Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-12-31

its New Years presents as positive
proof of his coming.
Among the young he ranks as high :
as st. Nicholas In Russia, Germany ands
other countries; but among the old ne
is held in great veneration as one OF the
most eminent Greek Fathers. and also
as the most eloquent promoter OF mon
asticism throughout the East. BE-
Isides. he was a great philanthropist.
and an ardent apostle.
Caesarea, the capital OF the former
province of Cappadocia, was st. Basiis
native place. At the age OF thirty
three he was made presbyter. and
few years later bishop Of the same
city, a position which he held until
his death, A. d. 379.
Elaborate preparations are made Tor
his festival, which begins at an early
hour on the evening Of December sist'
The shopkeepers adorn their WINDOWS
with an attractive medley OF toys ana
holiday gifts. Oranges. dried and fresn
fruit, imported and domestic table DEL
icacies, candles. cakes, are either as
played in the show-cas or piled up IN
front Of the stores, which are extraSa-
gantly lighted up for the occasion. ana
| decorated with garlands OF colored pa
per skilfuliy cut out In the shape OF
natural flowers. From the ceilings. from
the top of the windows. they fnii IN
the chandeliers. from the pictures.from
grouped festoons.
The mild climate permits large
and variegated crowd to circulate
through the streets and gather In the
stores. and no sight Is more pictur-
esaue than a street In the East on 81.
Basils eve.
There are to be seen people OF COM
munities and races having nothing In
common but the land and the sur
rounding atmosphere: there are curious
contrasts OF complexion and wearing
apparel: there the genuine attire oil hve
races is on constant exhibition.
| You see, for instance. the long. loose
robes of the Jews. and the bright red
or yellow silk garments worn by their
wives. There are the short, wide
/ breechcs of the Turks. contrasting with
/ the long once OF the Rayahs. The small
red fez and the large vermillion one.
/ designed to hang down on one side OF
the face like the Phrygian cap. are
intcrmingled with the plain Derby and
black silk hats Of the European gentle
men. whose simple attire is made OBJ
trusively plain by the bright-colored
goods used by the natives.
Conceive. too. the variety Of gar
ments worn by the women. Imagine.
for instance. the Partisan dress and
bonnet of n European merchants
daughter. side by side with the loose
yellow breeches. the lilac doublet and
the long green veil OF a wealthy Ar
menian lady! Every day one sees en-
broidered bosoms. long garments some
times trimmed with fur. robes. cash
mere shawls and bright red silk slip
pers. on the women.
Among men II is not uncommon to
behold bare legs and gorgeous holiday
turbans: often a gallant Mohammedan.
covered with rags and filth. carries in
I. his belt an assortment Of Damascus
blades, yataghans and jewel-encrustcd
firearms. worth n small fortune.
Two singular customs contribute to
this holidays particular character: one
is the making of 'St. Basil's caks." the
other the singing Of n song through the
streets on the eve Of the saints al
legged birthday.
Elaborate preparations for the
kneading of the cake begin in every
house two days, at least. before the fes-
tival, for much labor is involved in its
CONNECTION. All the women Of the fam
lily squat OH rug, In the Turkish fash