Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-28
MISS MARIE MAYER AT SLATER HALL.
Gave Lecture on oberamnersau and
 the Passion Play.

Tn spite of the driving rain, a good sized audience teard Miss Marie Mayer
 lecture on Oberammergau and the
 Passion Play Tuesday evening in Slater hall. TEis was the opening lec- ture of a series. of six which are to be
 given for the benefit of the Red Cross. Miss Mayer held the closest attention of her audience throughout and now and then tinged her lecture with Fu- mor. Her message was inspiring and was well received by her appreciative audience.
 Miss Mayer is the first participant in the Passion Play to appear before the American public.
 Miss Mayer was introduced by Henry
 A. TirreH, principal of the Academy. Miss Mayer referred to the mira cle plays which are known to be a revival of the religious drama and to the vii- lage of Oberammergau, which has a population of about 1.700. She told of and their ideals. They live and cuiti- vate their ideals. The people enjoy their pleasure. They find great joy Tn the mountains and wilderness, where they are nearer to God. They love nature and are all children of nature. Nature to the people of Oberammergau is like a great open book. The child of the village grows up close to nature. To the Oberammergau there is one thing worth living for; there is one aim which is nourished from the era d1e to old age, and it is to take part in the sacred drara. It is emphasized in the schools, sanctioned in the teach
 ings of the church and sealed with the authority of the state. It is the object of every mother to inspire her child towards this great aim. No one who lives outside the village can realize or
 understand the ideals. Out of the pop living by wood carving, and Miss Mayer told of the people carving wood making toys, etc. Miss Mayer re- ferred to the beautiful surrounding of
 nature in the village. which is a great
 inspiration for the Passion Play ObeE-
 ammergau gives every year, thus siv-
 ing the children opportunity to de-
 velop their mind by self expression as they are to take part in their own
 initiatory and it brings together the older people. Miss Mayer spoke oi
 the fact that she hoped to see the time when the drama would flourish in
 America as it does in her country
 Nine years had passed in that village Of Oberammergau, everyone was look
 ing forward for the great day, each
 wondering if their 1ife's dream would
 be realized. It was on Oct. 12, 1909 which may be called the great day in Oberammergau, the day of the election of parts. Miss Mayer told of the
 method of election and of her election
 After the kection preparations for
 rehearsals were made. First of all Miss Mayer said, our preparation be- gins when the child is still in the
 cradle. It is a spiritual preparation
 and a spiritual growth. Miss Mayer
 studied her part in nature and she
 told of the fact that every one creates
 their own part. as there is no helu from the outside
 The Oberamlnergau play was org
 mated in 1893 md has played over the
 greater part of Europe. The story of the play we know transformed the world. It is lew and refreshing as the sunshine and it is old as the cen turies.
 Miss Mayer gave a stereopticon Iec-
 ture with a beautiful array of slides
 showing the buildings, natives and
 scenes of the Passion Play