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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1910)
10 THE OMAHA SUNDAY BKB: DECKMnKR 18. 1910. r. NATAL DAY AT BETHLEHEM Last Year's Observance at the Cradle of Christianity. SACRED PLACES AJTD CEREMONIES Frnift Tire ITlda Filrkuki De scribee nym rilrrlW Bele Ira (krlttnn Ee. Former Vlre Trfsldent Charles M. Fatr tmr.ks and his Prty of world-glrdlers so shaped their travel plana as to reach the Holy Land durtnr tha Christmas eeaeon a year sjro. In his account of tha visit to Bethlehem In Leslie's Chrlstmaa rium bT, Mr. Falrbanka says: Lata In tha afternoon of tha day befora Christmas we took a carriage for Bethle hem, which la situated flva and one-half miles distant from Jerusalem. Our Journey lay over a fairly good road. We aaw a few Americans and a few people from other countries, who were making the Jourley upon foot or by carriage, and who were studying, as wa were, the different objects of historic Intereei that crowded about upon every band. We wert par tlrularly Interested In the Well of the Magi, where, according to tradition, "the stfir which they aaw in the east went be fore them till It cams and stood over where tha young child was." A number of camels and donkeys wera stopped there for water. Within a half mile of Bethlehem and upon our right stood the traditional tomb of Kachel. A little beyond this we came to the fork of tha roads, tha right branch of which leads on to Hebron, and the one to the left, which wa took, leada on to Bethle hem. Bethlehem, "the home of David and our Favlor Jesus Christ," rests upon the hills. The houses are of stone, like most of those In Jerusalem and elsewhere In the Holy Land. The population does not exceed 10.000 and Is said to be composed mainly of Christians. When we entered the city, along narrow, winding streets, wa ob served that the people were occupying the roofs of houses and other points of vantage, awaiting the entry of the Latin patriarch who was coming from Jerusalem to par ticipate In tha Church of tha Nativity an annual stately event of which much Is made. There was a holiday appearance about the ancient and historic place, sug gested by the assembled multitude, which greatly Impressed the stranger. Wa met the leading officials of the government and were Invited to a position upon the public building, where we met a number of tha representatives of other governments. An Orderly Tbronsr. A carpet had been spread In tha street Immediately opposite us, and about It wera assembled a number of bishops and other church dignitaries awaiting tha arrival of the bead of the church. It was an orderly crowd that thronged the streets and massed upon the buildings for many squares. The people were, in the main, at tired In their peculiar native costumes and presented a scene of rare interest to those of us who were from the west. After waiting nearly an hour, our patience was rewarded by the arrival of the patriarch who was accompanied by aolddlera his es cort from Jerusalem and by a committee from the city and church which went out from Bethlehem and which 'met him not far from the Well of Magi. He paused upon the carpet In tha street and was there Invested with the robes and Insignia of the office ha was to occupy In tha services of the Church of tha Nativity. This church, by the way, as Its name signifies. Is upon tha traditional sit where our Savior wa born. When tha enrobing ceremony was concluded tha patriarch led the way i.pon foot through the street to tha churcn. Borne two or three blocks distant A vast multi tude followed, and soon tha sacred edifice waa occupied to Its capacity. Mass was celebrated. Wa remained for awhilo and then retired to visit soma of tha cacred frpots near at hand. Not far from the church I observed a stone house, tha humble, but respectable home of a native. A donkey stood near tha door: I thought that lie might be one of , the occupanta of the home. I called upon the head of tha house and learnod that I was not mistaken and that tha donkey waa permitted to enter through tha same door With tha family. The former went below, dawn a pair of stone steps, while the latter, together with soma chickens and doves, occupied tha ground floor. It occurred to mo that It was probably not unlike the dwelling wbloh onoa stood near by and in which waa born the greatest figure In the world; and that. In a large sense, the whole was considered aa a manger. We returned to Jerusalem late In tha afternoon for din ner and a rest, as hotel accommodations In Bethlehem ware not particularly Inviting. A NIBt IMlgrrtnace. At 10 o'clock at night wa again aet out upon our pilgrimage to the holy spot where waa centered the thought or hun dreds of millions of Christians through out tha world. Bethlehem! What a aweet and niajeatlo namel The atory of It waa being told from countless pulpits and was bursting forth In song tha world about. It was being told about tha hearthstones in tha abodes of tha humble and In the mansions of