The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-26

The next morning we set out for Beth
lehsm, which is two hours distant from
Jerusalem, when the journey IS made with
out deviation. Our guide thought it better
TO show US Solomon's pools than to pursue
a direct course TO the place Of our Lords
nativity. Accordingly we visited these
wonderful specimens Of skillful engineer
ing, which are even at this day the ad-
miration Of the world. Probably no other
specimen Of all the architectural creations
referred TO in the Old Testament is 50 we'll
preserved as these gigantic pools, which the
wisest Of the Hebrew mOnarchs built for
| the purpose OF insuring a bountifUl supply
of water for his gardens. They are now
nearly 5000 years old, and In their majesty
still attest in silent eloquence the great re-
! sources and cOusummate skill Of the man
who built them.
On our way to Solomon's Pools we saw
what is known as the Hill of Evil Counsel,
where Judas Iscariot hanged himself; also
the Potter's Field, which was bought as a
burial ground for strangers, with the thirty
pieces Of silver that the repentant betrayer
of lis Lord refused to take of those who
had negotiated with him to reward him for
his treachery.
After returning from the pools we pro-
ceeded directly to Bethlehem, the city of
David Unlike the other cities Of Palestine
we found that It is inhabited mostly by
u
no Jews. It's streets are narrow lanes barely
admitting a wagon of average width. We
had hardly passed the gates leading into
the city when our horses stopped suddenly.
The street was blocked by a camel.
which being frightened at the noise made
by our wagons, refused TO stir an inch.
After a good deal of effort he was turned,
his head in the opposite direction from
where it had been, and then led around the
hlncLy fn 10 for ne IN m IN
While the commotion incident to the revo-
luton of tae beast was in progress, DR..
Talmage and the writer left the vehicle
and undertook to walk by way of change,
but the slush and filth OF the streets were 50
great as to compel us to return to our can
Yss-covered barouche Thanks in great
part to the demonstrativeness of our driver,
who was a Turk evidently in the habit of
making his way in the world, we managed
to pass through the throngs Of people
crowding the street and reached the Church
of the Nativity.
We were received very politely by
monk, who undertook to act as our guide.
He spoke English fairly we'll, aud did his
best to explain every nook and corner of
the structure. Before taking US down stairs
where the manger was in which the Savior
first saw the light of day, he handed each Of
us lighted candle. He then led the way
down to a series of natural grottoes which
present the appearance Of a khan or inn
such as are still seen in Palestine. At the
head of one of these rooms, formed in the
solid rock, is brilliantly lighted represen-
tation of the Savior'S birth. This was
pointed out as the exact spot occupied by
the manger in which reposed the holy child.
After he had reverently surveyed the
place, DR.. Talmage remarked 1.-THE gate
through which our Lord entered this world
was a gate Of rock-a hard, cold gate-and
the gate through which he departed was a
swing gate of snarpened spears"
Whel we had returned TO an ante-room of
the church our guide invited us to partake
of refreshments. He had prepared for US
excellent tea and nice white bread. This
since leaving Cairo, and the honey he served
to us was dellciously acceptable. As the
friendly monk had refused to take COM
pensation for his companionship as our
guide, Dr. Talmage insisted on paying for
the refreshments we had taken, and availed
himself of the opportunity he found in this
way quietly to bestow a considerable sum
in acknowledgement OF the courtesy and
hospitality with which we had been treated.
On our way back to Jerusalem we passed
Jewish cemetery, which lies under the
shadow of the Temple Hill. The Hebrew
believes that there will be the scene of the
great Judgment. Four tombs hewn out of
\ the solid rock attract observation by their
superior size and imposing appearance. OF
these the tomb of Absalom is the largest
1t stands apparently nearly fifty feet high,
and is certainly not less than twenty feet
square. Accounting for the large amount
of rubbish about the base of this monument
is the fact, as i was informed, that the
faithful Israelite does not pass it without
throwing at it a stone to indicate his con-
tempt for David's disobedient aud wayward
son. The stones thus thrown have made a
ragged edged opening in the tomb of about
fifteen inches in diameter, and about eight
feet from the ground. l was further told
that it is necessary to clear the monument
once year of the accumulation of stones,
which, often accompanied with curses, are
hurled at the supposed tomb of King Da-
vid's handsome son. LOUIS KLoPsCH.