Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1911-03-10


lives in Jeopardy" We were
shown the fields with its group
of olive trees, where the angels
appeared to the Shepherds. The
church of the Nativity is said to
cover the site of the inn, in which
our Lord was born, and is sur
rounded by three converts, Latin.
Greek and Armenian. The church
was built under the direction of
Empress Helena, is the oldest ex-
lstmg church in the world; and
its roof no longer the cedar of
Lebanon is Of English oak, pre-
scented by king Edward 4th. in
conjunction with Philip of Bur
gundy in the year 1862. A silver
star set in the pavement in the
chapel of the Nativity. marks
the place where the Child Jesus
was born, and on the right, an
altar which before burns splen-
did lamps, mark the place where
the Wisemen from the East
brought to the Feet of the Saw
lour their gifts of gold, Frank
incense and myrrh. The Manager
where our Lord was Graded is
said to be in the church of Santa
Maria MaygOre at Rome, and a
marble one has taken its place in
the Chapel of the Nativity. Tho
the holy places connected with
Bethlehem are somewhat doubt
ful, there is one site connected
with a devOut follower of our
Lord which is undiSputed and full
of interest, that is the tomb of
st. Jerome, in the Latin chapel,
IN this famous shrine, here in the
rock hewn cave the venerable IA
ther tasted and prayed, studied
and wrote; and here he completed
the mighty work, the Latin YER
sion of the Bible. known as the
Latin Vulgate." The women of
Bethlehem are very industrious
they work in the fields, they
CLEAN after the reaperS in time of
harvest, they grind the corn, they
are Skillful at turning the great
oyster shell of the Red Sea into
crosses, rOSaries and boxes. We
paid a visit to one of their shops,
although it was on the Sabbath
day, and purchased cards.
We returned from Bethlehem
and reached our hotel about 5
O clock, went for a walk about
the Eastern part of the city, pass
ing through Jeffa Gate and on
our return passed through the
opening made for the entrance
of Emperor William, on his visit
tC the Holy City, There is moth
ing beautiful about the city, it
IS dirty to the extreme, inside and
out, is filled by religious mstitu-
tons. Every place of hiStOri-
cal worth is covered by a build
ing erected by some sect or 9TH
er, and they excavate under the
building and find some old land
mark of some historical value.
and use it for all that it is worth
to bring some revenue to their
special work of their order. We
returned to our hotel had dinner
here we found about GO or 70 pas
sengerS from our ship all anx-
iOuS to know how We got so far
ahead of them and were Surpris-
ed that We had been to Bethle-
hem. We made arrangements to
go to Jericho and to start at 7.
a. m. a journey Of about 81 miles.
We retired early as we had to
get up at $50 next morning,
March 18th Monday.
We entered our carriage at
I a. m. and drove down the hill
on the road along the north wall
across SOlOmOn'S mines, the en-
trance of which passes under a
road. On the north side of the
road are many beautiful build
lngS belonging to religious sOcie-
ties. Now We enter the Valley
of JehOshaphat or of the Kedron.
As we look to our right we see
far up over the rocky side of
Mount Sion, the Eastern gate
where it is said that St Stephen
was stoned. As we look up and
follow the foot steps of st. David,