Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-06-15

Damascus. Here we strike westward
to Dan and the head waters of the Jor
dan, and return by Sea Of Gallilee anC
| Nazareth.
| Since the weather has been so warn
l have done my writing and reading
in my own room, as did in the con
sulste. From my bay window I have
\ very fine view. To the east, mo-
seeming to be separated by the deer
valley of Jehosephat, rises .Olivet
which is as Little like real mountain
as anything ever saw. Along its
road, up which, so many long year.
ago David went up the ascent of Oil.
vet, and wept as he went up, and Le
had his head covered and he went
barefoot &c. But Olivet itself is the
central and most interesting object, as
it is 80 intimately connected with the
history of Him, who so often was wont
to retreat thither in the dark hours oil
the night, to be alone in the presence
of his Father. 1t was here our dear
Saviour 80 often went, weary and IA
tigued, to spend the night, 'for he had
not where to lay his head
Quiet the evening; the sun had gone down;
Dead stiffness DER all,
Save the night birds call
And the jackals prowling round
On breath of the evening wind was heard
A voice so calm,
Twas the voice of the Lamb
Of God, that spoke. Now list to his word.
Softly it was borne to my ear; and heard
Him say-'Sit ye here
While 90 over there
And pray'-Pray to his Father, our Lord
How suggestive these words as
stand ut my window and look over the
slopes Of Olivet, where this event oc.
CURED. Away beyond, past the south
ern shoulder of Olivet, rises the noun
tains of Moab, apparently six or eight
miles away, but really over fifty. 1t
little looks as though these are the
same mountains saw from the Dead
Sea, then thirty. five miles away, while
between Inc an0 the Sea extends the
barren and desc late gray colored hills,
which are none other than the will
derness of Jordan where John did
baptiZe and preach the baptism of re-
pentance.' Looking to the north, see
within the city, not 800 yards from
where stand, towering above the sur.
rounding houses, the two dOmes, one
of which covers the place of Calvary,
the other the tomb OF Christ, both be-
longing 10 the same building, and
called the Church of the Holy Sepul-
chre. About 80 yards away, in the
same direction, is the pool of Hezeki-
ah, which we are told he constructed,
and brought water into it by conduit,
which can also be seen. Now, looking
westward, / have full view of Jaffa
gate, with its continually changing
scenes, as men and women, boys and
girls, cats and dogs ,donkeys and sheep,
horses and camels, beggars, lepers,
cripples, pilgrims, travelers-every
manner of man and beast almost you
can imagine, comes and goes all day
long. This side of Jaffa gate, and a
little to the south, is the Tower of Da-
vid; why so called don't know. Some
think it covers part of the site of Da-
vid's palace, or the citadel, but it is not
known.
took long walk yesterday with a
Mr.. Sweetzer, of New York. Wei
walked over to Olivet, then followed
the top of the ridge northwsrd to what
is called ScOpus. We obtained a fine
view of the Dead Sea and of the Jordan |
valley, ter distance of twenty miles. |
We could see over large extent of
and counted thirteen towns
Ind villages in sight at once. We were
q good deal higher than Jerusalem, and |
a long distance away; it looked very
pretty, surrounded as it is by hills, RI |
sing high all round it, reminding me
of bird nestled down in her nest. II
have also been up the valley of Jeru-
salem q number of times. This is also
q very pleasant trip. Her walls are |
about three miles in length, but we
are permitted to walk only about halfl
way round, and then only when we
have q guard from the consulate. The
walls vary in thickness from six to
twenty feet, while in one place they
are eighty feet high. The usual height
rs they stand to-day, however, is about
forty or fifty feet. Where few years
ago was corn field, is now one of the
most interesting places in Jerusalem,
called the ruins of st. John. The field
was given as present to the Prussian
which at once began an
of the ruins, which you en-
ter ON level with the street, and be-
fore advancing far the ruins tower
above you two stories high, while in
some places you can zee two more sto-
ries beneath you, yet uncovered. This
)nly gives you some idea of how the
,ity is buried, for these ruins were built
upon the top Of others, for they date
about A. ID. 400-500. 1 am hardly able
10 realize at times the great antiquity
Df many of the places see. But when
[ think that some of them date many
centuries previous to the discovery Of
1 can only then partially
what see. Indeed we
speak over here of centuries, as wei
were accustomed at home to talk Of |,
the short years.
But must close with love to all.
Your son, affectionatsly, (
....... Z. C. G.
*Thomas, with others, had had been
robbed OF his money, watch and other
by bandits.-ED. CHRoN. i