{ title: 'Montana Sunlight (Whitehall, Mont.) 1902-1911, June 04, 1909, Page 1, Image 1', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about Chronicling America - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/sn85053178/1909-06-04/ed-1/seq-1.png', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn85053178/1909-06-04/ed-1/seq-1.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn85053178/1909-06-04/ed-1/seq-1/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn85053178/1909-06-04/ed-1/seq-1/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
About Montana Sunlight (Whitehall, Mont.) 1902-1911 | View This Issue
Montana Sunlight (Whitehall, Mont.), 04 June 1909, located at <http://montananewspapers.org/lccn/sn85053178/1909-06-04/ed-1/seq-1/>, image provided by MONTANA NEWSPAPERS, Montana Historical Society, Helena, Montana.
MONTANA VOLUME VIII. WHITEHALL, MONTANA. FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 191)ll. THE MONTANA SUNLIGHT PUBLISH= IIIXIERY FRIDAY. W. I. RICKARD Proprietor SUBSCRIPTION PRICE. One Year. (Invariably in advance) 110 00 Six Months 1 00 Three Months 50 5 Single CoPielf- • • Watered at the Postofilee at Whitehall. Mont.. asSecond-class Matter. ADVZRTISING RATES. Display—One Dollar per inch per month. Locals — Ten Cents per line first insertion: five cents per line each subsequent insertion. NOTICE All communications intended for publica - tion In this paper must bear the signature of the author; otherwise they will and their way to the waste basket. cotisl\t — Judge. Fifth Juticial Diet —Leff.L Callawal Clerk of the Court IVni. T. Sweet Sheriff .P. J. Manning 11 n der Sheriff .3 alter TrDSSUP1T I. It. McCall Clerk and Reetirder Count' , Attorney ...... N. Kelly A messor Jit.. II. Mitchell Surveyor It. II. Cialle hers N. Thompson S u t of schools liuhlicAdminisitrator W. L. Beardsley C oroner ...... ............ Curtis Denbow COMMISSIONERS. Farris Steele, Chairman Basin Jona II. Reilly Clancy A. J. McKay Whitehall The regular meetings of the board of count.: omnenhisioners begin on the first Monday In March, June, September and Decembey. The members also serve as a board of emu•lisa- (ion. meeting for this purpose on the third Monday in July. TERMS OF COURT. For the Fifth Jetties' District. comprisine the counties of Jefferson. Beaverhead and Madison. the regular quarterly terms begin as follows: Jefferson county the, third Wednesday In January. first Tuesday in April first Tuesday July and the second Teenier In October. Beaverhead county, third Wednesday in February first In Wednesday May. the first Wednesday In August and the second Wednes- day in November. Madison county first Monday in March and June. fourth Monday in August. second Tuesday In December. . E. W. Wolverton E. n. Sumner B. It. Henrik's. ACACIA CHAPTER, No. 21, 0. E. S. Meets on FIRST and THIRD TUESDAY evenings of each month at Masonic Hall. Visiting members are cordially invited to attend. VIZOINIA L. LAU, W. M. MRS..1111.15 C. Yrnocs. Seer. MYSTIC TIE LODGE, No. 17, A. F. & A. M. Reeteon the SECOND and FOURTH rues- DAV evenings of each month at Masonic Hall. Visiting members are cordially in- vited to attend. J. n. McFsenre. w. N. A. A. Nerntr•it. : Ike E. 0. Pace, ATTORNEY-AT-l-aw AND NOTARY puBLic. Whitehall, Mout. wwwwwww. 4 — 1 KELLY & KELLY, LAWYERS. Main Offices ()Mee In Whitehall I Moulder, Mont. Every Saturday Notarise Public. v1.06/Vbstre'esa V el HOTEL JEFFERSON Prices are Moderate. . Special Rates to Boarders L. 1 PACKARD, IThyolotinn mina elitarggebore. ases requiring hospital care given special attention. Hospital.Office and Residence on First street Whttetheill. /none. J. F. JACKSON, DISTRIBUTOR 60 YEARS' EXPERIENCE PATENTS TRIM* MAWS MINIM coevnawres germ* sending &Monett sod demeriptiou W eviski newest r opinion weather me 1=ILIsAigiliarTatgg:Wig:: sent t ta= =4 \ ntg: a m r•Ziy. j a y riajAN with/nit shares. In tits Sdentifle }Merlon. .11 . haulsonisly Mustrld weekly. Tampa Sr. on of any 'nem e Menial. Terms, IS itiviates,0 1 . Sole by wis. 5 1 3 r . 