davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1936-12-25
JOYOUS PILGRIMS
FILL BETHLEHEM
Celebrate Birth of Christ
With Prayer and Song
in Ancient Church.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BETHLEHEM, Palestine. December
25.-The church bells Of this hallowed
town summoned pilgrims from many
lands today to celebrate with prayer
the anniversary Of Christ's birth,
The ancient Church OF the Nativity
and the adjoining st. Catherine's
Church were thronged with worshipers
in this little town, six miles from
Jerusalem, which since the second
century, has been considered the birth.
place of Jesus.
Starry skies frightened q warm
Holy Land night rs the faithful en-
tered the churches at midnight TO
hear the white-bearded Latin patriarch
celebrate the pontincal mass.
While they waited In the ancient
streets q Church Of England choir
sang Christmas carols.
The congregations included travellers
from far corners OF the earth. camel
drivers, water carriers, townspeople,
British soldiers, government oficials
and their wives.
Many Of the soldiers had been hur-
ried to the Holy Land in recent months
to quiet the still-smouldering disor-
ders growing out of the Arab strike
against Jewish immigration.
Numerous armed police and soldiers
circulated through the crowded village,
where, throughout the day. large
crowds attended other services.
Many waited reverently after the
mass to watch the sun rise above the
hills where the three wise men. guided
by the Star Of Bethlehem, went to
worship the infant Jesus.
After the mass the aged patriarch
took the image Of the Christ Child
from the high altar and led q process
sion through the Church Of the Ma
tivity into the grotto which is regarded
as the actual place of Christ's birth.
Then. with the church bells CHM
ing a joyous melody, he placed the
image In a manger, where it Is To re-
main until Epiphany, January 6.
Evening star., 1936-12-25
CHARGE ANSWERED
BY FATHER DIVINE
Evangelist Asked to Show Cause
Why He Should Not Be Cited
in CONTEMPT,

NEW YORK, December IS R).-
Asked to show cause why he should
not be cited in contempt of court for
testifying that he never bothered with
money because he depended on Provi-
dence to supply his needs, Father
Major ]. Divine answered volumi-
nously yesterday with more than 100
pages Of afidavits.
Boiled down. the Harlem evan
gelist's legal documents set forth that
his peace mission movement was q
cooperative endeavor in which de-
votees bought and paid for all prop
critics and he neither owned real -.
tate nor accepted gratuities.
Il bear no record Of things per-
tanning to this life" he deposed. IT
have dismissed from my vocabulary
the custom Of keeping any literary
record Of anything. ."
The proceedings grew out of an
unsuccessful effort by Mrs. Nina I.
BayleSs OF Aberdeen. Nd. to COLLECT
Z 5000 judgment against Father Di-
vine for injuries suffered In an auto
mobile accident.
Divine called the judgment ''illegal."
because he said he neither owned nor
operated the bus that caused her
injuries.
Former followers who told Of trans
ferring their assets to him were de-
scribed In the papers as "disgruntled
and malicious persons"
Supreme Court Justice Samuel I.
ROseman reserved decision on the
contempt molten.
Evening star., 1936-12-25
PROGRESSIVE WON |
TO new DEAL A|MS'
Representative-eIect Ha-
venner of California Halls
Roosevelt's Program.
pec,ai pispstch to The star.

Special Dispateh to The star.
SAN FRANCISCO. December Is
(N.A.N.A). - Representa- We elect
Franck @. Havenner, only Progressive
party member Of the California dele
cation In Warrington and one of the
few members Of that party in Con-
gress, will leave for the National Capt.
tai Saturday.
Havenner's recent request to WASH
ington that he be listed - . member
Of the Progressive party caused consid-
cradle speculation among the Capital
City newshawks. But 1t shouldn't
have Occasioned any comment. The
fourth district Representative -elect
has been registered In the Progressive
party for some time. He ran q q
Progressive party registrant at the Au-
gust primary. when he won the nomi-
nation according TO the California
election laws.
Il merely followed the law" Hav-
enner said today, "and stated my anil
alton with the party ] am registered
in. am somewhat in the same
position as was Senator Hiram W..
johnson the first time he was elected
to the United States Senate. He was
listed as . Progressive Republican,
since that was the way his name
appeared on the ballot in California.
I could not claim to be . Democrat,
since I am not now nor ever have
been . member Of the Democratic
party. I have not changed my party
registration, and I continue to be en-
rolled in the Progressive party"
Several members of the House Of
Representatives from Wisconsin are
registered - Progressive party mem
bers. Havenner was one Of those who
was registered In the Progressive party
years back and participated in 1894
in the revival Of the party in Cali
fOrnia. so that 1t qualified for Q place
on the ballot.
Asked rs to his own plans In Con-
greS, Representative-elect Havenner
said he had no definite program as
yet except that he intends to support
the San Francisco Junior Chamber
Of Commences reconstruction program
for the Great Preside Reservation Of
the United States Army here.
In the main, I shall follow the
Roosevelt program. principles am in
sympathy with" he declared
tCGbyrisht. 1896. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Incl
Evening star., 1936-12-25
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

