The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-12-23

"0S
where Christ should be born.
My last trip to Bethlehem was
made in the spring. The hills were
dotted with olive groves, and thei
leaves shone like frosted silver under
the bright Palestine sun. The fields
between the rocks were covered with
grass as green as that of old Ireland,
and l could see the shepherds watch
black goats here and there.
At one place l stopped and photo
graphed a shepherd with a lamb in
his arms, and at others l saw women
and children who might have been
a part Of the Holy Family. I met
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the
long-bearded sheihks who were walk
ing toward Jerusalem, and an old
turbaned Syrian, who rode a donkey,
made me wonder if he fas not a
second Balaam, n whether his long
cared beast would not soon open its
mouth and speak. Away off at the
north l was shown the site OF the
town Of Mizpah, where Saul was
anointed king while he was out aunt
ing his fathers asses. and 1 passed
within a few miles Of the spot where
David slew the mighty Goliath.
1t was between Jerusalem and
Bethlehem that Boaz had his farm
when Ruth got her job in the wheat
fields and finally married her master.
At one place along the way is the
tomb of Rachael, the wife Of Jacob,
who is aid to have died there when
she gave birth to Benjamin.
Climbing the hill and coming into
the town, you find yourself in a maze
of box-like one, two and three story
houses. They are made Of limestone
and they stand close to the edges OF
winding streets, which are here and
there arched Over to shut out the sun.
The town has about ten or fifteen
thousand inhabitants and is probably
ten times as large Is it was when
Christ was born. Its chief source Of
revenue comes from the Christian re-
ligion and the fact that Christ was
born there. There are thousands Of
tourists who visit the birthplace Of
the Savior every year, and the chief
business Of the Bethlehemites is in
making rOsaries. crosses and articles
OF wood and mOther-Of-pearl for sale
to the pilgrims, and also for ship
ment abroad. 1t has a great mother
of-pearl industry. and what is known
as pearl waste is imported from the
United States to be made into such
things. Shells are carved and sold
to tourists in Jerusalem and else
where, II the Palestine beads
which are so largely used as ~rosaries
both by Mohammedans and Chris.
tians. are made there. These bead:
are filed ground out of oyster shell:
until they come to the desired size
Holes are then drilled in them ant
they are smoothcd by shaking then
l about in crockery vessels with a littl,
water. After this they are treated
to a weak solution OF nitric acid an(
polished and are then strung on cord!
4 inI elk 0r uSro H~o0Coo n-S h44-<
are made Of m~other-of-pearl, an,
sometimes a little image of tn,
Savior is attached to the rosary
: Much OF this work is done by wome1
and girls. who receive from twelve t
twenty-five cents a day. It is est
I mated that the total production o
i such wares sells for in the neighbor
hood Of 5000, 600 a ear and tina
something like $4,000 worth are an
r nually shipped to the United States.
e The Bethlehem of today is a littl
e city, and the stable which is show
e as the birthplace Of the Savior is on
n posite a saloon under a great church
q where the different sects OF Christian
q fight over the right to pray in eel
n Jain places. One part OF the build
ing is controlled by the Armenian.
b another by the Greeks, and there az
IS Mohammedans on hand to keep til
WOISHlpeTS IN OIueI. lney NSNt as I
the right to take care Of the birth
$. place Of Jesus. and not long &
$ controversy arose as to the right
n clean one Of the windows. Both til
Armenians and Greeks were quail re
d ing over it, when the Mohammeda
le government came in and forbad
is either sect touching it. Therefor
is that window is unwashed to this da
Ar The Stable is under the churcl
&c You reach it by a winding staircas
es and going down come into a cay
" about twelve feet wide and forty re-
m long. This room is f1oored with ma
at BILE, and thirty-twO lamps burn ds
d. and night within it Their is q ST
he set in the marble pavement al
ed there is an inscription over 1t sta1ll
er that on that spot the Virgin Ma
ay gave birth TO Christ, This SCAR