0 liStereedisat. N ew • r se., Washington. D. THE PASSION PLAY AT OBER-AM. ERGAU. BY PEARL EDWARDS. In these days. when every city has its theater and every theater its supporters clamoring to be enter- tained by the light, meaningless plays that are so popular, it is not strange that many have not even heard of the original purpose of the drama and have come to look upon the theater simply as a place of amusement. The dmincowes its life to a de- sire to promulgate Christianity,and the germ from which it was devel- oped was nurtured in the church. Far beck in the early centuries, when the masses were unschooled and consequently incapable of un- derstanding Latin sermons or even reading the Bible for themselves, the church needed 4ome way of in- structing its converts. To meet this need it instituted in its ser- vices solemn but dramatic ceremo- nies which appealed to the people and at the Ram time gave them religious instruction. Froni these beginnings the development of the drama was gradual but sure. Easter and Christmas plays of the crudest kind were later followed by the religious plays that adhered closely to the Bible, and these were at different times called \Mira- cle.\ \Mystery and \Passion\ plays. In a remote Bavarian val- ley the last of all these mediteval dramas still exists. It has, for certain reasons, long outlived its kindred. The village of Ober-Ammergau is situated high among encircling mountains, and as early as the thirteenth century some drama of the life of Christ was here per- formed, but it became an estab- lished institu; io i of the place two hundred and fifty years ago. At that time is Weft ePas raging in Bavaria. In Ober-Animergat, alone nearly one hundred people had perished. Accordingly the terri- fied survivors made it vow that if their town were spare dull further ravages of the disease they would thereafter, every ten years, por- tray in a dramatic form for the in- struction of mankind the story of Christ's life and sofferinge. The plague at once abated, and ever since the villagers of Ober- Antinergau have felt it to be both a duty and a privilege to carry out the promise of their ancestors, be- queathing it from generation to generation as a sacred obligation. For 'Secede after decade the simple villagers have contin- ued to pei form the play, except once or twice, when war has ren- dered it impossible. A quarter of a million 'people. from all corners of the earth, make their way to Ober-Ammergau to see this wonderful performance, and the money received is used to defray the expenses, While a small share is apportioned among some seven hundred actors. Joseph Maier, who takes the part of Christ, received only two hundred dollars for his whole summer's work. Certainly these villagers are not actuated by mercenary mo- tives, for repeated offers of large. sums of money have been made them to perform their drama in vafious parts of Europe, and even in Ameriea, but these have always been emphatically declined. All the parts are taken by the peasants of the community. The assignment of the parts is made by a committee of forty-five vil- lagers, preeided over by the priest, and the election day is in the last week of December of the year preceding the decennial perform- ance. Before making their choice the members of the committee at- tend mess in the church, thereby indicating that -what they do will be done under the influence of the purest motives and for the good of their religion. Each player is then required to rehearse his part at least four times each week, and the final rehearsal begins months before the opening of the dramatic season. Most actors who receive the per sistent flattery which Joseph Maier receives are soon spoiled and their heads are turned, but Mair has kept himself always modest and retiring. This undoubtedly comes from the way in which he looks upon his work. He feels that the praise which he receives is due, not to himself, but to the part whlch he assul1108, and he has said,. \It is not only the greatest honor of my life to represent the character of Jesus; it is for me also the most solemn of religious duties.