The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-12-24
A Maine Yankee In the Holy Land.

The Damascus correspondent II the
ADlsrscaA Trgrciicr writes
"Thcn he'll do IT," exclaimed the
man 10 whom ] had said that W. had
engaged Rolla Floyd 10 accompany us
from Damascus IA .lafa. 'sNVu have
been fortunate In securing that mystic
nous man Ills name j. worth hun
dred ride against any tribe ia SYRIA.
floyd Vas one u q colony II Amer
cans who left the pine forests " Maine,
in the United States, some ten or a
dozen wears ago. 70 settle ia the Holy
Land % there BE- ready "a greet the
blessed Redecmer a. His second coming
But dissension.. bitter and irreconcila-
bic. arose among them i'm Jaffa; they
were looked upon with hate and suspi-
cion by jews, Arabs. and Mahomme-
dams. their crops Were stolen as fast a.
they ripened, and many IF the men fall
ing oui with work took - drink. They
lot their lands. bordering the plains u
sharon, near Jaffa, by fine point Of
Turk ish law, and through the combined
effects Of death. III luck. and licentious-
ness. the me mbers became mad, drunk,
and reckless. and If al that devoted
praying band. every member II which.
when leaving America, was justly famed
for purity. pieiy, faith. and virtue, there
only remains in Palestine. 20 far a.
could ascertain. Rsila Floyd and his
worthy and amiabie wife.
These two unwayering Christians re-
manned true 20 Christ and true 20 theIr-
selves Mr. How'd made friends among
the natives by her needle. her medi-
cine-. aud her patient tenderness with
al who were afflicted, while Mr.. Floyd
started the pioneer express Of SYRIA hy
carry Ing Letters and packages between
Jaiia and jerusalem. on week days.
and preaching the Word ~ God. with
cut money and without price. ou sun
DAY.
Ills fine athletic form and his wonder
full strength. coupled with his inyariable
kindness Of heart and mildness II tenn
per. soon created a marked sensation
among the natives, for, when finding
them in personal qAarrel and rolling in
the dust ike fierce ma>tifis. he frequently
rushed into the crowd and. craspine the
two combafants ~ the napes II their
ueck--Onc in each hand-slowly walk
ed down 20 the sandy shores or the
Mediterranean, and sOuSed them into the
briny surf until promises u peace and
reconciliation had been given Frequent
attempts were made 70 rob his express
Of valuable packages, but be ALWAYS
managed - capture one or both 81 Tie
bandits. and. compelling them % listen
a. al impressive sermon on honesty. he
always let them of on receiving prom
ises Of reformation. BY this kindness in
not turning his prisoners Overto Turkish
vengeance and his entire fearlessness.
he IN time became a. great an idol
among the desperate thieves and cut
throats a. he was among the most up
right
With a memory that seems "a be with
out limit. he shortly became entire
master ~ the Arabic. - thar he speaks
it with an accurate hGency, acquired BIZ
but few not born on the desert. In hi
familiarity with the Bible he surpasses
al men | have ever seen. quoting from
memory almost any verse that may be
called for between Genesis and Reveal
tons. Il J. asserted BY those who have
known him intimately for wears that
ihcE have never seen him display anger,
surprise. or pOiSferuus mirth. Travel
ing n missionary throughout the en-
tire length and breadth If Palestine. and
becoming familiar with every lake, hill.
valley, cave. stream. and mountain
mentioned in the Bible. he T. to-day mn
queStionably the best informed in hihli-
cal hisiorv and topography ~ any man
living. The American Government has
twice offered him a Con-ulship; but hi
reply has been. IL shall make les
money, bat perform more labor among
the poor children Of God by remaining
In the field"
Once every month be regularly makes
hi appearance in Jerusalem. and takes
his seat in the East a. the w NJ Of the
ROYAL solomon Mother Lodge. r. A. NJ.
winch position he has long held by the
unanimous votes VI all the members.
A Strange Addiction.