The San Francisco call., 1898-12-18

this valley is very steep and resembles & circus with low parallel walls. which keep the earth from sliding down, and have the form of tier on tier of seats. This valley presents charming ap pearance clothed as it is with an abun- dant vegetation in which vines. fig. olive and almond trees abound.
 The view from the top of the ascent is bounded on the north by the hill of Mar-Elias and on the west by the Mountains of the Desert, where St. John dwelt; on the east Beit-Sahour rises from the little hill where Ruth gleaned the ears of grain in the fields of BoaZ, while beyond can be seen the several stony hills, called the Wilder ness. Still further to the east the rocks of Mount Moab stretch along like a wall, the base of which is bathed by the waters of the Dead Sea. On the south Mount Herodion forms a regu- lar cone, on the summit of which a few ruins indicate the site of the castle of Herod. It was here that the tetrarch was inferred and later the Crusaders raised defensive works; hence its more modern appellation of the Hill of the Franks.
 Where Christ Was Born.
 The Grottos of the Nativity are a series of natural caves. extending for a considerable distance in the noun tains, forming chambers connected with each other. AS a matter of fact shepherds watching their fiocks from the hills avail themselves of these shell ters in cold or bad weather. and it was in them that Mary and Joseph. finding no place in the caraVanSary, decided to take refuge. ~ tradition as the exact birthplace of the Christ is situated in the lower part of one of these caves reached by two slopes, now converted into flights of stone steps.
 Between the two sets of steps is a slight depression which tradition indi- cates as the spot to which Mary retired when the divine child was born. It was only after the birth that she car ried him few paces to a more com modious place, more sheltered from the cold, where 1t was possible to give the cave something of the semblance of 8 room.
 There, says the legend, were some animals; an OK and an ass. However that may be, Mary found something there to serve the purpose of a crib in which to lay her new born child. This crib, or manager, as 1t is generally call ed is now preserved in the Church of Santa- Maria aggiore at Rome, where it is visited and Yenerated by numerous pilgrims.
 LOIdL4On Ol biiC ASliplGSs
 The place rendered sacred by the birth of the Savior, naturally, has been goal of pilgrimage to many thou sands besides myself The early Chris tians hocked to 1t in crowds. After the revolt of the Jews, under Bar -Cochba, the Emperor Hadrian had a temple to Jupiter erected on the Mount of Olives, on the very scene of the ascension; a temple to Venus on Golgotha, and one to Adonis above the Grottos of Bethle- hem. These three temples remained standing for one hundred and eighty years, thus providential1y attesting the sites of these venerated sanctuaries un- til the time when St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, replaced them with basilicas in honor of Jesus Christ.
 The Basilica of Bethlehem is still standing and with the exception of the facade which is hidden by massive buildings, is almost intact.
 The interior consists of five naves, divided by rows of columns with Corin- thian capitals, which were probably taken from the ruins of the Temple of Jerusalem, doubtless the source of much of the material used in the basiii- cas of St. Helena, which were erected In a very short space. of time.
 Where the Shepherds Watched.
 Many have wondered how it was possible for the shepherds to be watch ing n the open air at the time when Christ was born. The place where the peared to them is supposed to have word signifying 1.-The House of the