\ The sacred play is not alone the central feature in the history of the villagers; it is the one great event in their individoel lives. Only those whoee lives are reason- ably blameless may participate in the Passion play; and not to be worthy to appear at all is. there- fore. a disgrace, while to enact the part of Christ is the greatest hon- or which they can conceive. A cannon shot at eight o'clock on Sunday morning is the e,igrull for the drama to begin. Upon the curtain are painted figures of Bible characters, and to the right and left of these are passage -ways which represent streets in Jerusa- lem. The greater part of the stage is entirely open to the sky and the Rctors are exposed to sun and rain. The play opens with a solemn overture. This is a visible prelude to the play, yet there is one unseen by the audience, for, during the performance of the overture, all the actors are nesembled behind the curtain, together with their pastor, engaged in silent prayer. There are in the Passion play eighteen acts and twenty-five tab- leaux, before and after each of which the chorus sings. Those tableaux are regarded as no less essential features of the the drama than the acts themeelves. their ob- ject being to explain to the specta- tor the divine plan of redemption. as accepted and implicitly believed in by the villagers. When the chorus leaves the stage after its first appearance, the air is filled with shouts of rejoicing and down the streets of Jerusalem a great multitude of men, women and children advance, waving palm branches and shouting \hosanna!\ and Christ makes his triumphal entry into the city. Thruout the drama one sees up- on the countenance of Maier many different expressions. One of the most striking is that when he en- ters the temple and looks upon the desecration of his Father's house. His features express indignation, but indignation mingled with grief. In the whole course of the Passion play there is, perhaps, nothing that puts the delicate appreciation of Maier more to the test than the scene in the temple with the money- changers. An ineppropriate ges- ture, or an unduly violent move- ment, would here he revolting. But Maier is equal to the test. Ad- vancing slowly, and with 'an inde- scribable mien of sadness and maj- esty, he pushes aside the tables. not in hasty anger, but rather as though their presence were pollu- tion. A still more difficult task is that which Maier 4 eneounters in the scene of the last supper. The scene is one of great beauty and impressiveness, and the silence seems almost painful in its intens- ity. This is followed by a scene re- vealing the hall of the sanhedrin. A most exciting debate is being carried on, as to what shall be done with the Galilean. Then one ad- dresses the assembly with passion- ate eagerness. \Father of the people,\ he exclaims, .\our relig- ion is in danger of being over- thrown. Did not this Galilean drive out the buyers, traders and sellers from the temple? Did ye not see how he entered the city in triumph? He is carrying the peo- ple with him and is teaching them to despise us! Shall we wait here till the last shadow of our power be gone? I, at !east, am in favor of his death.\ Then an aged man rises and ex- claims, with emotion and intirniity, \By my gray hairs, I swear not to rest until our religion is made safe by his destruction.\ -Another very beautiful scene is that of the departure of • Christ from Bothany, on his journey to Jerusalem. His disciples are full NLIGHT. of foreboding and urge hint not to go, but Jesus answers with the command, \Follow me!\ After the scene of the last sup- per Maier leads his disciples into the garden of Gethseniane. Three times he goes apart to kneel in prayer. Three tines he pleads in agony: \Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.\ But, finally, when he has gained the spiritual victory, there falls from his lipe the sublime ex- pression, \Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.\ In the meantime his disciples sleep until he awakens them, just as the Roman guards come up and make him prisoner. There is bomething sublime in the isolation of Christ as he quietly surveys the soldier& All the apparent weak- ness of the previous hour has van- ished. Calm and collected, he con- fronts them. But his disciples all hurry off in terror, leaving him friendless and alone. He is taken to the judgment hall and, after the testimony of several witnesses, the high priest cries, \1 th . ekhigh priest, adjure thee by the lieing God, tell us whether thou be the Christ. the Son of God!\ Maier remains for a mo- Ment silent, then with calm digni- ty replies, \Thou hest said it; and hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.