On the other side, far below us, were beautiful valleys, dotted frequently with small picturesque villages, the dark mountains rising to great heights above them. This charming picture met our gaze all the way to Oberammergau, where we arrived about 5 o'clock in the afternoon. We had been most fortunate in securing rooms in the pension of Anton Lange. It is called the Villa Daheim. This is a pension during the passion play only. Anton is as gentle and mild and Christlike as is the character of his Savior, whom he impersonates. Frau Lange is a sweet-faced little woman who takes entire charge of all business during the play. We dine at 7:30 this evening, when I hope to meet Herr Lange. He is visible only occasionally, and at meals, as he takes all the rest possible between performances. After locating, Gusty and I took a walk through the village and saw the homes of the different principal players. They are all picturesque, as the houses are frescoed on the exterior in scenes, also fruit and flowers. They have window boxes at all their windows full of lovely blooming plants.

The headdress of the women of this part of the country is similar to the peasantry in Munich, only here the caps bag down over the bow of ribbon.

We returned to the pension for dinner. Herr Lange came in and dined with us. The dining room is evidently their living room, as it has both piano and books, and would be a charming bright room without its tables, there being five or six in here quite close together, and they are all full, as many having rooms

elsewhere come to the villa for their while plain, are well cooked, and gend After dinner I met Herr Lange and h utes conversation with him, found him a tion had pictured-gentle and mildvery like those pictured of our Savior.

It was so cold when we returned to o early hour (as we breakfasted at 7 A. M., mencing at 8 o'clock sharp) and our bed ing insufficient for the cold night, Gusty stairs to see if more could not be obtained water bottle. But the house being full, we ful about more coverings, and we felt hotwould act as a substitute. On her way do a peasant woman in full costume, with edelweiss for sale. Gusty was delighted her right up to me, saying as she came in:

"Look, Ontie, what I have brought yo delighted to get the edelweiss, and bough of her little baskets. I was anxious to hav of her. She did not have any, but made us that we might take one of her. She spoke English, but we easily understood what she greatly regretted we did not have a camera. one of the many hundred times that Augu herself for not bringing her own camera. W the woman's costume so much that she was lighted. It was a dark red woolen dress, w white embroidered apron. Her jacket was o vet. Her hair was braided, and she wore a

top, black Tyrolian hat. Around her waist were a number of silver chains, on the ends of which were seven or eight large pieces like medallions. They were handsome old pieces, and she told us they had been handed down from one generation to another for years.

Thursday, September 8. We were up at 6 A. M. and had breakfast at 7. It is only a short distance from here to the theater, but as it was raining we took a covered carriage and drove there. This being a Catholic country and the "Passion Play" a commemoration of a religious vow, all participants, men, women and children, are obliged to go to mass before the play commences. There are three masses to enable all to go. The theater is a large structure of wood and the seats are very comfortable. They extend entirely across the building, and from the back almost to the front of the stage, having only two aisles, the space between the rows or seats is ample to permit persons to pass in front of you to their seats. The stage is about five feet high, showing open ground with grass, in the center of which is the temple. The home of Pilate is on the left and houses of others on the right. The buildings and stage are of cement, and, in accordance with biblical history. There is a fine chorus of thirty voices, men and women, and all, with few exceptions, good. Their costumes are of biblical times. This chorus came from both sides of the stage, meeting in the center, forming a half-circle, the leader being in the center. The chorus recite in song, each

scene and tableau as the play advances, ginning the recitation.

After the song recitation is conclud the stage in the same manner they came o a tableau is presented, commencing with of the world and creation of Adam and comes the first act of the play. After comes a repetition, the chorus, the tab play, so on through the whole history of life to his crucifixion and death.

Their work is wonderful. When you th plain village people who probably have ne from home, yet in this play they feel and 1 acters they take, and are very devout th The vow was promised to be fulfilled eve by them, if a plague that was devastating village was stayed. It seems this terrible been going through all the villages for m them. Oberammergau had quarantined its the world. One man of the village, who w in one of the plague-stricken villages eith fatal illness upon him, or else a great desire family, managed to pass the quarantine an his home. Almost immediately he was str the plague and died, as did his family and m villagers, till only a few remained, hardly bury the dead. These assembled together and offered up the vow, if the plague would they would commemorate it every ten year solemn "Passion Play." The children are

from infancy. It is their life. I saw people all around me moved to tears, so realistic is the scene. I never have seen more perfect acting than the character of Judas. After realizing that he has sold his Savior to death, his remorse is terrible. I am told, after the play is over, he is obliged to go for weeks into seclusion and rest to recuperate from the great strain. This is why Anton Lange, the Christus of the play, is obliged to take all the rest possible. The play commences at 8 o'clock in the morning, stops at 11:45; commences again at 1:45 in the afternoon, ending at 6 o'clock or a few minutes later. I was not in the least tired for one minute during the whole time. I have never seen such perfect acting anywhere. How could it be otherwise, when the people live their characters in daily life? When the veil is rent asunder, there is a loud roll as of subterranean thunder that seems to come from the depths of the earth, while echo after echo resounds this solemn sound. When the temple curtains are drawn aside at the crucifixion, the two thieves nailed on the crosses are on either side of the temple, but Christ is brought in nailed to the cross, which is then raised and put into the place apparently dug for its reception. The nail prints show in both hands and feet, and no support of any kind is visible, not even after Christ has been tenderly taken down from the cross.

The tableaux have hundreds of men, women and children in them and they are simply perfect. Two tableaux are shown, one following the other in such