Smyrna times., 1870-10-19

DAMASCUS, THE Observation-Disclosures dates |
anteiOr to the Oldest city in the world 1t was
founded by Uz, the grand, of Noah. "1he |
early history of Damascus is shrouded in the
hOary mists of antiquity
Leave the matters written of in the eleventh
chapter Of the Old Testament out, and no re-
corded event has occurred in the world, but
Damascus was in existence to receive it. Go
back as far aSsgou will into the vague past
there was always Damascus.
In the writing of every century, for more
than four thousand years, its name has been
mentioned and its praise sung. TO Damascus
years are only momeDts-decades only the fit
ting Of time. She measures time not by days,
and months, and years, but by the empires she
has seen rise and prosper, and then crumble
into ruin. She is type of Immortality. She
saw the foundations of Baalbec and Thebcs
and Ephesus laid saw them grow into mighty
cities and amaze the world with their grandeur;
and she has lived to see them desolate, desert
| ed, and given up to owls and bats. She saw
| the IsraetiSh empire exalted, and she saw it
annihilated. She saw Greece rise and flourish
for two thousand years and then die In her
old age she saw Rome built she saw it over
shadow the world with its power; she saw 1t
perish.
Venetian might and splendor were to grave old
worth remembering. Damascus has seen all
that has occurred on earth, and still she lives.
She has looked upon the dry bones Of q thou
sand empires, and she will see tOmbS of a
thousand more before she dies Though an
other claims the name, old Damascus is by
right the Eternal City.
AMERICAN WoNDERS.-The greatest cata-
ract in the world is the falls of Niagara, where
the water from the great upper lakes forms a
river of three-fourths Of a mile in width, and
then, being suddenly contracted plunges over
the rocks i'll two columns, to the depth OF Il;
feet.
The greatest cave in the world is the Nam
q moth Cave, of Kentucky, where. any one cal
} make a voyge on the waters of subterraneal
f river, and catch fish without eyes.
4 The greatest river in the world is the Mis-
. sissippi, 1900 miles long.
Q The largest valley in the world is the vale
e of the Mississippi. 1t contains 500, 900 squar
d miles, and is one of the most fertile regions q
I the goble.
: The greatest city park in the wrld is i
l Philadelphia. 1t contains over 1000 acres.
a The greatest grain port iu the world is CHI
a cago.4
IS The largest lake in the world is Lake SupC
d rior, which is truly an inland sea, being 4S
Q miles long, and 1000 feet deep.
e The longest railroad in the world is the Pa
y ci6c railroad, over 5000 miles in length.
:, The greatest mass of solid iron in the world
e is the Iron Mountain Of Missouri It is 35
) feet high, and two miles in circuit.
n The best specimen of Grecan architecture
n the world is the Girard College, for Orphans
e Philadelphia
Ie The largest aqneduct in the world is the Crt
t ton Aqueduct, in New York Its length
% forty and one-half miles, aud it cost $l2,5OO
I. 600.
10 The largest deposits of anthracite coal in th
10 world are in Pennsylvania the mines of whic
st supply the market with millions of tons ami
r ally, and appear to be exhaustible. Amer
can Engineer.