Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-07-28

tie that was, TO make no converts. bu,
4 embtter the bigots against those who
were trying 10 tell them Of a better
l. religion than their own.
J. Two years ago an effort was made
}. IN a new line 10 ameliorate the con-
dltlon Of the inhabitants Of Lancas-
e ter. Seven Americans, with improv-
!. ed plows and other tools, and Amer
lean seeds, located upon a piece Of
e laud seven miles from Jerusalem,
y one mile from Bethlehem, and made
# Preparations for farming after the
American system.
Their location was in the valley of
f Artos, upon the site of one Of the
' gardens Of Solomon.
!. Their friends in the city were very
much opposed TO their going out
there to reside, urging them, If they
were determined TO try to cultivate
the soil, to keep their residence in
! the city, for fear of the Arabs. This
did not suit their plans, and they
took nm their re=idence unon inc
land and COMMENCED operations,
blowing deep with one of our best
plows, narrowing with an iron-tooth-
ed harrow, such as was never seen
there before. and planting corn, po-
tatoes, beans, peas, oats, barley,
wheat, and all sorts Of garden veget-
ables (; in short, making a perfect
American farm.
The operations, instead of excit-
ing the jealousy of the Arabs,
aroused them 10 state Of surprise,
and the news OF what the Americans
at Soomon's garden were doing, and
what wonderful tools they were u.s.
ing, and how peaceabIe and quiet
they were, never saying anything
about their religion, flew on the
wings Of the wind, and visitors came
to look and wonder, from far and
near. The operations of the carpen-
ter and blacksmith were not among
the least sources of wonder. The
rapid manner in which he heated his
iron, and hammered it into Just such
shape as he desired, was beyond the
comprehension of the supplemented
people.
One day the farm received visit
from twenty-five Sheiks, who in
spected all the tools and the way
they were used, and the effect pro-
duced and looked at the growing
crops, so much beyond anything
they had ever seen produced before,
and then turned their heads together,
to consult upon the wonders they
had witnessed. The conclusion was
that these people must possess a
very superior kind OF religion, as that
is the standard upon which they
base all their estimates OF character.
They made applications at once for
several Of their sons to serve as ap-
prenlices TO learn American farming,
and did not even object that they
should be taught the principles Of
American religion for surely, said
they, it must be good religion, as
these are very good people, and God
blesses their labor beyond any other
in all Palestine.
Ii would have been dangerous now
for any one to modest the American
farmers, since they had all the Sheiks
and principal men in the country on
their side, and anxious for their sue
cess and influence. The Jews, too,
began to think it would be better too
for them to cultivate such fruitful
soil than starve in the city, as many
of them have done, and they began
to apply for situations as laborers,
Notwithstanding the priests always
taught them that it was derogatory
to the national character of the He
brews 10 till the soil. Though, if
they had undertaken il by them
selves, they would not have been
permitted by the Arabs, who hunt
them as they would wild BEASTS
But, under the protection Of the
farmers, the Arabs will
permit them to labor, and it is now
matter of serious discussion among
those who know Of the success OF
this enterprise, whether the most
feasible plan for coIonizing the Jews
in Palestine is not to make them cul-
livators Of its rich soil.
Owing TO some difficulty which
arose in regard to the title Of the
land they commenced upon in the
Valley of Artos, the title colony
moved las, year to the plains Of
Sharon, where they have got perm
amen, location, and the number con-
sists now often Americans, male and
female, and two Germans.
One Of the number was in our Of
ice few days since, from whom we
derived these facts. lie speaks in
most encouraging terms Of the sue
less Of the agricultural project, and
Ultimately, by that means, Of an in-
iuence upon the inhabitants, that
will eventually result in great good.
This effort has been made through
he lberalily of a lew Christmas in
his City, and by the same spirit that
,c,uated the first movers in the work,
immense benefits may be conferred
upon the country. All that is want
ID to make il desirable country for
he emigranls of Europe is an in
,rease Of the presen. colony sufficient
o form a nucleus or rallying-point,
md more extended operations, and a
tradual drawing in of the resident