Pittston Gazette

              f WEATHER INDICATIONS. THE HOME PAfRR. Forecast Until 8 p.- m. Tomorrow, for Eastern Pennsylvania. Rain tonight; warmer in eastern portion; Friday, rain or snow in northern portion; colder. For the People of. Vicinity. Ptttaton and ALL THE HOME NEWS. 54th YEAR. ) WEEKLY EriTABLIriHEO 18*0 i DAILY K.ST. hv THE') H AKT 1R88. P1TTSTON, PA., THURSDAY, DECEflBER 24, 1903. IWOCOIBA o.PY. i it) uAfilOSi FOBI'Y ONT- A M"NTH ( rAUM. The 'Bethlehem ?/.«TodayA His Christmas ************************ * * 'Present LIFE IN Iht TOWN WHERE CHRIST WAS BORN TALE «f A FAMILY QUARREL AND A MYSTERIOUS BOX "By E VA JVC ELIJVE HEJV OL1EL ■By H. JE. HE ALE [Copyright, 1903, by Evangeline Ben Ollel.J [Copyright, 1903, b; Hamilton Hulk.] BETHLEHEM, which in the days ' at forming streets. l ucre is dui u,.« of the prophet Mlcahjjas "lit- ««*t ln tlie town, ana that is tie among the thmisSBPfe Ju- tl,c country r0iUl lo:Kl,n« »P lnt° tlie dah," Is now one of the largest niarkot P|ucc- 0,1 ar,'lTlne here a 1 vcvUlages in Palestine. The Inhabitants bk,1C'3 Il1,,st of necessity stop and tl.e number about U.ooo. It is very appro- vis,|'or IIlust alight andvlsit \!° t'.,} priate that this village, in which the ou toot, ascending and descending its Kaviour was bom. should bo superior Intricate lanes, or. rather, pasto all others in Palestine. This it is l"D "reon the houses. Many of generally acknowledged to be. The thcse lull's up into the village are natives of Uethlehem are the most in- s ,°"e. 8t^8- Jhe telligent am' the most industrious of »"D««* n« mostly built of white^limenil the village dwellers around Jeru- nml hnvo but , ne Btory- wlt,h fl"1 salein. They are also renowned for roofs, which serve as streets, so closely their high moral character. The en- ",r0 «DnnecteCl to each other. In tire population holds the Christian the greater number of the bouses there faith, either that of the Latins or of is only one room, the sole door of which the Greeks. Ibrahim Pasha on laying "the street entrance. This is always Itethleliein in ruins, strangely enough, ll'r* will° open, i""1 J* n'n cu I .lrove out the Turks and allowed the welcome, tor liosplta Ity is a strong Christians to stay and dwell in the characteristic of all the var ed inhab- Wrthplace of their faith, and they have ! "f Palestine. Thus all the events held sway there ever since. ! in one home ore known and The inhabitants of Hcthlehcm cultl- ! discussed by the dwellers in all the vnte the land with a diligence un- I surrounding houses, and there are no known to their Mohammedan neigh- , «•«*» kept from the eyes or ears of bors. The women are quite as Indus- j neighbors. All the dwellers in one vlltrlous as the men, both ln the work 'age are neighbors to each other, of the fields and In their homes. Many I There are no street lamps In Hethlen maiden with flowing veil and tin- j "" therefore the people wlth- IT wag Christmas day, ana lnsteau of being at borne I was obliged to ride through sleet and snow. About 12 o'clock I rode up to u farmhouse and asked the farmer If be could give me something to eat. be Saryr=F"Jumps up. prnyln' that It was Sary, and went to the door. There stood a bent olo man with a long white beard. If he'd biien fat. I'd thought he might be Santa Cltius. A box was a-settin' by him. lie looked at me and axed was 1 Judkins lirougb, and I said that was my name. "X' bet," he replied. "Y* kin have the best In the house, and no pny." He stood In the doorway, and at bis side was a little boy about four years old, on whose curly locks bis band rested affectionately. Within I could see n young woman setting a table, while before a fireplace sat a young man. All seemed naturally Interested in me, a stranger, but the little boy's eyes were full of childish wonder. 1 alighted, my horse was put up and I dined with the family. After dinner 1 lighted a cigar, offered the men a smoke and said to the farmer: " 'I got a Christmas box fur y\' he said. "'Who from?' 1 axed. " 'I was forbid to tell, and I was forbid to leave it unless y' promise not to open it before 1) o'clock.' " 'Waal.' 1 says. 