The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1897-02-27

affairs. The horses are to be pitied,
first, because they are not well cared
for, and second, because their drivers
are regular Jehus who drive them 'fu-
riously' uphill and down. In less than
an hour we are in the marketplace 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 he 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 1900 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 Nativity was not then
erected, MOI were any Of the large re-
ligious buildings we see. These are the
memorials of a later date, built in
honor of Him whose early life began
here. One would have to be unmindful
of his surroundings and very unimag.
NATIVE 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 Deem.
Der "a, it was filed with people. But
those people had come for a different
purpose. Augustus Caesar, the master
of the then known world, had issued an
imperial decree ordering a general reg.
~istration of all his subjects. This was
for the purpose of revising or complet.
ing the tax-lists. According to Roman
law, people were to register 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,
It was well known that he and Mary
were of the tribe of Judah and family
of David, and that Bethlehem WIS their
ancestral home. Accordingly, they left
the Nazareth home, in the territory OF
Zebulun, and came tGi David's ''own
city" in the territory of Judah.
They came dowA to the east bank Of
the Jordan, crossed the river of Jericho,
and came up among the Judean hills
and valleys till they reached Bethlehem
1T was a long journey, and a wearisome
one; and, on arriving, a place of rest
was the first thing sought. Evidently
they had no friends living in the place;
OF, if they had, their houses were al
ready filled. It was necessary that
shelter be had, and Immediately. In
the khan, or inn. there was no room;
SO there was nothing to do but occupy
a part of the space provided for cattle
1t was not an unusual thing to do, and ia
often done to-day in the eastern viii
lagos. In fact, they were about as
comfortable there as in the khan. Al
a khan one may procure a 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 ia the inn.
had there been room for them. And here
in Bethlehem, in. q stable, or a cave
used for stabling animals, Jesus wa
born, and Mary wrapped him in swad
ding clothes, and laid him in a man
ger."-Edwin S.Wallace.in st. Nicholas