El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-12-20

lyrl&nL 1913, by FRANK u CaEpsul6rJ-
salem in 20 minutes and have enough
time to put in a new tire. on the way.
The Wise Men from the East probably
came over that road They are sup
posed to have ridden on camels, and II
they had the racing variety they prob
ably reached Bethlehem in less than
an hour after leaving king HerOd, who,
you may remember, was anxious to
know all about where Christ should
be born.
Where BOaz Had His Farm.
Ny last trip to Bethlehem was made
in the spring. The hills were dotted
with olive groves, and their leaves
shOne like frosted silver under the
bright Palestine sun. The fields be-
tween the rocks Wer OVered with
grass as green as that or old Ireland,
and I could see the shepherds watch
ing their flOcks of white sheep and
black goats here and there
1t was between J erusalem and Bethle-
hem 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
said 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 Ihey 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 10000 or $4,000 in
habitantS and is probably 10 times as
large as 1t was when Christ was born
Its chief source Of revenue comes from
the Christian religion and the fact that
Christ was born there. There are thou
sands of tourists who visit the birth
place Of the Savior every year, and the
chief business of the Bethlehemites is
In making rOsaries, crosses and ar
tcles of wood and mOther-Of-pearI
Tor sale to the pilgrims, and also for
shipment abroad.
1t has a great mOther-Of-pearl in
dustry, 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 elsewhere, and the
Palestine beads, which are so largely
used as rosaries, both by MOham-
medanS and Christians, are made there.
These beads are filed and ground out
of oyster shells until they come to the
desired size Holes are then drilled in
them and they are smOothed by shak-
ing them about IN crOckery vessels
with a little water After this they are
treated TO a weak solution of nitric
acid and polished and are then strung
on cords Of silk or wire. Crosses and
hearts are made of mother Of-pearl
and sometimes a little image of the
savior IS attached TO the rosary. Much
Va L-1AS " OLh Is QOn6 DA women ana
girls who receive from u to . cents
q day. It is estimated that the total
production of such wares sells for in
the neighborhOOd OF $780, geo a year,
and that something like $4,000 worth
are annually shipped to the United
States
Is Little City Now.
The Bethlehem OF today Is a little
city, and the stable which is shown as
the birthplace of the Savior is oppo-
site saloon under a great church,
where the different sects of Christians
fight over the right TO pray in certain
places One part of the building is
controlled by the Armenians, another
by the Greeks and there are Moham-
medans on hand to keep the worship
ers in order. They fight as to the right
to take care of the birthplace Of Je-
sus, and not long ago a controversy
arose as to the right to clean one of
the windows Both the Armenians and