The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-25

the rider standing straight out and
bohbing up and down as 1t did so.
Bethlehem In 1910.
The Bethlehem OF to-day stands on
the site of the Saviour's birth. 1t is on
the top and side of a hill. 1t Is mass
of box-llSe one, two and three-story
houses, built along winding streets,
which here and there are arched by
the houses The building material is
from the limestone quarries nearby,
and the town has many quarrymen and
masons. Entering, we find the business
parts made up of cave-like stores and
rude workshops, In which the Bethle-
hemites are making the rosaries.
crosses and articles of wood and
mother-of pearl for sale to the tour
lists and pilgrims. Fully half OF the
population is engaged in this business,
the rosaries being shipped from here
to all parts of the world. They are
sold to both Mohammedans and Chris
tians, and are used to keep count of
ones prayers. There are also many
crucihxes of ivory and articles OF olive
abroad. The people are thrifty and
they seem well-to-do. The town is
the cleanest in Palestine, and It's ma
tives have an independent spirit, which
you do not find in Jerusalem. This
may be from the fact that there are
no Jews In the city and comparatively
few paupers, nearly every one support
ing himself
The Church OF the Nativity.
The grotto or cave in which Christ
was born is in the very heart of the
Bethlehem OF to-day There is an
open square in front of It, surrounded
NV oto oh
church known as the Church OF the
Nativity has been built over 1t. This
church Is entered by door which looks
like square hole cut through stone
wall. It is so low that all who enter,
even the children, must stoop. AS I
started to go In saw a Bethlehem wo-
man with a. babe in her arms standing
outside. The baby was small, and T
could imagine the woman as Mary and
the child as the Saviour. I took coin
out of my pocket and asked her to
pose for my camera, She did SO, step
ping into the sun. Nearby was a
bearded Syrian In turban and gown,
and at first thought he might make
good Joseph to pose with my Mary.
He was In the shadow of the church
Upon my bringing him into the light
found that he was beggar and not
At for the picture; SO enriched him
with gift of cents and sent him
back to his seat.
The Stable and It's Manager,
The Church OF the Nativity Is of
great size. 1t belongs to the Greeks,
Latins and Armenlans. each of whom
has a. share IN the church proper and
Is compelled to worship in turn and
In his own quarters. Mohammedan
soldiers are always on guard to keep
them from quarrellng, and this Is so not
only in the church itself, but In the
grotto or stable below, where they
believe Christ was born.
This grotto Is sort of a cave
reached by winding staircase which
goes down from the church. The cave
Is twelve feet wide and forty feet
long. and it's roof Is perhaps ten feet
above the floor. The floor is covered
with marble. Many lamps hang from
tho roof and the walls, and there Is
an altar at one end, under which Is
silver star set into the pavement,
and above 1t an inscription in Latin
stating that this was the spot upon
which tho Virgin Mary gave birth
to Christ. AT one side OF the cave is
recess called the "Chapel OF the
Manger," where 1t is said the Saviour
was laid after Els birth, The, manger
Is of brown and white marble, and
wax doll lies in 1t representing the
Christ The Latins claim that they
their cathedrals In Rome, It Is shown
every Christmas
AS 7 stood in the stable not far from
the manager party of twenty Francis
can monks came in and knelt down
and sang a service concerning the ma
tivity They We're burly men, with
shaved heads and long boards. They