Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-02-07
ROUND ABOUT JERUSALEM.

in its channel. In the summer it Is
entirely dry. 1t is crossed by two
bridges, one near st. Stephens gate,
the other near the tomb Of Absalom.
Half a mile up the valley are the
tombs Of the kings. These consist
of q series Of chambers cut into the
solid rock, but now entirely empty
Just at the base of the Mount OF
Olives is the tomb OF Absalom. The
main portion of this is q monolith,
which means cut out Of the solid rock
of the mountains by yquarrying around
IL. The, dome has been added by
mosonry. It Is square in form, with
columns and pilAsters, with q dome
and short 5plre on the top. 1t is about
forty feet In height, and perhaps six
teen feet square. In passing this pill
lar, almost every one hlrls a stone at
it, in disapprobation Of the desobe-
dent son.
Just below is the monument OF
ZachaTias, son of Baraehius; also q
monolith; and still further down, near
the village Of Sloan, is the monu-
ment of Heredias.
The fountain of the Virgin is near
the foot of Ophel,. and from it the
water is conveyed under the ground
to the pool of Sloan. This pool is
walled with masonry, and is about
fifty feet in length and sixtesn in
width. It is, no doubt, the exact place
where the blind man was directed to
wash for the restoration of his sight.
Below is the well Of En- Rogel,
mentioned in the earlier books of the
Bible. II is near the junction of the
valleys of Jehoshaphat and Hinnom,
and is perhaps one Of the most ancient
relics of the Holy City.
Z Passing up the valley Of HinnOm,
until nearly opposite Jaffa gate, the
lower pool Of Gibon is found in good
state of preservation, lined with ma
sonry, but quite dry. Still further up
the valley is found the upper pool,
likewise in a good Etate Of preserva-
ton, but entirely useless.
Opposite Jerusalem, and across the
valley of Hinnom is the hill of Evil
Counsel, where tradition places the
country house Of Caiaphas, the high
priest, and where the council was
held at which the death of Christ was
planned. 1t was also, most probably,
the place where Pompey's camp was
pitched during the invasion Of the
Romans
On the eastern side Of the city, and
across the valley Of Jehoshaphat, is
the Mount of Olives. No doubt its
appearance is similar, exactly, to what
it was in the days Of our Lord. The
same paths, the same sunny slope,
the same commanding position be-
long to it, now as when Jesussat upon
it, and wept over Jerusalem.
: There are three paths running up
its side one around the left shoulder
as the the visitor faces it ; one nearly
straight up to the summit, and the
third over the right shoulder, and on
to Bethany.
The ascent is ,tolerabIy steep,
although portion Of the hill il culti-
waited, and has house half way up 20
the top. Olive trees grow thiekly and
luxuriantly over nearly every part Of
it. From the summit it slopes of In
an easterly direction down to Beth
any. From the top is = most magnifi-
cent prospect. Being higher than
Jerusalem, every part Of the city is in
plain view. Mizpeh and the tomb of
Samuel II just ON the horizon, and
turning eastward, the Dead Sea, with
its bright blue waters, are reflected in
the sunlight; and beyond, the dark,
fOWning shadows OF the mountains
Of Moab. ..
Itis buta short walk down to Betha-
ny, the town Of Martha and Mary
Going down by a winding path, IN
hAlf an hour you are standing amid
scenes where Jesus loved to fnd rest
after the days tolls. 1t is now but
collection of miserable tumble-down
houses, with not an attractive feature
about it, except the beautiful assoeia-
tioDs of the past. A cave is shown as
the tomb of Lazarus.
Just above the village, towards Jeru-
salem, is a beautiful little plot Of
ground, nearly level, and covered
with olive trees. 1t does seem as
though this must be the spot whence I
Christ ascended to heaven, It is so |
quiet, so retired, and corresponds so /
well with the apostles description, /
that what was first theory ripened /
into conviction as the circumstances !
were considered. Luke tells US "he /
led them out as far as Bethany" and /
in the Acts of the Apostles it is said I
that, after the ascension, the apostles
"frOm the mount called
Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a
Sabbath days Journey, y which would
be about the distance OF Bethany.
Atthe foot of the Mount of Olives
is the garden Of Gethsemane. 1t is
now surrounded with stone wall,
and cultivated as flower garden by q
monk. Easy admittance
!, --air,.d bxy bpooEiror at fha door I
and small present Is expected on
leaving.
There are eight olive trees growing
n this enclosure. They are larger
han any trees in this region, and are
the successors Of those that
,tood there, and sheltered the MAN
If Sorrows" in the dark hour Of his
rial.
The old monk who has charge does
lot intrude himself upon visitors, but
Gems to realize that they wish to be
lone in the solitude of the place
70 guide is necessary there. The
imple narratives of the sacred writers,
cad on the ground, and under the
live trees, makes an impression that
will never be lost.
Below Gethsemane, and all along
he base OF Olivet are innumerable
raves of Israelites, who have been
luried here for centuries IN their sacred ]
oil. 1t Is the dearest wish of every
ew TO be buried here, and rest with ]
heir fathers. MahOmmedans bury
heir dead Just under the eastern side {
f the city walls Young Folks Netcs.