tha great It was Bethlehem's particular day. when she claimed the at tention of tha world as no other city claimed It Our dragoman provided us with a carriage well Inclosed, as the air waa sharp. Tha moon waa well up, and If the barmn, reeky hills and the valleys had been clothed with snow. It would have aeeined like an old-fashioned, moonlight w England Christmas. Our horses were adorned with bulls, which they habitually wore and which tended to give a familiar Chiiatroas aspect to tha acena. As wa passed out of Jerusalem upon a low trot, wa encountered processions of camels going to and fro with their mo notonous swing, aa they had done for cen turies. Some of tha riders had accom plished their day's work In the city and were en route to their distant homes, and others wera coming in for the night or buMlcexa tha day following. When we reached the well of Magi, a large bright tar above Bethlehem burst upon our vis Ion. It came Into view aa wa reached the summit in tha road. The moon waa above and back of us, and no other stars were visible from our lnclosuia, so this partic ular star almost startled ua when we first saw It. I called tha dragoman's atten tion to it, and for a moment he was al most speechless. lie said he had never at- u It and thereafter frequently com mented upon the Incident As we progressed tha star seemed to rise and tall aa we fol lowed tha undulations of the highway, until we entered the narrow streets of Bethlehem, when we lost sight of It There was. of rours. nothing marvelous about It It mas a perfectly natural phenomenon; but ob serving It, as wa did, under tha circum stances, it waa particularly Impressive. MldaLcht Celebratlaa. We found a large audience assembled ou Chlrstmas eve In tha ancient church of Bethlehem. Mass was being celebrated. The Latin patriarch was there, asslated by tha chief functionaries of hia church. A few Americana wera present eome of whom wa had met In America, and there ere several people from tha leading Christian countries. Tha larger number of the worshippers, however, wera natives, the audience waa Intensely Interested. Th Inrft'r psrt of It ws obliged to stsnd for several hours; If any one yielded a choice position. It was quickly occupied. A few, overcome by weariness, Irft befora the con clusion of tha service, buth the larger psrt stayed until tha end. We remained until the chimes rang In tha Christmas day and until "Uloria In Kxcelsls" welled up from hundreds of throats and burst from the great organ, and then returned to Jerusa lem We were tha only travelers upon the way, save the omnipresent men upon their camels, going to and from tha venerable Holy City. They were as silent as ghosts, and In their monotonous swing seemed to be a part of tha animals they rode, and the whole presented In the dim moonlight a weird aspect. Wa could fancy that the scene we looked upon waa a familiar one upon that ancient highway upon the night of tho anniversary of which we had come to celebrate, and for centuries prior thereto. NUREMBURG'S HAUL ON TOYS Tom ethers ot Fssisai Germaa Tgwi Palis t'acle Sam's frse. If tha children could only get hold of consular reports they would have no fear this year that Santa Clans la not going to be amply supplied with toys for Christmas time. For Nuremberg, Germany, is the real headquarters of Santa Claus, and the toy makere of Nuremberg have been unusually busy this year. They make toys for chil dren of all the world at Nuremberg, though of all the countries the United States Is the best customer. It would delight the hearts of many youngstors to know i that tho toymakers of Nuremberg will this year be paid something like I2.MO.000 for toys for good children, and. In spite of all the talk about hard times, this Is about 15 per cent more than they received last year. "Uncle Sam" la usually a benevolent old gentleman around Christmas time, but he insists on getting his due and Nuremberg toys, even if they are for the children, must not, so ha declares, be allowed to compete with the toymakers of this country, if there are any; and so the Nuremberg toys will pay "Uncle Barn's" collector, Mr. Loeb, a duty of 35 per cent,or about $770,000. This duty, together with the cost ot bring ing tha toys across tha Atlantic ocean, and tha profits the dealers will have to make before Santa Claua can distribute the toys to ' the Impatient stockings, will make Nuremberg's bill run up to something like $6,000,000. Then, of course, there are many other markets where Santa Claua buys toys, though none of the toys are quainter or more pleasing to the youngsters than the output from Nuremberg. But every tiling indicates that this Is to be a record-breaking Chrlstmaa for the children of America. God bless 'em every onet Washington Herald. KNOCKERS HAVE THEIR SAY Reformers Tlb a Grssek I'rge Many I bliiM III Christmas Castoma. THE EMPTY STOCKING. Through the long Chrlstmaa Eve all alone we had read; There were no little urchins to put Into bed. No arms with their clinging to come