Every one. Of course. Is familiar
with the story of the birth Of Christ
as it Is told in the Gospels Of st.
Matthew and st. Luke. The merest
child is taught the sacred narrative
in infancy, and the oldest man or
woman remembers 1t as long as life
lasts. Yet few persons. it may be
supposed. ever have thought TO study
the drama OF 1t as 1t would be pre-
pared for actual presentation on q
stage, as, in fact, 1t was played out
l9 centuries ago, according to the
animation of the Scriptures.
So arranged or, more accurately.
rearranged. the nativity begins in
the temple In Jerusalem nearly . year
before the sacred denouement The
flrst character Is - certain priest
named Zacharias," an elderly man
who was righteous before God" To
him in the sanctuary comes Gabriel.
the angel of the Lord. Zacharias,
seeing the heavenly visitor standing
on the right side Of the altar Of in
cense," Is troubled and afraid. But
Gabriel treasures him, saying: Fear
not, for the prayer Is heard. and thy
wife Elizabeth shall bear thee q son
and thou shalt call his name John"
Zacharias. however, still doubts the
divine message, and 1t Is necessary
for Gabriel to explain his authority.
The priest Is struck dumb until the
day that these things shall be per-
formed"-a punishment for his skep-
ticism. Gabriel vanishes, and after
tsrrying in the temple 80 long that
the people maryeled at his tardiness
Zacharias, bankrupt Of the faculty
Of speech, returns to his own house.
There his wife. well stricken in
Evening star., 1936-12-25

right In again in good American style
fof Q second time. Being American
born. they know how.
DR.. Lang i professor of German
ct 0sorGstown University and = son
Of the most famous Of the Rortrayers
Of the Chriatlls In the Passion Play
at Oberammergau, his native home.
In 1894 he married Miss Klara Mayr.
who played the role Of Mary Magda-
len In the jubilee presentation Of the
Bible drama that year. The twin
daughters were born in Georgetown
University Hospital.
Among the many parcels received
by the little girls today vast bulky
one from their grandparents In Ober-
ammergau. Last Summer they made
thar llyst trip - their parsnts' astivs
8 + - l.. III
Evening star., 1936-12-25
Simple Narratiue of Natiuity.
Considered as Great Drama
First Setting Is in Temple in Jerusa'
lem, Nearly Year Before Sacred
DenOuement.

years" conceives and hides herself
five months.
Scene Changes TO Galilee.
Then, in the sixth month. the scene
changes to Galilee and more particu-
lsrly to the city Of Nazareth. where
Gabriel. "sent from God" speaks to
Mary. "a virgin espoused to . man
whose name was Joseph" The pic
ture has been painted by some Of the
greatest geniuseS who have adorned
the annals OF art-Botticelli. Raphael
and Ell Greco among the number.
Hall, thou art highly favored" Is
the angels salutation. The Lord Is
with thee. Blessed are thou among
women" Puzzled, the virgin hears
the celestial messenger forecast the
birth Of her Divine Son. who shall
be great and shall be called the Son
Of the Highest" Further. Gabriel
tells the holy mother, "thy cousin
Elizabeth, she hath also conceived 4
son."
The curtain falls with Mary con-
tritely declaring: Behold the hand
maid Of the Lord. Be 1t unto me
according to thy word"
For the next act the story Is trans
ferred TO the home of Zacharias. to
which the virgin journeys following
the Annunciation. There Elizabeth's
unborn babe leaps" at the sound Of
Mary's voice, and Elizabeth herself
reverently demands: Whence is this
to me. that the mother OF my Lord
should come to me?" st. Luke gives
the complete text Of Mary's response,
. hymn Of praise to God. beginning:
MY soul doth magnify the Lord
the Masnificat.
A "footnots" says that the virgin
"abode with about
Evening star., 1936-12-25
LANG'S PORTRAYAL
Of CHRIST IS HIT.
KaindI, Who Is Nazarene in
TyroI, Says German Ges-
lures Too Violently.
Ey the Associated Press.

