The Oakes times., 1916-12-21
Christmas
Cribs Of the
Tyrol
"\IIE Christmas crii,s. showing the
frs! resting place of the infant
III Christ. which one sees Occn.


frs! resting place of the infant
H Christ. which one sees Occa.
slounlly III the churches Of this
country nre not to he compared with
those Of Europe. especially the remark
able ones made by the peasants Of 1t
My and of the Tyrol. In the latter
country there llns been Of recent years
n decided revival Of Interest III these
groups representing the nativity Of
Christ.
1t ~ not unusual to sec one with Ecv
cral hundred figures. Not alone the
birth Of the Saviour. but tlm alteration
Of the shepherds. the arrival Of the
kings with tlc!- soldiers and courticrs
tho flight into Egypt. Jesus In the ten
! pie. and even the marriage ut Cana
arc represented
The Tyrol's cribs have l,ccn famous
for centuries. and the people were just
ly proud Of them until the spirit of
''molcrn enlightenment" invaded the
| land aud crib building was denounced
ns chiIds play. Enterprising antigua
rIans and art sellers eagerly bought up
nil the old cribs aud then sold them at
good profit to tourists.
| Many fine specimens have disappear
cd from the land. but fortunately o
few of the best were acquired by na
tlOnal museums The hest two TyrOl II
known to have had. the "Ursulinen
krippc" Of Innsbruck and the Moscr
|
/ National museum ut Munich. A third.
the Jnufenthnlcr crib. is IN the Vienna
museum.
Originally II belonged to . family In
Wiltcn. now n part Of Innsbruck. II
contained l54 nninlal figures. - build
ings and go human figures. 1t In
cluded solid woOdcarvings. figures the
heads OF which were wax aud others
whose heads and limbs were movable
Some OF these date back ns far ns the
year 1900 Seven scenes were repre-
scnted.
The Moser crib Of Isozcn was much
more extensive. Moser's "city" was IN
itself II 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
S5.'nW during Moscrs lifetime.
The UrSulincS' crib was particularly
| famous on account of the gorgeous
dressing of the figures. The angels
were lad MS cour,icrs OF heaven In
the rich court costumes of the seven
i tccnth century.
| These masterpieces are now lost Ia
F.! Tyrol. 1t can hardly cause surprise.
then. that serious minded men began
to entertain grave fears for their re
manning work. ur art. This fear had u
F.. practical result IN the formation of 81
society who's" "bicc, waS 10 prevent in
future the reckless cNp1rlntion and
selling of Cd cribs and To revive the
spirit that produced them.
T'yrulc>c cribs iuay lie divided int"
: two rcnc:al classes. the oriental tNlc
and the Tyrnles". In the l;;t'cr rlHS>
The crib "yy;cr takes il for .,rnnlr.i
that Christ WIS Lo"n in Tyrul. hence
scenery lunpl" ana dress ;'rc lurrl,
TyYolcsc. In all ~" cribs the stable
/ If Ecihl"ll"m j.. either the ruin ot u
I castl" taucr"t'ing Ia lc.rld. Christ frs
saw the l'-!lt of lay i'll the mi. : nf thu
! tower of i'av,l, or II part "f i; temple
,o show tlt iiir stable of Ec:hlchcEi
WAS the first Cllr.sii:ln temple. or els,
I it is Il simple cave on the mountain
! side.
The stable OF Ecthclcm and its III
mates always remain Tie center of Tx,
great scene the rest is merely the So,
ting. Tie crib means much to the
family. After weeks of careful. pain
stalking labor everything is ready. bu,
the holy family is not there. After
supper OH Christmas eve the parents
domcstics nnd children gather abou,
the crib. the gospel scene is read aloud
and the little ones. quick to detect thu
absence OF the "Christkind.'' are told
that the holy family nre still seeking q
shelter and finding none. The sadness
that at first expresses itself on their
innocent faces soon gives way to 10!
as they recall that perhaps there Il
room in their own home-at least they
will make room. At midnight the so
emn church bells call all to mass. and
when the family returns. 10! there lies
the infant in the manger. while Mar.
and Joseph kneel In humble Alteration