking |
shelter and finding none. The sadness |
hat at first expresses itself on their |
Innocent faces soon gives way to JOY !
as they recall that perhaps there is
room In their own home-at least they |
will make room. At midnight the sol
amn church bells call all to mass. and |
when the family returns, 10. there lies
The infant In the manger, while Mary
md Joseph kneel in humble alteration