THIERSEE, Austria, December 25.
-Aloysius Kaindl, who plays the role
of Christ in the 600-year-old Pas
sion Play given in this Tyrolean vii
liage. has taken issue with Anton
Lang. who enacts the same part i'll
Oberammergau, across the Bavarian
border.
Kaindl, who, like the Nazarene. is
a carpenter by trade, says the Ober-
ammergau Christ is too authoritative,
too much of law giver.
Pondering the attributes Of Jesus as
he saws board or dives a nail, Kaindl
has concluded that the Savior derived
His power from love-that He led men
gently, coaxed them, and only rarely
gave vent to righteous indignation.
Dislikes Vigorous Gestures.
But at Oberammergau I seem to
see a different sort of Christ" said
Kaindl. Anton Lang. who plays that
exalted role, Is an excellent man. But
I sometimes question whether. despite
honest effort to penetrate to the heart
of the divine character, he strikes the
right note.
The Oberammergau Christ gestures
like Mussolini or Hitler. He Is power
and authority.
II think about it when I chisel Q
mortise, or look at the mountain top.
and voice inside me whispers that
Christ was no arrogant decreemaker.
His power was 50 vast, His understand
ing so infinite, that He didn't need the
angry word or the loud outcry."
Brisk Business Expected.
Kaindl. who Is S., has played the
chief role here more than $50 times.
He walks about the village wearing
long robes, his chestnut brown hair
curling to his shoulders. The villagers
say that something of the spirit Of
the part he plays always remains
with him.
About 800 actors and q home town
orchestra make up the Thiersee Pas
sion Play company, which expects
many visitors from the Salzburg music
festival to see their performance.
The Mary Of the play Is Frau
kathe Jufnnger, proprietor of q little
grocery.
There are many poor people in the
neighborhoOd," she said. And they
seem to think that a storekeeper
playing such tender role at the
village hall might extend credit read
lily. They're right. I guess I'm not q
good business woman"
Evening star., 1936-12-25
Coal Town Made Happy.

HERMINE. Pa. R).-"Merry Christ
mas" means just that to this Western
Pennsylvania coal town-the town
will have q few more months Of life
instead Of being condemned to aban-
doument.
The Ocean Coal GO. changed it,
mind about hating operations and
fave the miners their jobs and homes
for another three months - . Christ
mas present.
Evening star., 1936-12-25
THIEVES KEEP BUSY.
=0N CHRISTMAS EVE
-Four CoIored Men Push One
Victim From Auto
After Beating.

Christmas eve was just as any other
night to those who live by theft and
violence. police reports this morning
indicated.
In addition to numerous burglaries
and larcenies, two men and boy
we're robbed and purses were snatched
from four women.
: Lonnie Smith, 1923 Twelfth street,
told police he was walking in the 800
block of o street at dusk yesterday
when four colored men lettering on
the sidewalk seized him and threw
him into an automobile. They drove
to Ninth and Girard streets northeast.
Smith declared, and there demanded
his money. He refused, and his
.Assailants beat him with their fists.
took his billfold containing $26, and
then pushed him out of the car and
drove off.
- Rushed to Emergency.
Hailing a cab, he was taken to
Emergency Hospital where physicians
said he may be suffering from frac-
'tured ribs.
Fourteen-year-ol Robert Redd, of
1901 Eighth street, was held up at
pistol point by three colored boys near
Fourth and N streets and robbed of
$3.40. he reported
Another armed hold-up occurred at
FiPst and streets, where three white
men robbed William Kimble, colored,
216 D street, Of $l6.
Three Of the purse snatchings were
IN the same neighborhood. The first
report came from Susan r. McCauley,
2129 Florida avenue, who SAID she was
walking in the 1900 block of Twenty
first street when she was struck with
out warning on the back of the neck
stunned, she did not see who grabbed
her purse, containing $l3 in cash, her
glasses and other articles, and fed.
Loses Money and Ring.
The next snatching was in the HOO
block of Twentieth street. Eva Snapp,
1907 Twentieth street, said colored
man seized her purse, which contained
IS and $40 ring.
AC POShCtbOoA "a LoNlCbtC
Ficklen, 1900 Connecticut avenue, was
snatched by colored boy about Is
years old on Florida avenue between
Nineteenth and Twentieth streets.
Police were told the youthful robber
was accompanied by two other boys
about his own age. The purse con-
tained 81.
The fourth victim of pocketbook
enatchers was Lillian Lewis, 1927
street, whose purse was taken by a
colored man on Fifteenth street be-
tween n and streets.
Evening star., 1936-12-25
Steam Heat for Water Pipes.

