The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-29


 q was rather disappointed not to find a dramatic organization, amateur or otherwise, in Jerusalem, on whom 1 could rely for help. This necessitated my making Ia trip to England, where I engaged 10 English actors and also met Miss Nellie Lindroth, who had come on from Jacksonville, Fla. Miss Lindroth is at present my second lady located here in Birmingham. I re- turned to Jerusalem, arriving in lit tie over two weeks fromS the time of my departure. It was a remarkably quick trip and I was surprised at the MT Farnham had leased five acres of ground near our headquarters, the Fast hotel, and a replica of the porch lead ing to Solomon's Temple was well un- der way when we started for Bethle- hem to take our first scene in Pales- tine
 Jerusalem's Holy Spots
 "The enVironS of Jerusalem occupied our attention for the first few weeks Bethlehem, the Garden of Gethsemane. Mount of Olives, Lazarus Tomb, the home of Mary and Martha, at Bethany. followed each other in rapid success sion. To localize the Calling of the Fishermen we were compelled to go to the Sea of Galilee, 112 miles from Jerusalem, and, in the absence of other means of locomotion, we depended on wagons and horses. The round trip occupied six days and gave us very good opportunity to study the Syrian peasant as he is, free from all the prejudice of town life.
 "The houses are built of stone plain but substantial looking, and usual'y with e-shaped roof. A few of them are leve1ed off, the walls being carried to the height of the top of the dome and then filled in with dirt. The interior is bare and uninviting. A few cooking utensils, an earthenware jar or two, a handgrinding mill. covers about all of their household effects.
 People Are Described
 'The costumes of the women have retained their antique cut if it can be called so. Pantaloons are still worn fastened around the ankle. and under meath long, loose gown made from a dark or striped cloth, while over the head is a wrap which falls about the shoulders The men are picturesque although not remarkable for their cleanliness. An abba of camels hair or cloth, in colored stripes about three inches wide is worn over an under gown and the head is covered with a turban of colored cloth bound by Il A good percentage of the men were armed and 1t was quite common to see a knife or two carried open in a belt while a revolver, usually of German make, was suspended by a cord around the neck.
 q studied the blowing very closely and it is exactly the same operation that is mentioned throughout the Bible Two oxen rudely yoked to a rough lf,1A hut possible exception of the piece of iron covering the point. It is handled with one hand. A goad. long stick with n spike in the end. is used to drive the cattle. Following the blow comes a woman with a bag of seed These she spreads on the ground and in turn ai- other blow comes turning the land over on the seend.
 Drinking at the We'll
 At Nazareth we used the well at which Mary and the Child Jesus went so often and save for the modem faucets it is the same now as then On the Sea of Galilee we used boats. ,the construction of which has been un- affected -by the lapse of time. On our return trip We visited near Nazareth, the spot where Christ was about 10 be cast down headlong. We drank from Jacobs well. The side of the hill was dotted with sheep and goats, each herd being guarded by shepherd, who car ried in his hand the rod so freuuentlv mentioned in the Old Testament. Jt is rudely fashioned from a small osl, | tree which has been torn up by the roots, the roots being fashioned into | a knob
 ''In Jerusalem and vicinity there are many natives with an astonishing | knowledge of Biblical lore; and the Franciscan monks, who are strongly established In the Holy Land. were of course able to supply much valuable information. Everyone was ready to help make the pictures as authentic as possible.
 POrtraying the Savior
 ''Fo portray the Savior at various ages naturally required more than one actor As matter of fact, there were three One, a native baby, represented the Saviour in his earliest days. As a boy of F, he was represented by an English i boy. who had been selected from thou sands who applied for the part, because of his spiritual countenance dramatic ability and sympathetic nature. Miss Gene Gauntier, the leading lady of the company, played the part of the Virgin Mary in the groups posed. In many ways her countenance reminds one of the | familiar pictures of the Madonna, anc 1 her dramatic talent prepared her admir- ably for the role. There were but two other women in the cast apart from tho native supernumeraries. We all had to en- | dure many hardships in our travels ! through the Holy Land.
 While the natives were, as Q rule per l fectlY willing to cooperate in the mal- 1 ing of the picture, at times they rebelied and but for the influence of the Turkish officials serious trouble might have re- suited. An incident of this kind occurred | when pictures were to be taken at Cav airy. The natives refused to assist The | head sheik explained that. as they were Musselmen the governor might object to their taking part in a performance on one of the spots held most sacred in the Christian religion. Finally the gov ernor was appealed to and he not only directed the natives to proceed, but sent a detachment of troops to see that they 1 did so.
 "The moving picture Is something new to the Holy Land, and was regarded witl open eyed wonder by even the enlightened customers. General Abdul-Ahmid Pasha acting civil governor of Jerusalem and military governor of Jerusalem: Bechara | Effend Hebib. secretary. of foreign af- fairs; Hadj Abdul Nafeh, chief of police of Jerusalem, and a number of othci prominent officials and private citizens