\ At these words the priest leaps from his seat and ex- claims, \What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now, ye have all heard his blasphemy. What think ye?\ The answer comes at once, \He is guilty of death;\ a grave sentence which must be ratified by the Roman governor, Pilate, to Whom the vic- tim is now led. The scene between the Christ and Plate is one of the most in- teresting in the eitenre drama. The Roman regards him us an innocent and tmoffending dreamer. But when the prisoner utters the words, \My kingdom is not of this world,\ \To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth,\ Pilate gave utterance to these words, What is truth? Then the victim is led to the judgment hall of Herod. To all the jests of the priests and the judge Maier returns not a word, but stands in statue -like repose. Again the uncomplaining pris- oner is led to Pilate. who perceives that Jesus is the victim of an Un- reasonable and infuriated mob. All depends on the firmness of the Roman governor. He does not like to give his prisoner up to death, regarding such a course as mean and cowardly. He therefore adopts anothor plan of rescue by ordering the thief, Barabbas, to be brought before him from his dun- geon. When he appears the Ro- man governor looks upon this repulsive man and smiles, believing that he has solved the problem. \Men of Jerusaleni.\ he crime \you know it is my clue tom at this festival to set at liberty a prisoner. I now intend, as usual, to do mo. This men, Barabbes, is it murderer, the other prisoner is one against whom I can find no cause for condemnation whatever. Which of them will you, Urn, that I release? The answer comes, \Release Barabbas!\ Pilate, astonished, hesitates a moment. then exclaims: \Nay I appeal to your reason, your hu- manity. Here is an innocent, there a guilty man. Choose once again which of them I shall release to you.\ And the answer, \Release Barrabasl JCSIIS to the cross! Cru- cify him! Crucify him! The Ro- man first falters and then Then, as if terrified at what he has done, he calls for water and washes his hands, exclaiming, \Bear me witness! Bear me wit- ness! I find no fault in him. I wash roy hands of his innocent blood. Then the Jews cry out, \His blood be on us and on our children!\ From this point onward the tragic scene grows more and more intense. The curtain rises and reveals the - stately forni of Maier bound to a column. His garnients are already stained with blood and, amid brutal mockery, soldiers are beating him with ropes. Yet not a groan escapes his lips. With a look of agony upon his face, he stands there patiently en- during all until his strength can bear no more. Ile reels, the ropes are loosened, and he falls senseless to the ground. As soon as he is conscious the soldiers resume their cruel sport. Finally, the climax of the persecution is reached when once of the soldier, proposed to crown the priflortillr 'with thorns. The crown is made and placed up- on his brow, and in order not to wound their own hands, they take sticks and, using them as levers, press the thorns down into the bleeding flesh. One of the most impressive scenes in the great tragedy is that of the multitude aceompenying Christ to his crucifixion. The crowd mock the Savior with cruel taunts and till tie: air with jeering cries. A few minutes later, while the chorus are singing their sad chant there is heard from behind the curtain the heavy blows of a ham- mer, and one shudders at the thought of what these sounds fore- tell. Another moment and the cur- tain rises to reveal the scene of Calvary. The crosses of the two thieves are erect on either side. In the center, the cross of Jesus lies at first prostrate, then it is slowly raised to the perpendicular. It is hard to believe that Maier is not actually nailed to the wood. He wears beneath his tightly fit- ting suit a strong corset. into the back of which are- feetened hooks which clasp into corresponding rings in the body of the cross. These are his only real supports, altho it tiny piece of wood is placed beneath one heel, mind nails driven between his lingers give the slight- est possible relief to his extended nr1111.1. Iii, words uttered from this po- sition are given with great tender- neas. In a voice broken with pain he answers the railings of the crowd with the pathetic utterance, - Father, forgive them: they know not what they do.