LEADvIILE. Colo. R.-It's q dry
Winter and Leadville, two miles high,
Is ready to steam heat its water pipes
to keep them from freezing. Because
Of lack Of snow, frest threatens to
reach the pipes, buried seven feet.
But II it does the city engineer viii
turn steam into the tubes and the
mining folk hereahouts win flnd warm
water n thelR ee1d Watog taueG1A
Evening star., 1936-12-25
LOW RATE LOANS
GUARANTEE URGED
212 to 8 Per Cent Capital
Held Necessary as Aid
in Home Building.
By the Associated Press,

~ inc ASSOCIATED PreSs.
NEW YORK, December 25.-Assert-
ing the Nation faces q critical hous-
ing shortage" Clarence M. Woolley,
chairman Of the American Radiator &
Standard Sanitary Corp. proposed
yesterday . Government guaranty of
private loans at low interest rates for
home construction.
Experience Of other countries has
shown that capital must be available
at not more than 2la to 3 per cent
TO provide decent" housing for peo-
pie with incomes of $500 or less
yearly. he explained In a year-end
review Of the building industry.
If capital could be attracted
through . Government guaranty of
30 to 80 per cent Of the private loans
made for such construction" he
argued, ut Is quite within conserv-
ative reasoning to assume that
adequate capital could be made avail
able for construction at least in COM
munities where the deficiency is most
acute"
He predicted slum- clearing enter
prises would develop promptly" if
the Federal Government would un-
dertake the guaranty.
Interest in housing programs has
been sharpened in building circles by
expectation Of a renewed drive in the
forthcoming session of Congress for
Federal aid to long-range plan of
home construction for low income
groups
Woolley noted that in the six years
ended with 1896 new housing facilities
were provided for only 348,915 fami-
lies, compared with new homes for
1854, coo families In the six-year period
ended in 1928, based on Government
figures for 257 cities.
This indicates q shortage Of ap-
proximately 2,300.O00 homes" he said.
Evening star., 1936-12-25
FIVE ARE FREED
Judge Hedrick Releases Prisoners
From Arlington Jail.

From Arlington Jail.
By Stan Correspondent OF The star.
ARLINGTON COURT HOUSE, Va.
December 25-Five prisoners In the
county jail, serving sentences of from
one to two months. were released
yesterday by Judge B. M. Hedrick to
permit them to 60 home for Christ
mas.
Judge Hedrick gave another Christ.
mas present. suspended sentence
to the only law violator brought be-
fore him yesterday.
AL offices In the Court House, ex-
cept those Of Sheriff. Howard b.
Fields and Clerk C. Benjamin lay
cock. will be closed today and tomor.
row. The clerks once will be open
until / pm. tomorrow.
Evening star., 1936-12-25
Issues Eggnogg Warning.

DALLAS, Tex, December Is R).-
Eggnogg, County Health Onicer Hor.
ace E. Duncan said in an interview,
il q concentrated food and should be
partaken of sparingly to avoid dis-
tress.
Result:
Friends have called DR.. Duncan and
said never mind about attending their
Christmas eggnogg parties.
Evening star., 1936-12-25
DECLARES INTENTIONS
Rosa Ponselle jackson Seeks Citi-

Rosa Ponselle jackson Seeks Citi-
zenship in Maryland.
By the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, December 25.-Rosa
Ponselle, opera singer who recently
married earle Jackson, son of Balti-
more's mayor, declared her intentions
of becoming a citizen Of Maryland, al
though she was unable to 60 to the
Court House.
Mayor Howard w. Jackson said Miss
Ponselle filled out the application
while in bed, taking care of a sore
throat" She gave her address as
that of the home of Mayor and Mrs.
jackson.
Evening star., 1936-12-25
President
(Continued From First Page.)

