Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-01-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE JEWS OF PALESTINE.
From the Crescent and the Cross.


The Jews are very fond of news, and very par
tal TO foreigners, particularly to the English in
troduced myself to a venerable and noble looking
Hebrew in the street one day, by asking my way
to the Fool Of Hezekiah, whittier he courteousy
accompanied me, and afterwards invited me to his
house. We entered by very humble doorway
from the silent street, and passing through dark
gallery Of some length, entered large apartment,
which equaled in oriental luxury any that have
yet seem The ceiling slightly arched, and
crused with salactes of purple and gold, that APP
peared to have ooZed ont from some rich treasury
above. The walls were of pannelled cedar, or
some such dark and fragrant wood. eXquisitey car
we'd; and curtains of Damascus silk we're gathered
into thick folds between piasters of CEDAR polish
ed, yet rugged with rich carving. The windows
were without glass. but the foliage of some or
ange-trees soitened the sunshine into a delicious
gloom, lending all the effect of painted glass, with
the addition Of a culver, which added GOODNESS to
its shade. The furniture was simple, as is custom
airy 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 mar
BILE mosaic, wrought into floral embems such as
bells, promegranates, &C., with white marble ba-
sis Of clear white, in the midst.
A rich tued carpet in which the foot sank as in
meadow, was spread in each corner of the upper
end and, leaving our slippers on the marble floor,
we took our seat on the divan When seated, my
host laid his hand upon his breast and repeated the
welcome. He then clapped his hands; and pipes
An unusual luxury among the Jews-were
brought by two little black slaves, with white tll-
MICS and scarlet caps They retired and we smok-
ed the pipe of repose in such luxury and calm, as
my troubled pilgrimage had seldom known till then.
| should have supposed myself IN some Pashas Sc
ragho but for the gabardlne and dark turban of my
host, and that firm look Of lofty determination that
is to be seen on every Hebrew brow, undmmed by
the disasters and degradatlons of two thousand
years. My entertainer spoke with respect of Bish-
OPP Alexander, and of the other missionaries he
said he gave them credit for the bcst motives Blu,
that it was all in vain 10 hope to proselytize his
people. "Ihe Romans" he added. with enthusi-
asm, could not condemn Manius in sight OF the
Capitol, and the Hill of Zion is not likely SPOT
for Jew to iorsake the faith of his orefathers"-
"The Christians do not honor Zion less" obsery
ed, "because they also point TO Calvary. They
60 with you hand in hand as far as regards THU
worlds sacred history, and far beyond you then, in
to heaven which you have hoped for from thu
days of Abraham, and which you will not receive
because different from that which you expected"
The dark eyes Of the Hebrew literally glowet
beneath his grey and shaggy eyebrows, as he ras
ed his arm in vehement gesticuation, that contras
ted strangely with the repose Of the rest of his dra
period figure. "Englishman,' he exclaimed, in
voice that seemed to gurgle from his heart, vol
know not what you say" Suddenly the door open
ed, the tapestry that hung over it was moved asd,
by beautifully rounded arm on which Jewels
CLEANED, and there stepped forth female form
which fascinated my attention as if it had BEEF
vision. Imagine Rebecco, in all the chastene,
pomp of dress and beauty that Sir Walter Scot
has painted with such vivid words-even such NJ
she stood before me, glorious embodiment of al
the best attributes Of her pure and noble race Sht
might Eve herself have been, so might her daugh
tiers have looked when angels sought their morta
love; Miriam, Jael, Judith, and the gentle Ruth
all the heroic spirits of Judah's line, might hav
been represented under that form, (but not the Mai
MotherJ know not how she was dressed, | scare
know how she looked; but have a memory befor
my eyes that seems still to confuse, as it dazzlet
then. only remember light gauzy turban, will
gitterfng fringe falling gracefully over the Shout
der masses of black and shining hair that made tb,
forehead and delicately Drowned cheek look as fai
as q rcassians if thought of luxury hovere,
upon the richly rosy mouth it was awed into ADM
ration by the large dark eyes, so fearless yet S,
modest glancing round as if they read meaning