The Irish standard., 1899-04-08

again and again clrclcd the palm bear
ers headed by the priests The excite
mcnt was high and Wild and the monks
but urged it on Bands OF musicians
playing their Oriental instruments min
gled with the throngs. Soldiers were
stationed about. But there was no or
der. Only that mighty waving OF palms
and chanting OF hymns. A tall Abyssin-
ian father. with full flowing beard and
set, stern features, bore his palm leaf as
ii it were a cross. Beside him was the
rosy, dimplch face OF lad scarce 10
years old. his hands upraiscd and filled
with the heavy foliage. while his sweet
childish voice joined i'll the chant: "Hic
natus est Christus; hic natus est Chris
tus! (lere Christ was born,)
"A figure OF Il Mohammedan woman
wrapped i'll Il sheet and her face, never
uncovered outside the harcm, partially
concealed by Il drapc OF gauze brushed
against the somber garments oi some
Russian peasants come from the borders
OF Siberia. The women wore short dress
eS and high topped boots and plain white
kcrchieis about their heads in place OF
bonnets. The mems coats t1ared at the
bottom like wo1nan's skirt. and their
tall fur caps rose high above their heads
The market girls from Jerusalem rank
among the most beautiful women Of the
world. daughters OF the tropics that they
are. They wore high caps bound with
silver and gold coins outlined against
black velvet, from which long chains OF
coins hung down about their nccks The
Bethlehem women in their bright blue
petticoats and scarlet bodiccs, over
which fell softly the folds OF their fimsy
white hcaddrcsses. appeared in striking
contrast to the more ,lasling women of
Jerusalem. The Polish Jews in their
little lowered silk slawls, the Ethiopian
priest in tall black cap and gown, the
Bcdouin peasants in wide striped ycl-
low and white burfons and black katlir,
and the bronzc-iaccd Bcdouin girls in
gypsy dress gave dasl, OF color to the
scene that was heightened by the way
ing palms.
The marching. the chanting, the loud
screaming Of praycrs-ior an Oriental
prays that he may at least be heard Of
man-all continued for hours. Then the
multitude separated, and each faith
sought its private altar within the
Church Of the Nativity. ,...,, .. .... ........-
Each day during the week has its par
ticular form of celebration; the greatest
between Palm Sunday and Easter is
Holy Thursday. when the washing of
the feet OF the masses occurs at daylight.
The washing is done by the patriarch
himself, who washes first the feet OF the
bishops, then the lower priests. and then
those OF the entire people
Easter begins at midnight Mothers
take their sleeping babes from their
cradles and lay them in managers, as they
believe this action carries with it saving
grace. They go i'll drovcs to their places
OF worship i'll the convent OF Saint Clio
vanni, descending in rcvcrcn, humility
the three spiral staircascs. the Greek
the Roman. and the Armenian. to the
n1angcr below.
The spot where Christ was born is
marked by a small scnicircular niche
witt, long array oi constantly burning
silver lamps with softly tinted shades
which hang over a large silver star,
around which is inscribed: Here Jesus
was born OF the Virgin Mary"
The worshipcrs fall PROSTATE before
the star and pray will, the fcrvcnt in,cn-
sity OF alteration. first one and then an
other Of the three lines. They lay tro-
phics on the altar, removing them when
they have finished their monotone
chants. This continues until 4 o'clock
when all the bells in the city break forth
in mclodious accord. Simultaneously
starts the singing OF the invisible con-
vent choir
A procession above is preparing to
wind its way among the great Corinth-
ian columns said to have been in the last
temple OF Jerusalem. The procession is
headed by child in silver and white
robes bearing high above him cross
OF gold, preceded by great rolling clouds
OF incense. Behind him come band
OF priests, all carrying golden crosses
and many OF them having diamond
crosses hung on their breasts. The rich
brocadc OF their garments sweeps the
stone floors. On their heads are caps
OF white velvet bound with jewels; /;
across the shining brocadc are coats OF
velvet richly embroidered in gold and
silver threads, and deep laccs hang from
their sleeves.
Pages attend them, carrying masses OF
flowers. The patriarch walks in state,
surrounded by the perfume OF incense.
A massive cap OF gold, having in the
front huge ruby, adorns his head, from
which falls nimsy spangled and en-
brodercd gauzc that reaches below his
waist His brilliant skirts trail behind
him, heavy with the wealth OF Greece
and Turkey. In his hands is waxen
figure OF Christ. Behind him come
many monks in black robes and with
strands and strands OF mother -oi-pearl
beads wound about them. Women also