'I hain't had no Christmas gift fur live year, but I reckon I kin wait, specially since it's only a few minutes.' V/cto of Modern "Bethlehem '* T must be keerful of It,' he said, set tin' it down sof'ly, 'and wlion y' open the box take tlie nails out easy like, no's not to injure what's inside. It's perishable.' J catch the sounds of Christmas b«lts across tb* \ •/' ! And again I bear the story of the orient's lon4 ago. /, If' V /' When softly blew tb« breeze* through old LCiDAnon'snCediU trt es \ Knd Kedron o'er its pebbly bed ran laughing sjrij:j/ V, i/ben over Btthlehern the stars shone v|tb\ light/ / / \\ i ofLl Wfi* ' -£u J / - ,-trr "Now I want you to tell me what makes yon so happy today." "Well, stranger, they say n man that's suddenly pot somepln' fust rate wants to talk about It, so here goes." Ho took the little boy in his lap and began: " 'I'm not likely to harm the fln»t present I've pot since my darter went - away. D' y' think it's from her?' And the end oA jW,.u, s nigb. For uty glory soon another rr„C„. „ ' would Its Prince hcwiy tfoj/i \ How so)tiy-rwDg/{b*/bells bells 'ok  --- \Ar5d'"Citb their holy n?usic war* Xnd sins aadygrrovs cease. f " While I listen atroy casement to the. c(Dimes methlnK* I see TiD* lilies and -tnc roses by the' scores of Galilee. Qh, th* rmijrtc In the YRlley? ;u)C lhc music on the hills I fet tht ringing of heart enraptured thrills. \ And the.|hougbtyof%ian fly VacKward o'er the soft and fleecy snow \. Whercjyaawned flrkt Cbrlslmastlde In Judab long ago I says. 'Have y' got a darter?' " 'I'm only a-bi'injrin' it to y',' he "When my ole woman died—Sary's mother there—Sary was 'bout fourteen " 'I had onet.' Then it struck me that mebbe Sary had jined her moth- M^W[^HH^BB||M|^^p^BBWHH|B^^i^EHS^^ajB r* YJ' '•* .-^.'i*! Bj^BSI^i^y3x-i D^5^ 4 'I! // 1 I ie'oK Vrdowo th jj I I bear belljp 1/ | But / I y I s*e ihc-K-v/y _ \ / uoTwi D'«D' y I s«C thej1 mjllir ; chancels. In the holy aisles and Mm— commingle with the gently uttered iiyrnn, N. tbe singing. aye, and far beyond the chimes,\ is\ vision of the early Christmas times! \. butgh«r with the BooH upon hi* kfWe; u _,Wo|sb!p 'oeath the mow Incrusted treej-C, \ boyed In palaces! aod In the peoples \ is listen to the holy Christmas bells. / | ) j /ey waft tbe\tory sweet which angel tongues )story(which iyever though time hath mad«Qt""P'dI hey brioc i'oe. scent of the sun KIsse^t'or ujij»jtfslc\sweet from brooK beneath lhe lettjbnNlree I ♦y seem vD stir the blossoms ]on Jerusalem's rulmtd will\ j whisper, of Getbsemanc, without Its cup \ j rjcy .fill thc/V/orld with gladness as the holy-*irt'bero swells, vide beneath ttj*' nightjlnjlout'lbe Christmasyyells. iWIs of sweetness^Oxjoft and  arid .would hear agii0 the jr«DD4_flf-'0riem  ■ats amofjg tbe _stars,\»nd j(v)tty_jt}»s'iway N.  irota In the eS»t-Juat{jV ungates Cjf day. \ Illed with gladness, foy kgaJoNthe'*eVsoo tells »ve. good will to the Christmas bells, J snow Is wafted from acrfcss/tbe suwit/sVa J ' the illy on' the sboresCW«allIee. I / r ' . • . CHRISTMAS TOY MAKERS HARD AT WORK. CHRISTMAS TREES FOR. THE CITY CHILDREN. THERE are 130 manufacturers of Christinas toys in the United States. They turn out in n year about worth of toys mill yet (lo not supply more than one-half tin1 demand created by the litKMMlUU little ones whose wauts are imperative at Christmas! Ide. The toys imported are chiefly maun factured in France and Germany, THE Christmas trees are assort id according to Size and quality. Tall ones arc the favorites for churches and homos with ample space between floors and short ones for the city rooms and flats. A tree with long lower branches is generally preferred. When laden with presents the branches sproad and give a graceful outline. \ Bung cottii) on her cap can oc seen gleaning In harvest time. draw to tiieir uomes nna Close their doors soon after sunset. Most of tlx? business of tiie town is carried on in the market place during the morning, and housekeepers purchase their provisions daily from the men and women squatting on the ground of this central square, where they spend hours bargaining over the price of each article. year old. sue was a likely little gai and stepped right Into her mother's place In tnkln' keer of the house, and every year 1 got more dependent on to her. Five year ago, when she was 'bout eighteen, that galoot over there" —the young man referred to as the galoot grinned—"come a-sparkin' of her. What was to become of me if he married her he didn't seem to consarn bii.isolf. 1 didn't keer to give her up without a tight, and give him fair warnln' that if he come nosin' round the farm I'd empty the load In that shotgun haucln' agin the wall up there. This had the effec* to keep him away; but. Lord, what's the use keep- In' a feller from a gal when the gal— they're all slick as greased cats—kin go to. the feller? Sary lit out one day and lef her old dad In the lurch. Didn't y\ SaryV" er. No, Sary wouldn't send me no Christmas gift anyway. It must be some un who tuk pity on me fur bein' alone on the holiday. The women of Bethlehem ore noted for their beauty ai.d tiieir graceful ami dignltied enrriii -'O. The latter may be caused by the habit they have of carrying hejivy pitchers and baskets laden with fruit on their heads above their, already heavy head gear. They are also