for good-night. No voice of sweet cheer as we put out the . light. Bo we rose and went up thanking God as we could For His infinite mercy and pity and good; But she turned and went back, calling up with a smile, , "Just wait, 1 will hurry right back after whilst" I atood by the window and looked at the snow And tha lights of tha winter In glory below: I beard the sweet tune of a bell down the street Mark the stroke of tha midnight In car- ollons sweet. From a distance bright voices rang clear on tha air. And the night brought its revel to sadden ma there; Then I dreaded her absence and went down to sea What kept her so long from her slumber and me. By the mantle I found her, with head on her arm. And sue tooaed In my face with such sud, tender charm, While i spied by the chimney a stocking, petite Aa ii woven of love for an angel's white feet A little lad's stocking she'd kept as a trust . . Tbrougii the years of her grief and her loss zrom tna oust. i And had hung It tonight all in memory and love For the sake of her lad's little Christmas above. ' It was empty, all empty, but, oh, In her eyes, It was filled with the love that so tenderly Ilea la a mother's warm heart hid away all the while . From the glare of the day, Just to bring out and smile To her own lips of sadness some still, quiet hour When the glory of fears fills the world And a inouier calls back from the shadows The little lost child where mid shadows he aleepsl It was only her fancy to have It, and so 1 It brought the dear dream back again with Its glow; The loved gleam of childhood that filled every room In the sweet yesterdays of his life's little bloom ; And we vowed by that stocking, while God gave ua will. To go forth with something each stocking to fill That hung lone and empty on hearths like our own , From whence the sweet presence of child hadn't flown. All day while the spirit of love and of vuver For the Christmas of Christ rung In every one's ear We left It still hanging to keep us In thought Of the power It had borne and the love it aau vivuam, And ever thereafter whence Christmas drew We let no sweet chance of devotion go by To fill for (one little ones somewhere on nrth The wee, empty stocking they'd hung by wtw ueariji. csaiumore pun. employers' Liability Bill. If the employers' liability bill passes, women will have to be careful about the conveniencea of their premises, as It will affect them as well as the factory em ployers and the farmer. If the servant girl falls down stairs and breaks a lev Ik cause she trlptx-d on a torn carpet that the mistress should have attended t-. she may sue for damages. As there can be no class legislation, whut Is law for one man Is law for another as well. To Make Hair" Clean and Glossy (From tha Toronto Timea) "Tour hair will grow In beauty and color, and brilliance and luYxurtance, if color, and brilliance and luxuriance, if with soap and water and use only a dry shampoo powder, sprinkled on the head once a week and brushed thoroughly through the hair. More dry, dull, brittle and faded hair can be. traced to too much moisture than to any other causa A good shampoo powder will remove every particle of dust, oil and dandruff frdm the head, leaving the scalp dean, cool and re freshed and the hair gloesy, soft and silky. "To make a shampoo powder simply mix four ounces of therox with four ounces of orris root Therox tones up the hair front root to tip. and you neej use no other tonic." Adv Not content with remodelling the Fourth of July, ultra-iealous reformers sre now advocating drastic, changes In Christmas. Most of their attarks on th winter festi val r directed towards the giving of gifts, which, they say, Is productive of Jealousy and hyoc.rtsy, to say nothing of extrava rance. It Is true that many give beyond their means, often against their will; and those with little money foolishly try to compete with those who have much. Peo ple with whom we have long exchanged gifts, yet for whom we have perhaps ceased to care, will send tis something, and we must not be outdone. Now. If there must be reform, let It be here. If we no longer desire to exchange gifts with someone, let us have the courasw to write a friendly note and explain that we prefer not to this year. It Is quite possible that our friend will be as glad to stop as we are. Or, send simply a card or a friendly letter, re gardless of what may be sent to ua The hint la pretty sure to be taken the following year. The exchanging of gifts has been a fea ture of ChrtBtmas for centuries. To me. It is a most beautiful custom. If notice the If It be done in the proper spirit a spirit of genuine affection and good will. If two, loving hearts exchange gifts of equal mone tary value, each prizes what he receives far above the value In dollars and cents ot that he has given. Nor do I hold with the doctrine that It Is better to send merely cards or letters on Christmas day, and give to the poor the money we should otherwise have spent I am selfish enough to want some of the