OCR Text |
Show Rosaries From Bethlehem TEN to twenty tons of the pearl-shell waste of American button factories broken pieces and butt-ends of shells are shipped monthly to the Holy Land where, in tho village where Christ was born, the material Is converted con-verted into beads aud ornamental objects For many centuries th manufacture of 5uch products pro-ducts has been the only important industry of Bethlehem. They find a market largely in the United States. In 1320 there was shipped from Hethle-hem Hethle-hem to this country at least ?t0,000 worth of rosaries, made of mother-of-pearl beads, with silver chaina and strung on wire of the same metal, or "white metal" for a substitute. Fcr making larger can en or other ornamental objects ob-jects Bethlehem obtains supplies of pearl-oyster shells from the Persian Gulf, from India and from Australia. The chains of sliver and whito metal are Imported from France. Hand labor (a employed exclusively In the Industry, and, inasmuch in-asmuch as It Is very cheap, the Idea of using machinery Is regarded with disfavor. Many necklaces of mother-of-pearl are sold to tourists who visit Bethlehem. The artisans oj that quaint old town also make great quantities quanti-ties of tiny beads which are sold in strings or bunches for trimming women's dresses. These littlo beads are In special demand by the Moslem Mos-lem women of Algeria aud other parts of Northern North-ern Africa- |