As we rose for departure we felt like saying with the blind preacher, whom William Wirt, the orator of Virginia, heard concluding his sermon to a backwoods congregation: 

“Socrates died like a philosopher, but Jesus died like a God!”

I have been asked whether this play would ever be successfully introduced into America or England.  I think there is some danger that it may be secularised and turned into a mercenary institution.  Instead of the long ride by carriages over rough mountain roads for days and days, as formerly was necessary in order to reach Ober-Ammergau, there are now two trains a day which land tourists for the Passion Play, and among them may appear some American theatrical manager who, finding that John Zwink of Ober-Ammergau impersonates the spirit of grab and cheat and insincerity better than any one who treads the American stage, and only received for his wonderful histrionic ability what equals forty-five pounds sterling for ten years, may offer him five times as much compensation for one night.  If avarice could clutch Judas with such a relentless grasp at the offer of thirty pieces of silver, what might be the proportionate temptation of a thousand pieces of gold!

The impression made upon Dr. Talmage by the Passion Play was stirring and reverent.  He described it as one of the most tremendous and fearful experiences of his life.

“I have seen it once, but I would not see it again,” he said, “I would not dare risk my nerves to such an awful, harrowing ordeal.  Accustomed as I am to think almost constantly on all that the Bible means, the Passion Play was an unfolding, a new and thrilling interpretation, a revelation.  I never before realised the capabilities of the Bible for dramatic representation.”

We went from Ober-Ammergau to that modern Eden for the overwrought nerves of kings and commoners—­Baden-baden, where we spent ten days.  At the end of this time we returned to Paris to enjoy the Exposition at our leisure.  Paris is always a place of brightness and pleasure.  King Leopold of Belgium was among the distinguished guests of the French capital, whom we saw one day while driving in the Bois.  We made visits to Versailles and the palace of Fontainebleau.  The Doctor enjoyed these trips into the country, and always manged to make his arrangements so that he could go with us.  From Paris we went to London for a farewell visit.  Dr. Talmage had promised to preach in John Wesley’s chapel in the City Road, known as “The Cathedral of Methodism.”

On Sunday, September 30, 1900, the crowd was so great that had come to hear Dr. Talmage that a cordon of police was necessary to guard the big iron gates after the church was filled.  The text of his sermon that day was significant.  It may have been a conception of his own life work—­its text.  It was taken from a passage in the eleventh chapter of Daniel:—­

“The people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits.”