Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-09-11
tuesday Morning, september IL, 1885,
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

An Houa IN PALEsrINE.--No portion OF
the earta's surface held ,n-higheI esteem
by the christian believer, than thar which the
children of Israel made IOtisome march OF
forty wears Curat ioIF a reach anu wb!ch Moses
their chosen leader was not perlnltied to en-
ter on account OF au Uutburst of passion in
<rebuking their idolatry. To those whose in
adequate means preclude tour to that sacred
laud, nothing rs more gratifying than to hear
from the ups of those more fortunate, an lu-
tei:lsib!e description of the country around
which cluster so many hallowed, associations
Aud when To such description is added we'll.
executed aud fairly authenticated views of
di1tcEeut prominent localities, the effect is
heightened and the interest greatly increased
The anticipations of our quiet town were ele>
waited to a feverish condition on Tuesday last
by the igh-sounding announcement that Rev.
Mr. BARNES would on that evening deliver
lecture, and exhibit a number of diagrams,
illustrative and descriptive of all those points
of superior interest in Palestine. This an
nouncement drew together quite respectable
attendance at the commodious rooms of the
Christian Association, where at about
o'clock the show was opened by the
lecturer peering from behind the cur
tain, and making the interesting inquiry,
sis my friend, Mr.. Neer, here? 2" AS Mr..
Neer did not respond, the exhibition COM
menced without his valuable services as
scenic director. The first diagram which
greeted the strained eyes of the anxious au-
dience was one representing the planetary
system, aud the relation which Jupiter and
Mars, and the other lesser planets sustained
to the great light of the dark places of the
wOrli, the beautiful and brilliant SUn." To
the student of Astronomy this picture might
L.
est, but to the general public, who were anx-
lOus to see Jerusalem and JUppa, and the
koese of Simon the Tanner, Mercury and
Venus presented few attractions. We were
also treated TO view of the rotary motion of
the different planets, as Astronomy has dem
oDstrated they revolye in their respective or
bits and that sight OF all sights, which the
lecturer impressed upon the audience in an
gelic tones and more than seraphic gestures
we refer to the ''comjunctcon"- OF two of the
planets. This having satiated the thirst or
the elementary points of Astronomy huge
comet. with its expanded narrative aud eccen-
trio motion, was placed upon the canvass. with
the comforting assurance of the learned lee
turer that "they didn't do any harm" This
eased the nerves of all present and quoted the
apprehensiOns of the little folks" who were
out in full force. But the time had arrive
for. and with it; the GROWING portion OF the
evenings entertainment We began to huid
our feelings ia reserve tor witnessing what
had excited CUR curious no es, and lii up nur
brightest antIcipat.Uns On the calves be
fore US was a lively figure of Esther, the
beautiful JUwess, approaching the naughty
King, holding up her garments" and eIo,
queutiy pleading tor her condemned k,nnmeu
who were to be executed ON the gailOws
prepared by the malicious Hannah. Pc
Mordecai, the trembling jew, was not prom,
neut i'll the foreground, but as the rcc.r
says that lie ''sat at the Kings late, he WIS
probably behind the pust when tiic picture
was photographed. The views "i jeru =, ,eIn
presented by Ihis ndetaiIgaDie t"url>L We're
not more than in"derateiy good, aud his cx
pa"aTI"ns OF them. were not sucn 10 lend
the pictures any great additional attraction
Some OF his statements sounded to rs cXtrav
lSanf, others hinged OF, eg"t SIN, wHI.si Que
few very nearly reached the absurd Ills
skinned shoulders aud rnlieu garments, pro
duced by his wonderluI .perrnacity to obtain.
information, did MOI aud one TINT to the bril~
liant pictures winch cleaned before us. nor
did they eiiclt one-natt the sympathy from
the audlencc winch such Tat-terr,er perse
veTanCe would seem Ia merit. In sacred
things, where wide field is presented tor
an interesting lecture, personal. exploits of
manner prescribed for the Iocomution of the
dlsturber of the peace and good order of
Eden, CRATES with harshness akin to ruinous
effect. The absolute and unquestionabIe
identity of Simon's house at Joppa, with the
tan-vats in good preservation, letta doubt on
the minds of some of the audience amounting
almost to unbelief. The particular. care to
point out on the canvass, the very locality
where the lecturer had preached, outside the
corporation limits of the town of Joppa, had
the appearance of anxiety on his part to be
seen the great central figure, next to the
camels with their huge burdens, almost equal
3 to use his own language, to Susquehanna
raft. There were many other remarkable
statements made by this remarkable lecturer
such for instance as the excessive weeping
of the Jews-but our notice is already ex-
tended beyond the.length intended Suffice
it. to say, that we obtained our quarters
worth, and left the room, sometime before
the close of the performance.