Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21

The Christian world has an undyIng In
terest In the little town Of Bethlehem,
Judea, and as Christmas day draws near
how natural that our thought should turn
In the direction Of that historic and sacred
city. My journey from Jerusalem to Beth
lehem ten years ago IN company with a
dozen others on horseback Is still green in
my memory. II was a delightful ride amidst
the most thrilling scenes and associa-
lions. II should be remembered that the
people and country Of Palestine are much
the same today as In the time OF Christ
or in the days Of David. 1900 years ago;
hence the interest and profit of a visit to
that land today by Christian people. Tho
Inhabitants OF the land stin journey on
foot or ride on donkeys and camels. as in
the olden time. You may now see two
persons sitting on the ground facing each
other and grinding at the old hand stone
mill, as in the time Of our Savior.
The road from Jerusalem 70 Bethlehem
10 excellent and runs through a picturesque
country. The country was at its best when
I saw II, having just came out of the spring
rains and clothed In It's richest garments.
The white macadamized road running through
a land Of rich and beautiful green looked
like a broad, white chalk mark across a
green brussels carpet. Good roads are in
dicative of civilization, but Palestine has
few of the former and little Of the latter.
This lovely road to Bethlehem was not
made by the indolent native Arabs, but by
the more enterprislng Franciscan monks.
Travelling over this fine road made me think
of the great roads Rome built in many
places of its empire, some OF which I had
recently seen, particularly the Appian way,
remains of which are still to be seen after
more than 1000 years of use.
This road to Bethlehem is one Of the most
sacred and historic of earth. Ruth and
Naomi, living in the neighborhood OF
Bethlehem. had doubtless trodden II many
times, as also had Boaz, who married Ruth.
Abraham must have taken this route as he
journeyed to Jerusalem from the south to
offer Isaac on Mount Moriah. Jacob would
naturally have taken the same. going from
father's home to his Uncle Laban's in the
far northeast. David and solomon must
often have journeyed this way. since the
former was born at Bethlehem and the lat
ter had famous pools of water somewhat in
that direction. The wise men In going from
Jerusalem to Bethlehem would take this
very road, as did Joseph and the virgin
when going to Bethlehem to be taxed. and
also when they returned TO Jerusalem to
present the young child to the Lord In the
temple. One has peculiar thoughts and
feelings journeying over a road at once SO
historic and sacred.
A Point of Traditional Interest.
A short distance from Jerusalem we came
TO where tradition says the star of the
east" reappeared unto the magi, which ira
dition is not out Of harmony with the scrip
ture account Of the same. General Lew
Wallace in his immortal Ben Hur" tells
OF the strange meeting OF three men, one
each from India, Persia and Greece. on the
plains OF Arabia, and that a star suddenly
appeared to them when they mounted their
white csmels and one after another started
after the star which went before. looking
like s~pecters fleeing from their shadows.
The nature OF this star has been variously
viewed by different writer's. some holding
II was a sort Of Jack-o'-lantern, others
that II was a conjunction Of planets or a
real star. while others considered It the
holy ghost or a star made by the Lord for
that special occasion. Whatever II was.
whether nature or revelation, 1t led to the
Christ Of history. just as all things were
intended to do. We have now reached the
grave of Rachel, a plain. arched, houselike
tomb by the wayside. This devoted wife
was accompanying her husband. Jacob. back
TO his old home, when she died here en-
route, and here she was buried. 1t has
always seemed to me that IL was sad that
this noble woman's body should have to
sleep in this lonely place and in a strange
land. instead of with the dust OF her loved
ones at her old home. But II is often the
case that people must be buried In a strange
land or in the deep blue sea. How tenderly
our government cared for its soldiers who
died in the Philippines and Cuba, bringing
home as many of them as possible to be
buried in their native land near their
friends and loved ones.
Here is Davies we'll in the suburbs OF
Bethlehem. Abundance OF good water was
sften an object In Palestine, because OF