The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-01-04
A Railroad to Eden.


Many, in all ages. have been the epec-
ulations as TO where Eden was, and among
others, some remarkably wise men-there
is no telling how many centuries ago
pitched upon the mouth Of the Red Sea as
the veritsbla reality. II is a small town
and seaport, well supplied with wafer.
and rather pleasant and healthy sit
uation, with q lofty peak of rock called
Cape Alden rising some seventeen hun.
dred feet out OF the water. In fact, it is
the last place in the world 10 realize the
description of Eden OF Genesis. But, no
mater; an Oriental imagination can find
Eden anywhere, and the most interesting
information in regard to it,by the last mail,
is that the Egyptian Government, finding
the railroad from Alexandria TO Surz so
profitable, have resolved to extend it
down southwark along the African shore
OF the Red Sea 10 within short distance
OF Alden. This will save days steamipg
on the rocky aud very dangerous Red
Sea, and no doubt prove profitable enough
TO the Pasha, who constructs it,especally
If il finds favor in the eyes of the British
Government. 1t will have TO pass within
sight-on the other side, however, of the
Red Sea-of the mountains Of Sinai,
where the law was given 10 Moses. Suez
is the spot in all probability, that the
Isreites crossed the Red Sea. wandering
thence down the coast on the Asiatic side
10 Horeb.
What singular change railroads make,
after all. in peoples ideas, in their fortunes
and in their lives. Had such a railway
only existed 10 the times Of Moses, half a
days journey would have enabled the
Egyptians 10 overlake the refractory He
brews, by simply crossing the Red Sea a
little lower down. What is more sin
gular is that the Egyptians did actually
have railways Of a certain kind then, and
had them for ages. on which they used 10
transport the blocks OF which the pyra'
mids were built.
But only let US attempt 10 fancy a
journey TO Eden, the veritable and original
home Of the race, by railroad, with loco
motives, and steam pufing, and steam
whistles blowing off their steam. Who
ever expected Paradise 10 be thus easily
regained, at least on earth But s2ch {
Paradise, such an Eden as the Arabian
AGen, never yet entered into the heart o
man. 1t is now a coal station, nominally
and primarily, for the British steamer:
navigating the Red Sea. From twenty
five to thirty thousand tons OF shipping
annually vsi: tha: port, mostly steamers
The population has risen from two thou
sand TO twenty or thirty thousand, in tn,
last twenty years. Men of all races arr
{ there, and men OF all religions and al
tongues. 1t is more like Babel than Par
adse. The mosques Of the Musslumal
attest its former greatness, when Solomoi
the Great made it the first key of India
Frowning balllements crown its height
and the booming cannon stretches its arm
4 Of iron across the entrance TO that inlant
SEQ. It's islands are studded with for,ifi
cations, under the prelex: of defending
the lighthouse, and the scarlet uniform
of the British soldier is seen pacing l.
and fro upon its ramparts. And whel
f the railroad train comes putting and pant
80 ing along the shores of ibat Red Sea, TO th
landing opposite Alden, the contrast wit!
all the old ideas OF Paradise will be NOR,
complete. Indeed, the English in finding
=. new ways TO India, seem bound &c lay
' railroad 10 Paradise, be it where it will
For all The country between the Tigri
and the Euphrates is being pretty accu
rately scanned with its railway possibili
lies.-Philadelphia Ledger.