Christmas fun myself; and I want my relatives and friends to have some, too. I always feel that Christmas day Is sacred to my dear ones. Reformers may tell us that the furs which a man purposes giving to his wife would buy many dinners for the hungry, and many dolls and toys to make glad the hearts of ragged little ones; but well, I should be sorry for the poor folk, but If It were my wife, she would get the furs. This Is not a plea to abolish giving to the poor on this day of days; It Is merely a plea for moderation. Let us remember the poor, let us give bountifully If we can to help them: but don't let's overdo by falling to give gifts to those near to us. Another thing: In giving to the poor or, for that matter, to the moderately well-to-do let us not give only useful artlclea THtrtiM In -V. ,t . . . . ,,, niimn uven luxuries seldom come will appreciate It all the more if they re ceive something which they would not have needed any way. Socks and groceries mav be of more practical value than bonbona ana girt-books, but If the latter will pro mote happiness, let us by all means give them. , CHRISTMAS IN A FLAT. 'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the flat Not a creature was stirring, not even a I mi. Ne'er a stocking was hung by the chim ney, because No faith had the young folk In old Santa Clan. ..... They had watched him for weeks at the vw we. lid , wiierfj With the clang of a bell he assaulted the air. And esaayed to persuade passersby to be lieve That 'twas better for them to glue un than receive. When the clocks chimed at midnight a oiia.rp wnisue oiew. And the youngsters pell-mell to the dumb- With a yell of delight they yanked open the door. . And a big pile of packages pulled to the floor. But betore they could peep at the' presents Inside, ' Through the dumb waiter ' shaft a shrill voice fiercely cried, .. Say!. Put back those bundles for they are to go To the people who live on the next floor below!" Then the children, with walling and gnash ing of teeth, Sent the gifts on their trip to the flat underneath. The dumbwaiter descending was soon lost to sight. And a voice below yelled, "Merry ' Christ mas! Good night!" New York World. mm If. II si .1 III. IMUltlS Sl.ppers If they come from Drexel'a you know they will please h'm. Drexel'a name on slip pers means highest quality. Just like Drexel'a name In Bhoes. And the beauty of it is that Drexel quality slip pers cost no more than the cheaper kind. Slippers for everyone from $100 i. $G00 A novel and pleasing gift for anyone Is a pair of shoeB, boots, slippers or anything of that sort. You do not need to know the size; we give Christmas Certificates for any amount. You simply buy the certificate and de liver it to whoever you wish, and when they present it at the store we will fit them with whatever kind of shoe, boot or slipper you wish. Thus you avoid all the dis appointment caused by a misfit Christmas morning. For the Little Folks With 'each purchase of Boys' and Girls' Shoes Drexel is giving a Xmas present of a I'arlor llase IUI1 (iauie Free. This is a very entertaining game 8Dd one that the children will all want. DREXEL what Liver or Bowel msJioioe yoa are using, atop it not. Get a lOo box week's treatment of CAS. CARETS today irons your druggist and learn how easily, naturally and delightfully your Kver can be made to work, and your bowmU move every day. There's imis bfo in every bos. CASCARETS are nature's helper. You will sea (As chference eSJ CAACAKRTS loc a bos for a week's trestmeat. mil druggists, suggest seller ia U world. Millioa kuutausuv Any One of These 2an.es on Your Piano Represents Quality Ooardman u uray ' r.lcrry Christmas v, . firm km . v ,tef;i ssssfeu:: w -:it "$$v 0i Weber Upright Halle. & Davis Upright llallet & Davis Upright Santa's Headquart's for Pianos of the Reliable Kind Sleiff Upright Have You Joined QJn JN KVTr n3 ttn cr a) EwHeinnilbe'irs Off Molt, ID There has been a lot of Pianos taken in exchange in our great 500 Piano Club Sale now going on, i and we are going to sell them regardless of price and terms. Chick ering & Sons U,ir:gh Drenksr hofff Upright Dehr Bros, Upright '121 Sold on Easy EUionthly Payments THE Kroeger Upright s26 Largest Doaloro off High Grado Pianos in tho West An Apolo We wish to tender an apology to such of our esteemed customers and friends as may have been inconvenienced by the overcrowded condition of our store the last couple of weeks. It has been unavoidable, and we should like to point out that this extraordinary rush emphasizes the fact that we are giving the people at least double value for their money. Our great 25th anniversary half-price sale still continues. (Jo to Brodegiiard 's first. T"f AT THE SIGN OP THE CROWN 115 South 16th St. Opposite the Boston Store. HAYDBfr tmc uiuki STeaa Tin Bus--! Best Iur Sir HAYDB& iWMUsMl area Make Yourself an Xmas Present OF r Hart, Schaffnes SLO! OFFERING OVER 2,000 Overcoats and Suits WORTH $25.00 to $30 00 AT (9) 5 tmc uutiu are HAYDE TMC MUAftic eTOfta