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
