Evening star., 1922-05-15

By the Associated Press.
OBERAMMEHGAU. May I4.-Today
saw the FIRST public performance since
1910 Of the world renowned passion
Play" with the hiEhlanders Of this
Bavarian village as the actors. In
the wake Of the most cruel and ex-
tensive war Of history. the revival OF
the pageant dramatization OF the ife
of Christ came to an audience OF
some 1000 persons In what seemed
particularly appropriate sequence to
the conferences at Washington and
Genoa
It was pointed out that while at
Washington and Genoa the expert
POLITICAL and economic builders OF the
world conferred on the reconstfuc
ton of good will among men, the
representatives Of the four corners
of Christendom were beginning the
seasons pilgrimages to Obersmmer
gau to witness the established inter
pretation on the foundation OF which
their religious structure was 6ased
in the career of the man of Galilee.
II hope the Passion Play" will
constitute q basis from which more
friendly intercourse between natiohs
will result in better international un-
niays the role of Christ ITO me
there could be no better place for
peace conference than Oberammergau
with the teachings Of Its passion
play"
Man Of Peace.
Lanss every gesture and his atti-
tude on or off the stage personifies a
man of peace. and his personality re-
fleets the devout character and stur-
dy idealism which since 1888 have
guided the villagers devotion in pre-
senting the play every ten years, eX-
cept for a few necessary Interrupt
tions.
Thousands of tourists are here for
the Passion Play" Those who had
been privileged last week to witness
the final dress rehearsal commented
freely on the undoubted enect OF the
surrounding natural beauty on the
yearninss of the villagers of oberam-
mergau for the higher things Of life.
The majestic peaks of the Bavarian
Tyrol. in which Oberammergau is
pocketed. seem like solemn sentinels
guarding rs unique enterprise from
The bells OF the parish church.
which this morning summoned the in
habitants to the last mass before the
opening Of the Passion Play" season.
tolled the Anal rites over prominent
member of the cast. Anton Mayr, who
Thomas. Mayr caught cold a fort
night ago while rehearsing on the
outdoor stage during the severe
weather. and died on Thursday. His
funeral was held yesterday: He leaves
a family Of Ave children, all of whom
will continue to- participate in the
play.
Fully half of today's audience was
made up of Americans, among them
George A. Bucklin, the consul at Cob
lenx. and Mrs. Bucklin. and Col.
Ezekial williams of the American
English delegation was next in size.
The other auditors were Germans,
Russians and Dutch.
Visitors Well Billeted.
The inhabitants of Oberammergau
are sparing no pains to billet foreign
ers comfortably and to entertain
them generally. The visitors are
particularly impressed by all the ef-
forts made in their bshalf. dictated
primarily by sincere motives of
cordiality and without consideration
for monetary advantages. These ef-
forts are somewhat In contrast with
the experiences at Munich. the inlet
OF the Oberammergau tourists.
The visitors here mingle freely
with and are largely billeted in the
homes Of actors and actresses Of the
Passion play. The wife of Anton
Lang assigns a considerable number
The village itself does not forget
the realistic side of life while por-
traying its idealism. Fourteen men,.
bers of the Red Cross as well as fire.
men of the local department stand
| ready in the theater for any emerg-
ency.