\ The descent from the cross is beautiful and effecting. Two lad- ders are placed against the cross and, by means of a long roll of linen, the body is lowered to the ground. It is than laid at the feet of Mary. The next act in devoted to the resurrection. Four Itomen sol- diers are watching itt the door of the sepulchre. Suddenly a crash is heard; the door falls prostrate, and for an instant Maier is seen within th‘ doorway, clad in a glit- tering mantle and with a look of triumph on his face. The next moment two gilded gates spring from the tomb on either side and make before him a der, zling screen of light. Another in- stant, and they are thrown back again: but the Christ is gone. Before the last act of the drama the chorus enters on the stage to sing ri hymn of exultation. Vhen at the conclusion of the song the chorus, as install, falls back to the right and left, there is seen in the background a representation of the ascension as the Christ, standing upon a slight elevation, gives to his mother and disciples his bless- ing and farewell. Thum ends the Passion play in which is represented the life of our Savior as these humble, religious village folk in their deep and ear- nest study . of the book of books have construed it. Yet sincere and actuated by no motive of gain, re- fusing again and again large sums for the ire - Production of the drama in different parts of the world, they are charged with mockery, with sacrilege. Let us hope that, prompted by Ruch a noble motive, true to their vow for seven hun- dred years, they will not be forced to sacrifice this unique survival of niedievalism to the prejudice and unjust criticism of a fosio: For Carpets, Rugs, Linoleum and Wall Paper, go to Less's Fur- niture Store. (9tf - H E - CASH MARKET We sell Best Meats Fresh Eggs Everything First-class McCALL & McARTHUR FREE PREMIUMS. The Anaconda Standard's Big Offerr Send 1110.00 for one year in ad- vance subscription to the daily and Sunday Standard and receive one of the valuable premiums listed below free of chew , . U. 8. Sax, made of wool bunting, standard sin, 8 feet by 5 feet. Stereoscope and 100 views. The World Photographed. Commercial Fountain Pen. Commercial Stylo ink pencil. Write for booklet giving full ins- cription of each. THE ANACONDA STANDARD Anaconda, Mont. NUMBER 16 \Tbe Plymouth\ Your Individuality You can't afford to be consid- ered • common -place man. You have • distinctive individuality. Give It expression in the clothes you wear. You can do this only by having your clothes made to your individual order. Indicate your good taste by the pattern of cloth you select and the style in which it is made up. You'll be assisted in accomplishing this by ordering your clothes through Strauss rothers' National Tailoring Service of Chicago our exclusive agency of which is ours. There's life and distinction in every pattern shown in the new line of Spring woolens we now have on display. Prices are very low for the good clothes we deliver to you. We guarantee your perfect satisfaction in every way. We shall consider your call • courtesy, whether you order or not. 11. 11. HUBER, Agt. ftwwwwww F. 1 - I. NEGLEY Drugs and Jewelry VrescrIptIons arid Jewelry Repair's es apeo&lealty Drugs. Perfumes, Soaps, and Oils. Paints, Watches, Clocks, Silverware _ Pool Roarn- cc,nncctlan. Best In the state E. P. G. SAVERIC) Professor of Music TEACHES Violin viola Cello Mandolin i Piano Vocal Music Laws of Harmony Musical Literature Cane , 11.-esscsn, Sixty Minutes. 75 Cents Now Open for Dance and Concert Engagements, end at Homes Piano Tuning a Specialty Roonis 6 and 8 Windsor Block - - Whitehall, Montana W. 14C: (94: CO. Rencsves, Ntcsriteanes, FOR Oats, Shelled Corn, Cracked Corn, Bran and Shorts, Hard and Soft Wheat and Graham Flour, Groceries of the best kind at right prices, lien ' s and Boys ' Shoes, Sox and Gloves, Sweet & Orr Overalls, Jumper and Corduroy Pants, Ladies ' and Children ' s Hose, Garden Hoes, Rakes, Shovels, Forks, 1 11 ! Whitehall State Bank Capita; votes in. 0.2 Ci .00'C , • 0,0 \ CHAS M. JOHNSON. A..1. McKAY. l'HANli It. JOHNSON Pre41,1ent. Vie, President. cashier. Estresertorn CHAS M. JOHNSON, 11..1 TUTTLE, A. J. MckAY L. P'ACKA 1111. , Terri,r. FRANK H. .1011NSoN tit 1 I Under direct euntrul of Sitio. Rank Hoard. Examiner, by them flee time, a year. j