others Of the family were gathered In
his bed room and making merry.
Later there was a gathering about
the family Christmas tree in the great
Railways on the second floor of the
White House, where toys and other
presents for the children were either
hanging from the limbs OF the tree
or piled about its base. Unlike most
OF the modern Christmas trees, this
one, in accordance with the wishes OF
Mr.. Roosevelt himself, was illuminated
with the old wax candles and re-
flectors, instead of the present-day
vari-colored electric lights.
It was at the tree that Mrs. Roose-
selt presided.
The President and other adult
members received their Christmas
gifts in the library. These more inti-
mate gifts were exclusive of the hun
dreds Of others received from admirers
throughout the country, which will be
opened later in the day. The great
majority of them are from persons
they do not know and are of small
intrinsic value. Such presents of any
great value will be returned. Many
are articles which are handmade,
such as mufflers, neckties, handker-
chiefs, doilies, pictures and the like.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt
have received thousands of Christmas
and New Year greeting cards. Last
year the number was in excess Of six
ktAyfso,,l l. faI kIAk
will be greater this year.
Two Children Absent.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt
we're fortunate this year in having
nearly all of their immediate family
gathered about them. Only Mrs
John Boettiger, who recently moved to
Seattle, Wash, where her husband
has taken over the management of q
newspaper, and Franklin, jr., next to
the youngest of the Roosevelt sons
who has been Ill in a Boston hospital
as . result Of a sinus operation, will
be absent. Mrs. James r. Roosevelt
widow of the Presidents only brother
was also at the White House.
The President and Mrs. Roosevelt
and others of the family will attend
special religious services at the Church
Of the Covenant, interdenominational
In character, which will be attended
by representatives Of 140 Protestant
churches in this city. Rev. Frederick
Brown Harris of the Foundry Meth
odist Church will preside ut this joint
service.
Christmas dinner at the White
House Is not scheduled until 7:S0 to-
night. This will be an 0ld-faShioned
Christmas dinner featured by q huge
turkey, stuffed with chestnut dress
ing and covered with giblet gravy.
In addition, there will be oysters,
soup. celery, little pig sausages. cram
berry jelly, caulifiower. beans, can
died sweet potatoes, fresh pineapple
salad. plum pudding, hard sauce, egg
nog ice cream, cakes and coffee.
After the Roosevelt Christmas eve
dinner, Christmas carols were sung
at the White House by members of
the Girl Scouts and members of the
Agricultural Department Choral So
ciety. Then Mr.. Roosevelt, following =
custom Of many years. gathered the
family about him In the living room
and read aloud Charles Dickens
Christmas Carol
Evening star., 1936-12-25
Wants Gift Of Legislation.

HARTFORD. Conn. lP).-wilhlr L.
Cross wants only one Christmas pres
ent.
i would like to be assured the Ier.
islature will give me the major part Of
the great constructive program con.
tanned in our platform" he said.
Evening star., 1936-12-25

DEasoNIFYNd the spirit Of
- Christmas, little Eli1Abeth
/ Matilda and Anne Marie
= Lang. the 1s-month-old twin
daughters Of DR.. and Nrs. Anton
Lang IT,. Of Warrington and Obersm-
merGau, are doably thankful their
parents observe the Yuletide in ac-
cordance with an old Bavarian Gus
tom. That's because they can be sure
to count on two Christmas celebra-
tions each year.
Bayarian tradition calls for . visit
from Santa on December q. when,
garbed as q bishop. he visits the
children with gifts of fruits and
sweets. Being very good little girls,
Elizabeth and Anna enjoyed their
frst Christmas nearly . month ato
~ ~so III SsaA1 te1n1 - ~
Evening star., 1936-12-25
ROBBERS GAIN LITTLE
Park Avenue Apartment Yields
Trio $2 and Radio Set,

NEW YORK, December Is @.-
Three men invaded Mrs. Alfred Le-
fevres Park avenue apartment yester-
day and left with 81 and . small radio
set after accepting her explanation
that she had spent all Of her money
on Christmas.
The intruders, who forced their way
In when Mrs. Lefevre answered the
doorbell, overlooked two rings she was
wearing.
well. I guess that's al she's eot,. /.
one Of them said after searching the
apartment.
Evening star., 1936-12-25
SLAIN BABY FOUND
Denver Dwelling Basement Vic
tim Dead More Than Year,

DENVER, December IS Up. Gus
Economy, deputy coroner, said the
mummified body Of a baby. stransled
with . heavy cloth, was found yes
terday in the basement Of an East
Denver dwelling.
The infant. Economy said. had been
dead more than year. He said the
sex and age could not BE- ascertained.
The body was clad in a nishtgovn
and wrapped in a heavy sheet and
q strip of oil cloth.
Economy said e. @. Francon dis.
covered the body while repairing the
dwelling. vacant since October 10.