renowned for their nobility and Uprightness of character. They claim to have descended from the crusaders, mul still wear the costume that was in style in those days. It is the prettiest nf all the brightly colored gowns worn in Palestine and is elaborately trimmed with embroidery worked by themselves. \r)d X Rlnj out, O I A listening v Thy music f Where fair A The earth Is Of peace »oC A* o'er tb» The odors o " "What'd y' do with her? axed the oie man. " 'She married a feller and lit out.' " 'Did y' expect her to be a ole maid fur your sake?' The homes of the natives are very simply furnished. The comfortables which serve for beds at night are all put away on a shelf on one side of the room by day. In one corner stands 11 la I'M' stone pitcher of water. This the women till twice a day from the village well, which is the general meeting place of friends and strangers, and this is the starting place of all the news and gossip of the town. The small baud mill is an important article In every home. Their cooking stove is a little earthenware hearth. On this the coffeepot can be found at almost any hour of the day. or the largo pun which contains the rice or beans, which constitute the most important meal of the day. tin the wails of the Latin homes are small crucliixes and in the C 1 reek gilded pictures of saints. The itethlehemiles are very proud of the fact that they dwell in the very town wliete the Saviour was born. " 'Waal, that's 'bout it' " "J'hen It served y' right' And, turnin' his back, with a grunt he made off. "I sot down in a chair facin' the box. Pnrty soon I heard somepin movin' roun' Inside of it. 'Reckon it's a fox or ;i cub bear,' I says. Then I looked at the clock, and it was five minutes to !l. I couldn't wait no longer, so I went to the clock and turned on the hands. I heerd somepin ag'ln the win- At the door of their homes and in the courtyard which is tho common property of tho surrounding houses women y \ sis* ¥9HH ] "She jiued Ben there, and they was married. They didn't dare come prowlin' round here, but they sent a letter Implorin' forgiveness. I didn't send 'em no answer, so they Jlst never tuk no more notice of me. That's 'bout it. ain't It, Sary?" "Yes, pop." "X' struck it Jlst right pop." "Y' kuowed I'd riddle y' if I got sight of y\ didn't y\ Ben?" The center of interest in Bethlelieui, liolli to the inhabitants anil to the visitor, is the law duster of buildings consisting of the Church of the Nativity surrounded by the Latin and Greek convents. This most interesting edition in nil Palestine is the oldest Christian church in existence. It was built over n site tin? authenticity of which is little disputed. St. Helena founded the church in v»35 A. D., at the time when she erected so many beautiful cditlces upon sacred sites in Palestine. If this church in Bethlehem had been built entirely according to her plan it would have been simply magnificent, but for some unknown reason her details were never carried out. Still the church lias standing remains which show something of its former grandeur. The beautiful Corinthian pillars of marble and the cedar beams from the Lebanon, which uphold the roof, and the faded remains of the beautiful frescoes on the walls all give one an idea of the magnificence of her plan. The young man grinned again, but made no reply. "I passed the ornarlest five years," continued the farmer, "I ever spent in my life. Lonesome? Ben and Sary Jlst let me alone and didn't show up nowhere. The fust three years I spent cussin' 'em, but the fourth year I thought if they'd come back I'd forgive 'em. The fifth year I went a-huntln' fur 'em, but didn't get no track of 'em. * * "Bethlehem Square on Market Day*. * m "The wust times I bad was the holidays. When Christmas come along, I alius went to town. Meetin' the crowds was better 'n slttln' here all alone, but the crowds was bad enough, fur everybody was a-buyln' somethln' fur somebody and "minded me that I didn't have nobody to buy anything fur. I alius got to tliinkln' of the days when Sary was a little gal and we hung up her stockln' and It bulged on Christmas raornin', and how them black eyes of her'n dunced when we drawed the things out, makln* b'lleve they'd got stuck, so's to take "em out slow. different sects Turkish sentries are stationed to keep the peace within all the churches in Palestine which are owned by several sects in common. , night. records the visit of tlio mag! j ono °r til0 altars down in these mill the offering of their rare sifts of grottoes is a dark recess behind an Iron frankincense nnd myrrh. Tills incl- 'C Keating. By tlie light of torches In the dent 1s also depicted in a large paint- i 'lilnds of the monks, who act as guides, ing. A