Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-08-14
sIeHTs IN BETHLEHEM.
William E. c. lis Describes It as the
cieanest City in Palestine.

SicdUcSt Sity IN faitstiHc.
BETHLEnaA, june 2-twillam
e. Curtis in II Chicago Record-Her-
aid. - 1t deli. AZ the soul 10 find at
last a clean and well kept town in
Palestine. and the more so because it
is Bethlehem, a place which appeals
more strongly and deeply to the re
ligious and poetic sentiment than any
other on earth. because 1t has been the
scene OF the most beautiful idyls in
human history; for was it not here
that Ruth CLEANED in the fields OF Boaz,
and not only won a good husband but
became the mother OF long line OF
kings. and was it not here that Jacob
laid the body of his beloved Rachel?
Looking from the walls OF the convent
you can see the home OF Jesse. the
sheep, the farm of Boaz. the caves in
which David hid from Saul, the fields
in which the shepherds were abiding
keeping watch over the flocks by night
when they saw the star of Bethlehem.
and the paths by which they approach
ed the stable in which the young
child lay. All this scarcely seems
real but there 1t is, spread out before
you like an ordinary landscape. like
the views In any ordinary country, and
there are no fakes in the natural fea-
lures of Bethlehem. The landscape
is exactly the same this morning as it
was ON that memorable day when
Samuel came up from Gilgal to choose
king from among the chief men of
,Judea.
According to the legends, the star
fell into a well. and you can see it
there now. The rest is so real so
actually tangible that one is attempted
to believe that story, and l saw the
star myself. twinkling in the dark
water
1t is a delightful fourmile drive
from Jerusalem to Bethlehem over
sood road, between picturesque and
sunny landscapes. and every foot Of
the way is filed with historical as
sociations. We pass a great hospital
which Sir Moses Montellore built for
the benefit OF the poor of his race, and
the Temple Colony. where German
Lutherans from Wurtemburg and
Buffalo have set up a model town as
IN example to the inhabitants of the
Holy Land; the Hill OF Evil Ccancil;
one Of several trees on which Judas
is said to nave hanged Himself; the
country house of Calaphas; the house
of Simeon, who wanted to depart in
peace because his eyes had seen thy
salvation; the well at which Joseph
stopped to water his donkey when he
was on his way to Bethlehem; the
Concent OF the Cross, which was
founded by St Helena; there is the
earth that nourished the roots that
bore the tree that yielded the timber
that made the cross upon which the
Son of Coo was crucifed." Under
the altar of the chapel the monks will
show you a hole in the ground where
the stump Of the tree once stood and
pilgrims fall down and worship it.
Strange bands, these pilgrims, par
ticularly the Russians, but there are
many others. and they come from all
the corners of the earth in hunger and
Thirst, through frost and heat begging
food on the way and sleeping under
the stars at night, Their faith is
mighty. their zeal burning flame
and their satisfaction intense. Only
a soul entirely free from the trammels
of the world can llneel and kiss a mar
BILE slab which covers hole frfom
which tree is said to have been tax
en- 1000 years ago.
A little farther on is a castle of the
Knights of Maltz, which has been
standing here ever since the crusaders
1t overloolls the field of peas" so
called from a legend that Christ once
asked = man in that field what he was
sowing. The man replied Stones"
Whereuron tho seed peas in his pouch
turned to stone as punishment for his
impertinence to the Savior. and ever
since that field has produced peas of
stone. which are still found on the
spot and sold to pilgrims.
But soon VIC come to little mosque
built of coarse white limestone, with
low dome of masonry, that stands by
the roadside in most unattractive sur
ronndings. 1t is, however, one of
the most scored pieces on earth in the
minds OF severcal hundred millions of
people
About 1000 years ago young
sheikh named Jacob came along this
way He 'had. served a deceitful
father-in-law seven years for one of
his daughters and had been BETRAYED
into marriage with another. and then
had served seven years longer for the
right one His wives and little ones,
his man-servants and maidservants.
his oxen and his asses. his herds and
hocks followed him as he moved slow
ly toward Hebron. where his father
Isaac dwelt When they reached
Bethlehem. Rachel, the beloved wife.
for whom he had served fourteen
years. died in the pangs of mother
hood and was buried upon a green
slope by the roadside. There is some
thing remarkable, something inexpl-
cable that a man of Jacobs wealth,
under the circumstances should have
buried his beloved in such an exposed
and public place, and entirely among
when Machpelch, the sep
ulcher OF his ancestors. was at He
hron. only few miles away.
Long after this, when he was about