The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-12-16
The City OF Bethlehem.

1t is little city, and it does not
take many people to crowd it but,
besides being the birthplace Of Jesus,
it is the birthplace of Israel warrior
king, David.
Bethlehem to-day has barely eight
thousand inhabitants, and in appear
ance is not attractive. The streets
are too narrow for vehicles in fact,
there is but one street in the town
wide enough for carriages, and it is so
very narrow that they cannot pass
each other in it. The streets were
made for foot travellers, donkeys and
camels.
Bethlehem is about five miles south
of Jerusalem. Leaving the larger
city by the Jafa gate we take car
riage and ride rapidly over the fine
road built but few years ago. The
carriage We are in and those we meet
are wretched affairs. The horses are
to be pitied, first, because they are
not we'll cared for, and second, because
their drivers are regular Jehus, who
drive them ''furiously'' up hill and
down. In less than an hour we are in
the market place of Bethlehem, in
front of the Church of the Nativity.
Let us suppose we have arrived on
Christmas Eve, in time to wander about
and to become acquainted with the
little city.
Of course it has changed in appear
ance since the time of the birth of
Christ. 1t is larger and better built.
Now, as then, the houses are of stone,
and, as cities and customs change but
little in the East, we may safely infer
that modern Bethlehem houses are
much like those Of nineteen hundred
years ago. Perhaps some Of the old
buildings that were in existence so
long ago may still be standing. Of
course the great Church Of the Ma
tivity was not then erected, nor were
any of the large religious buildings
we see. These are the memorials Of a
later date, built in honor of Him
whose earthly life began here. One
would have to be unmindful of his
surroundings and very unimaginative
not to wonder what the place was like
on that night the anniversary of which
we are celebrating.
We know that then, as on this De-
cember 81, it was filled with people.
But those people had come for a diff
ferent purpose. Augustus Caesar, the
master of the then known world, had
issued an Imperial decree ordering a
general registration of all his subjects.
This was for the purpose of revising
or completing the tax lists. Accord
ing to Roman law, people were to reg
lister in their own cities-that is, the
city in which they lived, or to which
their village or town was attached.
According to Jewish methods they
would register by tribes, families and
the houses of their fathers. Joseph
and Mary were Jews, and conformed
to the Jewish custom. 1t was we'll
known that he and Mary were Of the
tribe of Judah and family Of David,
and that Bethlehem was their ances-
trail home. Accordingly, they left the
Nazareth home, in the territory of
Zebulun, and came to David's "own
city," in the territory Of Judah.
They came down the east bank OF
the Jordan, crossed the river at Jeri-
cho, and came up among the Judean
hills and valleys till they reached
Bethlehem. 1t was long journey,
and wearisome one; and, on arrlv-
ing, place of rest was the first thing
sought. Evidently they had no
friends living in the place or, if they
had, their houses were already filled.
It was necessary that shelter be had,
and Immediately. In the khan, OF
inn, there was no room so there was
nothing to do but occupy part of the
space provided for cattle. 1t was not
an unusal thing to do, and is often
done to-day in these Eastern villages.
In fact, they were about as comforta-
BILE there as in any khan. At khan
one may procure cup of coffee and a
place to lie down on the floor; but
each guest provides his own bed and
| covering. This was all Joseph and
Mary could have obtained in the inn,
had there been room for them. And
here in Bethlehem, in stable, or a
cave used for stabling animals, Jesus
was born, and Mary wrapped him in
swaddling Clothes. and laid him in a
manger. .'-Edoin S. Wallace, IN st.
Nicholas,