golden star in the marble 0oor \ "ne peers down into the grewsome is inscribed: "Hie Natus Est Jesus ' deaths liolow. The monks tell us that Christus ile Virgine Maria." Itl,ls ls the pit where the massacred In- Tlie whole chapel containing these f«nt» were cast. Here also ls a large two altars is only thirty-seven feet painting depicting the details of this long and eleven wide. The walls are t'aglc event The most interesting of covered with rich though somewhat these caves is that in which the no_ , , , , . , , ble St. Jerome lived and died and from faded tapestries and pa ntlngs. As wUence be gave to the world his great one gazes around and meditates on the , Ijfo work of translation. associations of the place looking on the As tho cllurch and the are cave, which In ull probability is the on ti,e very highest point of the very one which stood below the inn h|„ the vlew from thelr towers that and as one's eye rests upon the devoted lof „ maBn|flCent landucape spreading pilgrims prostrating themselves before ollt for mne3 before one. Beyond the these altars in gratitude of soul, one is j un(,ulatIng plains Just below the hill of greatly Impressed with the realization Bethiell(,m it the wilderness of Judffla of onog surroundings and their mar- lr„dln- from J.rusalem down to the velous history. T „ f Ue jordan, Lndor the..building ar» cares. .!» ■ ■ - 1 .. 1 ■ A BLTHIJJIIEU FAMILY GliOUr. "WHAT MAKES IOC SO HAPPY TODAY?" and maidens eau be seen sitting on mats grinding the grain at their small liand mills, singing cheerily as they work. Inside the houses others are busily helping the men carving articles of worship out of the oyster shells found in the Persian gulf. These relics, which they offer for sale, are truly things of beauty, though curved by the baiyls of these simple, illiterate •workers. Large entire shells have liasrelief pictures o'f the Nativity exquisitely carved on them. The Bethlehemitcs carry on quite an extensive trade both jn the orient and in other lands in curios made from this pearl, as also from the olive wood of the land and the black stone from the Dead sen. The grotto of the manger, the site of all sacred sites In the whole world, is reached by a descent of marble stairs, which lead down below tho chancel. Ilpro is a small grotto, where, In the place of the stable of history, is a mngniUccnt little chapel resplendent with gold and silver decorations. Many rows of goldon lamps hanging from tho rocky ceiling shed a gorgeous though subdued light into the otherwise dark and gloomy inclosure. The cradle in which tho Holy Infant lay is, according to tradition, in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. An altnr stands on the spot of the manger, and above it is a large painting of the (table in which the great Nstlyitj took place. An altar lighted up by many elided .laauD3D -which tuucutf** der, but when I looked there was nothin' there. I gets the hatchet and goes to work at the cover of the box, but there was nothln' but tacks Into it, and after ioosenin' 'em a bit I pulled the hull thing right off. As I did so I lieerd—what did I hear, Jud?" he asked of the child in his lap. Tho present church built over tho site anil adjoining this basilica of St. Helena is owned in common by the ' tins, the Greeks and the Armenians, who each have their own separate share In it and their own small chapels within the one building. The Turk holds control of it and sells the privilege of possession of the various sacred spots to "The highest bidder. The Greeks, being the wealthiest of the oriental Christians, own the largest chapel. This ig a source of great sorrow to the Lattns, and because of the UnfrienflJj: feeing between all tfceas "Last night was the fifth Christmas eve I'd spent alone, and it didn't seem 's if I could git through it. I was a-sittln' here before the fire a-lookin' over the backlog, picturin' in my mind the faces of them as had gone, a-hopln' I'd Jine some on •em before another Christmas, when there was a rap at the door. I give y' my word, stranger, it was the fust rap on that door any Christmas sence Sary lit out Seemed's if tome oil 'em waa a-comln' back sure. It couldn't be Bary's mothtr, for sha'd go no to where thpy don't coma back from. It Height "Merry Christmas, grandpop!" laugh ed the boy. "You kin guess the rest. And that's the reason why y' kin have tlio best in the bouse, and no pay neither." Tlien He Tools Another. Comfort Brown—Don't you think it nonsensical, all this kissing under the mistletoe? The houses in Bethlehem are scattered hoc and there regardless of symmetry audwitb no attempt whatsoever gliomas Tubba— Sure thing! Eut a. UttTe nonsense now and then la reliahed. by the best of men—and women 1 J