The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-05-27
For the Upton Advertiser.
Unused Notes in MI, Holy Land Diary.
BY DIR. ROBERT NORRIS.

On the Sd Of May, 1868, approached
Jerusalem 1.-The City of the Great King"
and, as ACKNOWLEDGMENT had done 2,400
years before me, pitched against it, I"
determined, if studious application could
accomplish the work. to photograph up
on my mind and memory all the salient
features of the renowned city, nor leave
it until felt as familiar with its profile
as with that of an old friend. I found
the advantage of long and careful study
during late years; but there are many
things that no amount Of study can i'm
press upon the mind, things that can
only be acquired by personal observa-
ton. .5t .a'..... r. ..,.f
The entire absence of timber in the
vicinity of Jerusalem necessitates the
most extensive use of crypts. arches,
vaults and domes in the construction Of
buildings. Almost every house built
by the more respectable classes, has its
ceilings supported by arches, which are
often constructed with much artistic
taste and. skin. This imparts very
pleasing appearance to the interior of
the rooms. The ceilings ofthese houses
are generally ornamented with mould
ings in plaster. The material used in
the walls IL small stones, roughly
shaped, but public yeditices are construc-
ed of larger blocks nicely and accurately
squared. The immense blocks left by
the workmen ofearly days, are not used
at all by modern architects 49, l..- i.
The building material Of the, country
is altogether limestone, but varying
much In color. quality and consistency.
Some Of it is quite red or pink coiored {;
piece which broke from a gigantic
block in the eastern wall of Mount
Moriah, is almost red. 1t is this which
is commonly 1denominated Jerusalem
marble, although a proper definition Of
marble would exclude it from that class:
it not being c,ysttAtizcd. Another is a
sparkling white variety found in its
greatest perfection in the quarry at
Anatta q mile or so northeast Of Jerusa-
lem. The English church at Jerusalem
is built Of this; but it is so soft and so
readily affected by the atmosphere that
it is totally unfit for the outer walls of
edilices. In first taking it from the
quarry it Is easily cut with hand-saw !;
but hardens somewhat on exposure.
Quite a quarry Is worked now, few
p,ilao ~ of
Ramleh-Joppa road, from which saw
quarrymen taking large and fine slabs
of pink colored stones for erecting some
of the numerous converts going up in
and around Jerusalem. No stone is
now taken from the ancient quarry UNI
der the city; it is not likely that the
authorities would permit it, as 1t might
endanger the foundation of the build
ings over it.
Over the gate OH the east of the city,
called 81. Stcphen's gate, can he seen
some bold carvipg5 in stone of Lions !;
said by competent authorities to be re-
ferable to the age of the Crusades. I
procured at Gebal, 200 miles northwest
Of Jerusalem, a similar carving in stone,
having quite n remarkable likeness,
which had once constituted block i'm a
stone edifice, perhaps church. Could
some time be given to this subject, it is
probable that many similar carvings
would be found in different sections of
the country.
NEhn host v,lona fo C., nd In ..kr
legends embodied in Mollammedan
tradition is at Jerusalem, almost rs
much identified with Moslemsm as Ju-
daism or Christianity. Many Of these
stories are full of suggestiveness. The
Mohammedans feign that when the
Red Sea was divided to admit the pas
sage of the lsraelites emigrating from
Egypt, t,rclre sererat paths were opened,
through which the respective Tribes
made good their pas sage, one for each
Tribe. AS applicable to, this, the pas
sage in Chapter - of the Koran will
bear quoting: The deed which thou
: doest in open day and that which thou
veilest i'll the shades of mystery are
equally known to God" - @. ',
The native tradition in regard to the
Psalms Of David is that when the divine
IL,
they were Immediately taken up and
continued by natural -obieets, animate
aud inanimate-birds, breczes, noun
tains, water courses, trees and flowers
all took up the unfinished strain and
chanted Gods praises III the. spirit of
minstrelsy which the Royal Harper had
evoked. .
La coming up from Joppa to Jerusa-
lem, a distance of about 35 miles as the
road runs, and up which you ascend
about 1900 feet in a distance Of five or
six miles, the words Of the prophet writ
ing OF tile return Of the exiles to the
same city, iresistably occur; "the re-
deemed Of the Lord shall return and
come with singing unto Zion; and ever
lasting joy shall be upon their head !;
they; shall obtain giadness and joy !;
and sorrow and mourning shall
flee away"
The strictly conscientious class of the
Mohammedans are Very charitable
The third regular precept or landmark
of their religion (called the Giving of
Alms"l makes it an -imperious obliga-
ton. 1t suggests numerous channels of
benevoience, such as charitable tthes,
paschal aims, the paschal sacrifice, do
nations or foundations of pious ua-
ture and the eventual aims Of charity.