The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-03
From the Crescent aud the Gross.
THE JEWS OF PALESTINE.

/
1 THE JEWS OF PALESTINE.
| The Jews are very fond of news, and very partial
to foreigners, particularlyto the English. intro
duced myself to a venerable and noble-looking
Hebrew in the street one day, by asking my way
to the Pool of Hezekiah, whittier he accompanied
me, and afterwards invited me to his house. We
entered by a very humble doorway from the silent
street. and, passing through dark gallery Of some
length, entered large apartment which equaled
in oriental luxury anything that | had yet seem
The ceiling was slightly arched, and crusted with
staactes of purple and gold, that appeared to have
oozed outfrom somerich treasury above. The walls
were Of paneed cedar, or some such dark and fra
grant wood, exqusitely carved; the curtains Of
Damascus silk were gathered into thick folds be-
tween pilasters of cedar, polished yet rugged with
| rich carving.
The windows were without glass, but the foliage
of some orange-trees soilened the sunshine into a
delicious gloom, lending all the effect of painted
glass; with the addition of culver, which added
GOODNESS to its shade. The furniture was simple,
as is customary in the East, and consisted only OF
divans, or wide silken cushions, ranged round the
walls, but little elevated above the floor This was
of marble mosaic, wrought into floral emblems,
such bells, pomegranates, &C., with white
marble basin of clear water IN the midst. A rich
tufed carpet, in which the foot sank in a mea-
dow, was spread in each corner of the upper end;
and, leaving our slippers on the marble Aoor we
took our seat on the divan.
|
breast and repeated his welcome. He then clapped
| his hands, and ppes-an unusual luxury among the
Jewswere brought by two little black slaves, with
white TUNES and scarlet caps. They retired, and
we smoked the pipe of repose in such. luxury ard
calm as my troubled pilgrimage had seldom known
nll then. should have supposed myself in some
| Pasha's seragio, but for the gabardine and dark
turban Of my host and that firm look of lofty deter
mnation that is to be seen on every Hebrew brow,
undimmed by the disasters and degradations of two
/ thousand years.
i My entertainer spoke with respect of Bishop
Alexander and of the other missionaries; he said he
gave them credit for the best motives but it. was all
in vain to hope to proseyte his people. "The Ro-
mans, he added with enthusiasm, "coud not con-
denim Manlius in sight Of the Capitol" and the hill
of Zion is not likely spot for Jew to forsake the
faith of his forefalhers" eThe Christians do no,
honor Zion less," observed, 'because they also
! point to Calvary. They 60 with you hand in
hand as far as regards this worlds sacred history
and far beyond you then, into heaven which you
had hoped for from the days of Abraham, and which
you will not receive, because different from thai
which you expected" The dark eye of the Jew
literally gowed beneath his gray and shaggy eye
brows, as he raised his arm in vehement gestcula-
ton that conrasted strangely with the repose of the
rest of his draperied figure. "Engshman," he ex-
claimed in voice that seemed to gurgle from his
heart, "you know not what you say"
Suddenly the door opened, the tapestry tina,
hung over it was moved aside by beautifully
rounded arm on which jewels CLEANED, and there
stepped forth female form which fascinated my
attention if it had been vision. Imagine q
Rebecca, in all the chastened pomp Of dress and
beauty that Sir Walter Scott has painted with such
vivid words-even such as she stood before me
: glorious Embodiment of all the best attributes OF
her pure and noble race.-Such might Eve herself
have been; so might her daughters have looked
: when angels sought their mortal love. Miriam
Jael, Judith and the gentle Ruth-a the heroic spir.
It's of Judah's line, might have been represented
under that form, (but not the mother) know MOI
how she was dressed; ] scarce know how she look
ed; but have her memory before my eyes that seem
still to confuse, as it dazzled then.
only remember a light gauzy turban, with
glittering fringe falling gracefully the shoulder
masses ofblack and shining hair that made the fore
head and delicately Drowned cheek look as fair as
Circassian's; if a thought of luxury lowered upor
the rich rosy mouth, II was awed into admiration by
the large dark eyes, fearless yet modest, CLAN
cling round as if they read meaning in everything
and everywhere, yet calm and self-possessed If
their consciousness of power. She carried little
tray on which believe were sweetmeats and sher
bets, and bent gracefully forward to offer her re
I freshments
started to my feet, and addressed her som,
words in Italian, to which she only replied with
! shake of her head and faint smile; she then drew
back, while her sister, whom had noticed unit
with snDhr ,s eaa Sg
whole scene, and felt that | was embarrassing by
, not accepting the hospitality Of my fair hostess
while quiet smile played over the features of my
! venerable host
need not say was very anxious to make thu
most of this rare opportunity of seeing the daugh
tiers of Israel in their home; yet confess
perienced sensation Of relief when the Jewish
maidens RETIRED and was left again alone with my
entertainer. Controversy was now out of the ques
ton. We avoided the subject by mutual consent
and, feeling the Eastern restraint which prevented
me from abiding to the subject then uppermost il
my mind, only asked whether he considered tina
there perceptble increase in the number of hs
people at present in Jerusalem. He replied tina
the time was not yet arrived. sMany have thel
: eyes now fixed upon Zion," he continued, Sand
very slight matter that we know not of, might direc
multitudes to this spot. Atpresent we are not NOR,
than 900 in Jerusalem; but if our Rabbis were tc
speak, ten times that number would arrive here
before the next passover. There is barely means
Of subsistence at present for the numbers with
in the city, and the poverty and Turkish OPP
preston prevent country round from be-
ing brought into cultivation" As he spoke Of
!. poverty, | glanced round the splendid apartment
and he added, 1t is the mass of the brethren who
are poor, even to extremity and supported entirely
by aims from us and the Jews Of Europe; any Of
US who possessed ofany wealth take some pride
perhaps, in the exhibition of it in our houses which
ought not to be. But must ask you to excuse my
taking leave ofyou, unless you would wish to ac-
company me to our synagogue whittier now l am
obliged to go.n We passed out through the dark
passage and mean gate, into the dirty street; and
afterwards, when sought that house again, could
not even identify 1t among the squaid dwellings
with which it was surrounded. Nor did ever see
my host after parted from him at the door Of the
} synagogue.