The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-25

Love One Another-services Held BY
Many Races Near the Place Where lie
as Little Child Lay beneath the Warm
Breath of the kine-The Scenes De-
scribed in Detail.
II is Christmas eve in Bethlehem.
The sun has set behind the bleak hills
of Judea and night envelops the city
where Christ was born.
But here and there from small wood
en- cottages, 41uddled together in mar
row, winding streets, the light of can
dies filters out of narrow windows. 1t
multiplies in the growing darkness.
seeming to spread from house 10 house.
At last not one is left in gloom and the
streets are aglow with the reflected
radiance.
1t is an unusual spectacle al an hour
when, on every other night, the people
sink into slumber as the sun goes down
and no other light takes the place of
day. But more unusual still is the bus
tie within when the evening meal Of
corn and oLvesshas been dispatched.
The women, fairer than all others in
Palestine, strip themselves Of the jew
eled ornaments which form part Of
their lives. Wide bead bracelets are
taken from their slender wrists; mar
rover circles Of polished pebbles strung
on thin gilt wire are unclasped from
the olive-colored arms; necklaces and
jeWeled pendants worn in the nose and
ears are laid aside and "a simple white
Veil thrown over the head and hang
ing down the back takes the place Of
these ornaments
The men. strong and lusty, some just
returned from tending the flocks on
the very hills where David kept his
fathers sheep, put on a fresher sash
ana are ready to Join the women
Now. in rapid succession, the candle
lights begin 10 fade away, the streets
grow dark again, but the noise of
tramping feet fills the air as the cot
tage-s start on their journey up the
winding hill to begin the ceIebra ton of
she natal day of Christ.
But in the distance other groups are
seen approaching from the two ancient
and ltottering gates of the city. Pill
gIins from many lands are nearing the
SJal, in some cases of a life's longing.
from whatever part they come they
are entering Bethlehem along the we'll
beaten path from Jerusalem, the path
trance they passed the well. stin rich
IN sweet water where the wise men
from The east" stopped to drink and
saw The guiding star mirrored where
their lips touched. They saw on an
eInlne1ce the Convent Of Elias, where
tEe great prophet rested when he fed
from the Infamous Jezebal
To the east rises the sepulcher of
Rachel now q modern building. a small
dome surmoulIng a square church at
on erd.
And they journeyed from Bethel
and there was still some way TO come
- Epra IN. And Rachel died and was
buried ia 5he way 10 Ephrath (the same
IS HttliehenD and Jacob set up a pillar
upon her grave; the same is the pillar
of Rachel's grave unto this day
The pillar is gone, but the pilgrims
could see the monument that typifies
Jacobs gift that was to the world more
than 70 RacheI's memory.
Trough the city the company of pil-
GriDls hurTies. merging at last with the
cottE S-s IN the journey to the common
destination. IN the Hill they plod 10
the eastern brow of the ridge, until
tney reach an cpen esplanade. Here.
Ilk- a feudal castle, stands the Church
of the Nativity. the oldest Christian
edlice in the world. It consists of the
church proper and three converts. Lat
IN. Greek and Armenian. abutting. ~e-
Spcctively. on the north. east and south
sides. Into the common entrance the
crowd pours and the murmuring and
tread of feet are enyeloped in the thick
walls
It IS still early evening. and az inter
Vols. as the hours wear on. groups of
W2yfarers emerge from the densely
wooded road, stand revealed a moment
IN the open space and disappear in the
great doorway To the church.
For one who fingers without the wall
there is an awesome spectacle. like a
vision On every side rise hills and
ragged peaks, deeply outlined in the
sky Nesting between are pheasant
valleys. rich in culture and thicklv
wooded here and there. Extending
down close 10 the vineyards is the grim
wilderness. giving forth a intervals !
the roars OF the wild beasts Gloom I
every where, born Of bloodshed. oppres- |
SION, centuries Of strife. hut now a 4
gloom OF peace and a sort of solemn /
content. Fanatical AIoslems and near /
by Bedcuins, who live in tents. at times
grow turbulent, but soon quail before 1
Turkish soldier. who rules all with a .
rod Of steel On this night, however
all IS quiet and peaceful in the valleys
and hills. With all hearts set on that
last approaching hour which shall ush-
=r IN another year of memory of the
new king.
The great church has been filing
-4st Greeks from afar here meet
freeks who dwell near Bethlehem. and
oEetheT they are partaking of the pre-
ID IA a. -,1-
he Greek convent In the Armenian
convent the Gevoteas Of that sect are
nterchanEing greetings. while in the
latin section the franciscan monks
Ire caring for the Europeans or
Americans who have become their |
guests.
The natives, in the meantime. have
sought the church direct. and have ,
aiken their places at the various aItars. |
'acA according TO his faith. Latin.
Treek or Armenian. The main origi-
.al structure. erected in 32z \. d, by
Empress Helena, contains the two sec
ions assigned 70 rhe Greeks and Ar
ae0!ans. These are of the same size.
\ larger section, on the north side. is
eserved for the Latin church. Each
hlling fast. for the ceremony. whose
influence ILLS the spheres, begins at !
midnight
AS the hour draws nigh the affairs in
ne three churches burst forth into a |
iaze OF candle-lighL and the solemn |
ldill q me priests opens the mother |
I all church festivals"
As the service goes on one can faal
hat something OF the ardent longing
-i,h Which The priests and people have
cen looking forward 10 this moment i :
eng satisfied. The solemn antiphones
allied the g-ea, 'O's. which have bon
lng during ne eight days previous +.
re. in their climax. like deep sighs
-on : ysarl.nE. waiting haart Tha :