The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-25
NEAR THE MANGER
Continued From Seventh Page.
de virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus

de virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus
est"
Fifteen lamps, always burning. are
suspended in the recess, and one OF the
suitaas soldiers stands constantly on
guard. South from this spot IN a corner
is a small, separate cave, three steps
lower. and in this stands another tltar
OF the manager, but as the wooden man
ger, which was exhibited in sarLer times
was taken to Rome in 1856 by Pope
Stxtus V. very little interest attaches
now. even on ground OF antiquity. 10 the
crib OF colored marble shown here. a
prirung OF THE Alteration OF che Shep-
nerds, which covers the rock oahind.
3 OF greater interest Five silver lamps
swing before this also. Opposite IS the
Altar Of the Narger'' with another
painting IL throws additional dis
crust on the reliability OF these tr<adl-
tons tnat = door from the main cave
opa-1s INTO a hong, crooked. rough opea-
ing IN which are various al&a-S in nat
ural or artificial receSSsS. There IS che
for St Joseph and one for the lnnocents.
under whose altar Is a square latscc-d
window which IS said TO lead 10 a cave
where are buried the bones OF the slau-
entered babes Also one for EuSfolus
OF Crenoma, who hes there. and II the
cave at the west end OF the galley.
tornhs OF the holy Paula and her dSuga-
Ter EuStOchium. with THAI ~ Nheir
friend ST Jerome, whose cell. the scene
OF one version OF the scriptures. IS
pointed out a little beyond.
How different IS al this display from
the original surroundings OF ChTsst's
birthplace 4 simple, natural cave at
tstuhed TO the village inn, called
''kahan," or "caravanserai'' in the east,
IN which Joseph was obliged 10 house
his delicate and beautiful wife. Mary;
q cave where usually animals slept
Children sake no part in BE thlehem's
Chris tnlas except 10 kSten in ave 20 tire
solemn religious ceremonies OF the day
The only snow Is the white bud OF the
Star of Bethlehem before % blooms
on the hillside. The jackal in the Wild
e-ness is the grim substitute Of the
dainty reindeer. The mystery OF the
incarnation supplies the myth OF Santa
Claus.
II is a strange sight. this threeteold
ceremony. Not one OF the sects. even
in its religious fervor forgets the wars
OF the past in which each in turn has
been a conqueror and each conquered.
Now there IL not real union. but trace
that Will probably last forever. with
Jealousy and bitterness frsdually fad
Ing. but never disappearing.
The midnight mass is repeated with
something less OF solemnity thrice dur
ing Christmas day. But a more cheer
ful aspect is added TO the scene by the
presence in the outer court OF a host
OF vendors OF beads. They throng the
place on this day because Of the i'm
mense number OF pilgrims and travel
ers who seek to see the historic and
sacred places Of the church BY the sun
Light.
The snIidify NJ the struc41ira "a now
apparent and 1t is clear IL was built
for defense as well as worship. ON
many stones in the great walls are the
marks of conflict. In the main en-
trance are columns OF marble supposed
to have been taken from the porches OF
herod's Temple. The traveller who en-
tiers is at once besieged by the peddlers,
and is generally a willing victim II Is
the only suggestion OF the Christina as
II Is known in America that comes 10
Bethlehem. He buys a carving OF
beads, perhaps. or a cruifix. or a model
probably of the Cave OF the Nativity.
made Of olive wood. as a real Christ
mas gift for some one at home. He
then passes in turn through the Greek
and Armenian churches, each dotted
with silent worshipers. At one end OF
each church is a stairway that leads TO
the Grotto Of Nativity. He enters this
sacred place. however, by the stairway
from the Latin church. This grottO is
a low. irregular vault hewn in the rock.
thirty-eight feet long and eleven feet
wide. At the east end Is a semicircular
space, the ssnctum OF the whole struc-
ture, converts, churches and chapels.
on a marble slab in The pavement. with
a silver star in the center. Is this In
scription: