South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-25
The New Palestine
and Greater Jerusalem

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Jan. "a
Palestine soon may take its place
among industrial nations. and an
cient Jerusalem may become a hum
ming mart OF modern trade. if pro-
jects in contemplation are realized.
One such project is that of build
ing tunnel from the Dead sea TO
the Mediterranean passing under,
which would utilize the variation in
levels to provide water power for
stations along the way.
A second suggestion is to build a
new industrial zone about Jeru-
salem. while the ancient city is pre-
served intact.
In this connection the National
Geographic society has issued, from
its Washington headquarters, the
following bulletin, based on a com
munication TO the society by John
d. Whiting:
Few realize that the manners and
customs which prevailed in the
Holy land in Biblical days are still
unchanged, even after an interval
Of 1900 years.
The present day villages are To-
Gated, as a rule, either on the tops
OF hills. originally for protection. or
near some spring or source Of wa
ter. Many are built upon the foun-
dations OF dwellings whose origin
dates back thousands of years.
There does not exist a single exam
pie OF a peasant village that has
been founded In modern times.
Not True Picture.
Many have pictured Mary and
Joseph. after arriving at the inn at
Bethlehem, and finding no room,
being forced to turn into some barn
built Of timber, with lofty roof. hay
mows. wooden managers. and stalls
for cattle and sheep. Such a stable
has been the subject OF many medic
val and modern artists. but it does
not present a really true picture. Let
us consider the old-style village
home that is most common in the
districts around Jerusalem and Beth
lehem for that will give us a better
idea Of what happened on that first
Christmas day.
The village streets are crooked.
narrow. and unpaved As in many
Of the countries OF the Orient. farm
ers live close together for protection,
and not on their lands; therefore in
the villages there are no open fields
or gardens, but house is next TO
house, except for the small walled
in Enclosures or sheepfolds through
which one generally passes in going
into dwelling.
The house itself consists Of one
!arge room. usually square. The
walls from 20 feet thick, are
built OF blocks of stone roughly
dressed and laid IN mortar, rooted
over with a dome. also of stone. The
outside Of this roof is covered with
coating Of mortar made OF clay.
which. on being pressed with a
small stone roller or pounded with
board. becomes hard and compact
enough TO shed the rain.
"A steep. outside staircase, un-
protected by any railing. is built up
90 the roof for the surface must be
repaired at times The fat. open
space Of the roof also forms a handy
place on which 90 dry figs and rails
ms. and during the hot weather the
family may sleep there at night
Two Apartments.
Entering the door we find that
about two-thirds Of the space is de
voted 20 a raised masonry platform
some s 10 10 feet above the ground
and supported by low-domed arch
es. This raised space called. 81
Inastaby. is the part occupied by the
family while the lower part is used
for the cattle and focks. A few
narrow stone steps lead up 70 the
nlastaby. and a couple OF small win
dows pierce the wall. high up from
the ground. These. as a rule. are
the only means OF admitting light
and furnishing ventilation 20 the en-
tire house
ION one side is an open fireplace,
with a chimney running through the
wall and terminating on the roof.
often in an old water jar whose bot
tom has been knocked out. and so
becomes a sort Of smOkestack. Many