The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-12-21
IN THE HOLY LAND.
CHRISTMAS DAY AS IT NOW IS IN
bethlehem.
The Moderately of Jerusalem - The
scene of the Nntivity-Incongruo
Visitors In the sacred Grotto.
ChrIstnns Night Rituals.

AN aboard for Jerusalem, Ramleh,
Artouf and tho tomb Of Samson -
Tho poet Inmnrtino, writing, of tho
Holy Land In his "Moditntions" sixty odd
years ago, tells OF buying nm arsenal of
pistols, HaberH and other weapons to arm
His company against tho Crook pirates
whe infested tho archipelago sca and of
diyorH other dangers which made tho
journey to Jerusalem fun Of danger aud
oxoitomont
Nowadays an un0vontful sail on ono OF
the MessaRerie's steamers brings ono to
Alexandria. Another stop occurs Mt Port
Snid Just long enough to tnko u cocktail
served solomnly by II barkoepcr In white
erhvat, his establishment being In "A six
story building of iron framework, with
nothing In tho lonHt oriental about II.
Then tho next morning your boat Is bob
bling up and down In sight Of Jaffn. Tho
deck swnrms with priests and eccloslastic-
al travellers, representing all tho countries
and religions In the civilized world, and
soIuo that are not civilized which puts
tho sailors In "a bad humor. as thoy be-
lieve that priests on board bring bad luck.
Close by the sea at n short distance from
the city u railway station stands little
ono, 1T IL true, but genuine.
Ii Is strange experience indeed riding
to Jerusalem behind n pulling and wills.
tlinR locomotive.
After having passed through fragrant
gardens the limo opens into II plain famous
in Bible history as tho garden of Pales-
tine. This was tho land Of Canaan the
country Of tho philistlneB spreading away
under our eyes in tho clear oriental atmos-
| phero, bounded In tho distance by tho
vague blue lines Of the mountains Of .Iu-
| darn
7 he train riIshcs onward, and now tho
! distant points of the mountains of .Iudea
! grow plniner ON the right in the dis
! tHuce "a white point marks the tomb OF
Samson aud IA little further ON second
white point, 10 tho left this time, Is said
to show tho place where he was born.
Fiunlly one reaches .IcrushlcIn and in
spite of dreams and spiritual exaltation 1T
IL impossible to deny TINT tho first effect
IL disappointing. ono passes into the
Holy city through streets and avenues
which resemble nothing 50 much rs tho
nnattractiye thGroughfares which run ont
Of Paris from tho st Oucn quarter
There is nothing in tho least oriental
about them Instead Of Zion and Golgotha
ono secs only rod roofs and long new build
inps with monotonous lines OF windows
which look like hospitals and orphan asy-
lums.
Passing outside tho walls Of Jerusalem
one trayerscs tho valley Of Gehenna sees
Jobs we'll with its white oupola and then
finds himself advancing up tho slopes OF
Mount Zion which stands to the left.
Continuing along tho road ono passes a
4 Jewish city which was commenced by Sir
Moses Monteiloro with tho idea that II
would be inhabited by poor people Of the
Hebrew faith and Of late years crowds OF
this prosecuted race havo been coming to
the land of their ancestors and to this par
ticular city from all parts Of the world.
Arrived at Bethlchem ono naturally
hastens 10 soc tho scenes of tho Nativity,
full of expectation and yet ready to be dis
appointed. The Mount of Olives, Golgotha,
tho sacred sepulohre, all were in my eyes
spoiled for the want Of that exquisite sim
plicity which bad filled my childish Vi