Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-13
WHEN SALOME GETS RELIEF
One Night Each Year She Has q
Respite from Fate.
PRAYER FOR PEACE HER REST
Legend Of Christmas Eve ana the
EternalIy Condemned Daughter OF
Hcrodiss, who Dances At the
North Pole.

At the North pole where the auroral
lights blaze splendidly. the ~eternally con-
demned daughter Of Herodlas. the beauti-
full and sinful Salome, Is supposed to dance
frRntically by night and by day. There is
frenzy in the white feet on the cold glacial
earth; there Is Madness IN her hands as
she unwinds and twines the flmy wells.
The soul Of salome knows no rest. She
dances and dances ~eternaily, ever before
her vision the specter OF the bloody head OF
the murdered John. The soul OF Salome
laughs and her laughter shudders over the
solitary regions where only sorrowful spir-
It's wander. The soul Of salome weeps, and
there Is no one TO comfort her.
But on the blessed night legend says that
salome is released from the madness Of
the dance and on her knees she kneels and
prays and rests during this single night.
Italians tell of Befana, the little old
woman who stnl travsrses the earth seek
Ing for the Wise Men.
When the three princes were on their
way to Bethlehem they stopped at a little
cottage-the dwelling OF Befana-
The Wise Men were weary and needed
rest. They were hungry and needed food.
SO they knocked at Befana's door. But.
in a sharp voice, she told them she was
buHg ana Luey EuOuAQ cali again.
A Lost Opportunity.
In replt they told Befaua they were on
their way 80 visit the Holy Child: they told
Of the vision they had seen and the star
which guided them. But, In a stnl sharper
voice, Befana said she was busy sweeping
and she would look for them when they
came back.
The Wise Men pursued their way. On
THAR ratrrp rhav tOnE anafhar ro,,fo 90
Befana watched in vain. She waited day
after day to see the three princes and hear
OF the birth OF the new king; she listened
by night to hear their raps upon her door.
D%espairing OF their return. she set out
to find them-and she has been wandering
over the earth ever since. At Christmas
time the children Of Italy speak OF Be
fana in hushed voices-even as the chill
dren of this country speak OF Santa Claus.
For Befana, at the season Of the holy
birth, becomes suffused with kindness and
a great love OF children. All the bitterness
OF her soul passes away and TO the good
little bambinoes she gives all manner OF
wonderful gifts.
To wicked children she gives stockings
filled with ashes. Sometimes, after she has
taught the needed lesson and the little one
has become penitent she will visit the
house a second time and leave gifts.
In Lapland a gigantic youth is believed
to ride through the air on a goat. On St
Thomas day ne is said to begin visits to
the homes Of the people. which he con-
tinues until Christmas eve. Then he disap-
pears. Where he goes nc one knows
Whence he came none can tell.
witches Make n Night of IL.
In parts of Germany and France the
/. peasants declare that Christmas eve all the
witches rise in the air and hold high car.
n.val. Prayers are said and the minds OF
me people are concentrated upon the cele-
lT.-i-n OF the holy time. The witches. they
te. w.th bGted breath. on this night try to
,Sorc.sc their power over men and divert
tGe.c minds from the contemplation of
sacred things. And woe unto the man who
falls into the power OF the baletul womer
on this holy night!
Come witches Use straight up toward the
moon. it is said, on the backs Of geese