The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-17

tndu HIly years ago It's cOHlnB was al
most simultaneous with that of the Christ
mas tree. For both of these pictorial com
memoratons of the greatest festival of
the Christian year, we are indebted to
Germany. The Christmas tree in America
was long confined to the home of the Ger
man immigrant. Repatriation came to
us through England, where it was intro
duced by Queen Victorias consort, Prince
Albert, on the occasion, it is sad or
the first Christmas of the present Prince
of Wales The Christmas crib, unlike the
Christmas tree, was originally and re-
mains largely an expression of religious
faith and feeling In the churches of the
old world it never fails to interest the
traveller In the Catholic Churches of the
United States it has long ceased to be
novelty, while in the homes of Germans
and many foreigners, fac SMILES OF the
crib of Bethlehem, hold place of honor
beneath the Christmas tree. This latter
custom is rapidly becoming Americanized
and importers of church furnishings state
that every year mere is increased demand
for Christmas cribs for decorative and de-
votional use in the home.
The principal figures are the infant Christ
lying in the manger of straw. His Bless
ed Mother Mary, St Joseph, an OK, an ass
and shepherds. AS many more figures
may be added to the originals as desired
The figures are made of various compost
ton, from the finest iimoge at cost of
$,500 a set, TO plaster paris at 60 cents
a set. The latter come in little paper
boxes, like doll furniture. They are made
chiefly for children but often find their
way into poor country chapels. The fig
ures are painted in the traditional colors.
Most of the cribs and their fittings are
made in Paris, Munich and Bavaria, and
their importation to this country is a
crr1r rfr,rr for tn 10
To seize upon the popular Imagination
and impress upon the unlearned the vital
significance of the birth of the chi d
Christ ST. Francis, with Characteristic
simplicity, conceived CT a realistic repre-
sentation of the stable of Bethlehem on
that sacred night AS a medium of incu-
batting divine truth, The Christmas Glib of
the begging friar was in all prof. ability
The forerunner of the miracle plays Fear
full lest he should be accused of levity, st.
Francis, we are told, would not carry out
his original idea upon his own authority,
but sought permiss on from Pope Ho O.
RUS III. At the time st. Francis was Iiv-
ing at Grecia, a Little village not far from
Assist. When the eve of he nativity ap-
preached, he instruct ed a certain worthy
man called Giovanni to prepare an OK and
ass. a manger and all the common fit
tings of a stable for his use in TIE church.
Christmas eve, 81. FRI ncis and his breth-
leu dIIduStu ali ttl-Se lillnSS lIltO Il NlSt-
bic representation of the nativity scene
at Bethlehem. The manSer was filled with
straw, the animals We're led into the
places there were real shepherds from he
neigh oring hi IS. In sta II ng and realis-
tic detail he birth Of the infant Christ
was rep oduc ed, as it is to this day in the
churches of Southern Italy. The chroni-
cles state that 81. Fianois knelt by this
simple theatrical reproduction throug out
the solemn vigil, slghir for joy and I'll ed
with unspeakable sweetness. From that
time the Christmas crib has made its vay
into almost every Catholic church
throughout he word, but no where tn
more pictur sue and te Ii G effect than
in the Ara-Coefi, the famous church of
the Franciscan friars at Rome, the men,
dicant order founded by st. Francis of As
sisi.
One Of the side chapels is devoted to the
nativity During the yule tide it Is the
mecca of the popuface and tourists tarry.
ing In Rome. In the foreground is a grot-
to, in which is seated the Virgin Mary,
with St Joseph at her side, and the mirac-
ulous Bambino in her lap. Immediately
behind are an ass and an OK, as recorded
in scripture and depicted in the master
paintings of the nativity. On one side
kneel the shepherds and kings in adora-
ton Above, God, the Father, is revealed
surrounded by legions of cherubs and an
gels playing instruments as in the paint
ingS of Angelica and Raphael In the
background is a clever scenic representa-
ton of a pastoral landscape. Far away
shepherds guard the flocks, reposing under
palm trees or standing on green slopes
which glow in the sunshine. The prospec-
tives are admirable. In the middle ground
is a crystal fountain near which sheep
made of real wool, are feeding, tended by
figures of shepherds carved out of wood
Sthl nearer come women bearing great
baskets of real oranges and other fruits
on their heads. All the figures in the fore
ground are life-size, carved in wood paint
ed and dressed in appropriate colors The
miraculous bambinO is a painted doll
swaddled in white dress, which is incrust-
ed In magnificent diamonds emeralds and
rubies. The virgin also wears in her ears
superb diamond pendants. The Jewels are
the VotVe offerings of kings queens and
princesses, people Of blood and wealth, in
gratitude for answers to their prayers.
Inc general effect of the crib is wonderful
ly beautiful and crowds flock to it all 5av
long. Erected around one of the antique
columns OF the church, opposite the crib,
Is a stage. Ihere, while the people vener-
ate the infant Christ in the crib little
girls, plainly but neatly dressed. and
wearing wells on their heads, recite with
every KIND of pretty gesticulation SER
mons, dialogues and little speeches exnIan-
atory of the scenes portrayed in the grot
10 Inc preachers are always little girls
from 10 to u years Old. Bows are ton fopd
of play to go through the drilling imposed
upon these liliputian preachers. Their fac
ulties are less developed at that age than
are those of the girls. Then they know
mat when they grow up, they NAV become
priests and preach real sermons. while ~
the girls only chance, for when they are
older they must be silent In the
| churches"
The dialogues are in italian r4..
They are written for the little nreacbe,s
by their priests or some religious friend
and committed to memory and practiced
with appropriate gestures. over and over
again al home The children are often
very beautiful and graceful. and their pes
lures and intonations, their clasping of
hands and rolling up of eyes are amusing
and interesting. The little preachers ere
/ shrugs her shoulders and refuses ia 90 on
with her part An understudy, however
stands ready to take her pace, until