The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-22

March, we left our hotel. just out
side the walls OF Jerusalem. and drove
five miles over a good pike. TO Beth
lehem. Though the road was good.
except for the dust, the carriage in
which we rode. and all other carriages
that we saw in lem, were in
most dilapidated condition. The paint
was gone, cushions worn. the harness
patched with pieces of string and
rope, the drivers dirty and shabby.
! We dashed off with great CHATTER,
but soon settled down to a jog trot.
The fields and hillsides on either
side of the road look uninviting on
winter day. and less attractive than
tne ORDINARY country district in
America, for the country is rocky and
desclate and the olive trees, prac~
ticalfy the only trees that you see.
are few and not large enough to
make a pleasing wood effect. But
I yFSee 40 no fertile fields that have
grown vineyards and olive orchards.
a. ugs an grain since Ruth CLEANED
In the fields OF Boaz and since David
attended the focks on these hillsldes.
Not far from the city we passed
a well by the side of the road. Ira
ditien says tfat the wise men. when
locking fer the Christ-child, lost the
( star which was leading them TO Him,
/
! reflection in the water in the bot
! tom of this we'll.
The Tomb OF Rachel.
( short drive brought US to little
mosque built by the roadside. where.
tradition says. Jacob buried Rachel
! -Four thousand years ago. Jacob, ac-
companied by his family and his
! rock, was on his way TO Hebron,
/ where his father Isaac dwelt AT
/ bethlehem, says the sacred narrative,
Rachel died, and he buried her by the
roadside. The present mosque Is not
the original tomb, nor are the remains
Of Rachel here, for they have long
since disappeared, but the place is
! considered sacred both by the Mo
! hammeoans q the Jews.
Bethieheni.
The drive from Jerusalem to Beth
| lehem took about on hour and our
driver landed US with the usual
flourish in the very narrow streets of
| f5ethlt hem. hardly wide enough for
| carriages to pass. The houses are
square and tiat-roofed, made of white
| limestone. 1t Is a Christian town
Of between eight and ten thousand in
habitants. Only a few Moslems i've
there. and it is said that there are
no Jews. Half Of the population are
engaged in manufacturing souvenirs
and religious embiems to be sod to
he tourists, The dress Of the people
distinctly oriental. very few uelng
seen clothed in the American style
II garment.
The Church of the Nativity.
| We walked In the narrow streets
| and came To the market place. and
As we entered we saw in front of us
! n ug4y building with walls of rough
| masonry. This is the Church of the
nativity. 1t looks unfinished and
very dilapidated. The entrance Is
through little door, SO low that you
nave TO stoop to enter, and inside thu
3hurch, beneath the floor. Is cave
which. tradition tells us, Christ
was born. Standing in the market
ace, We took two photographs, one
the Church Of the Nativity, and
L hen reversed the camera so as tc
how the appearance Of the other hall
( the market place looking away
rom the church.
The real name Of this church Is
The Church Of st. Mary" and 1t 4,
ne Of the oldest Christian edifices In
he world. Constantine built II n
30 near the supposed site OF Jesus
birth. Fairly in the second century
here was tradition which located
| he manager in this cave, which 1:
not at all improbable Justinia., II
he sixth century enlarged Conslan-
he's church, so that the transcript
Covered the supposed cave Of the
| 1ativity.
| The many wars and religious jeal
| rusies have kept the building in ar
impaired condition. In fact, II has
| ever been completed. II Is irregular
n shape, and stands along the ridge
4 hillside; damned up against /
/ re built three converts owned by tho
Roman Catholic, the orthodox Greek
nd Armenian Churches.
Formerly the building had large
II iocrs. but in order to preserve tht
| oeace. entrance and egress was made
| | slow and difficult by leaving only on'
| small entrance large enough for on'
II lerson to enter at a time. 1t Ii sale
| hat the church once had suitable
| 'acade, but II has been destroyed. IL
| 1852, Edward ~ and PHILIPPE, of Bar
! gundy, contributed the materials 70
| repairing the roof and also built tn
| huttresses which hold up the walls
| We found the interior Of the church
f, | - unattractive as the exterior. Larg'
| | marble p liars support the roof. which
| made Of cedar brought from lie
| / banon, ard these pillars are decor
| ! lied wi h old Byzantine paintings II
/ ubdued coiors. A heavy wall of ma
onry divides the church into tw'
PARTS. and we were told that this wal
Was erected there due 10 the jeaiou
and hatred that the Orthodox Greek
Armenian and Roman Catholic sect
have for each other The three sect
occupy various parts OF the building
each separated from the other ant
each having its distinct area. Goinl
J to the other side OF this wall We ar
| In the transept and on q little woodel