The Washington bee., 1893-12-23


The cortege, having traversed the
transcept Of the basilica and descended
into the grotto of the patriarch, stops
in front Of the spot where the child
Jesus was born. The patriarch places
the manger and child in the hands Of
one of his followers and begins to
chant the story of the Nativity as told
by st. Luke. Then the prelate takes
the child again and placing it upon a
silver star continues the service, with
notifications of the sacred text appro
pirate to the occasion and the special
surroundings. AS the prelate says the
words which tell how the Holy Mother
brought into the world her first born
son he takes the child again, wraps it
, in fine laces and chants:
"And here they wrapped 1t in
clothes"
Then he walks to the marble manger
and places in it the image of the new
born child, at the same time chanting
the words:
"And here they laid it in manger
because there was no place for them
at the inn"
This service often lasts until 2 o'clock
In the morning, and Is finished by a
''Te Deum'' and "God Save the Repub-
ic." All Bethlehem watches this
night, and the people, men, women and
children, remain until day breaks with
lighted candles in their hands in the
neighborhood of the basilica.
Bethlehem is of all the cities in the
Orient or in Palestine the most Chris.
tian. In a population Of a little more
than 5000 inhabitants there are hardly
100 Mohammedans. 1t Is a fact not
generally known that the Bethlehem
ties are lineal descendants Of the cru
saders. They prove it to you by long
parchments in which their genealogy
is traced out elaborately. Indeed,
there is no need Of such proof, for the
Ayrian type is plainly seen in their
features. Under their Oriental garb
one is surprised to find yellow hair and
blue eyes which in no way resemble
the typical Arab or Syrian. These
peculiarities are not found in Jeru-
salem, which city was too great to be
absorbed by the crusaders, whereas the
little burg Of Bethlehem was entirely
peopled by them and has remained the
residing place of their descendants un-
til the present day.
Not only are the people Of Bethlehem
unique in the matter of physical traits
but they have the spirit Of enterprise
and activity of mind and economy
which are not less rare in the East
than are the blond hair and blue eyes.
They devote themselves almost entire
ly to the fabrication of pious souvenirs,
which are carried away in immense
quantities by tourists and pilgrims.
1t is literally true that in most Of
their domestic customs, such as mar
riages and funerals, the same practices
are in use to-day as existed in biblical
times The woman Of Bethlehem wears
a costume which is most picturesque,
long garment without fastening at
the waist colored in stripes of blue,
red, yellow and green, and covered at
the throat with fine embroidery under
which are shown short brick-colored
vests embroidered with arabesque fig
ures in yellow. Her head-dress is not
less striking, being composed Of red
colotte, spangled with pieces of silver,
which, together with necklaces formed
in the same way, make up her dowry.
The woman of Bethlehem is also ia
nous for her beauty, with regular and
fine features, skin where pink and
white struggle for the mastery, and
an expression at once demure and
grave, which seems peculiarly appro-
pirate for these fair descendants Of the
Blessed Virgin.