The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-06-23

tnelr ancient traultlOnS 10 De REMINDED
that fairSs still annually held in Lar
nika in honor of the birth of the Cyprian
goddess, to which the inhabitants flock
from all parts of the Island, and that
there is no festival which they celebrate
with as much enthusiasm. Cyprus will
be ever associated in the mind of the
student of the New Testament with the
visit paid to it by the Apostle Paul while
the Roman Proconsul, Sergius Paulus,
resided there, and as the birthplace of
Barnabas. t....
was the next landing place of our steamer.
The passengers quickly emptied them
selves on the shore, with the exception of
the pilgrims, all of whom remained as if
glued to the deck. The city presents an
| Imposing front as it is approached from
fthe sea, with its battlemented castle, and
venerable walls fanked with towers, and
great gothic. gate, and private houses en-
powered in trees, among which are a few
struggling palms. But the charm which
distance lends quickly vanishes on land
ling 1t has the melancholy aspect which
most of these eastern cities present, that
of dilapidation and decline. 1t is hard
now to realize the fact that this disman-
tied, decaying town was one of the most
splendid cities of the world, inhabited by
a civilized people even before the Trojan
war, adorned by noble public edifces,
and beautifed by all that art and taste
and wealth could contribute to its en-
bellishment. Not fragment now re-
mains of the Colossus After its destruc-
ton by an earthquake, its shattered frag-
ments lay where they fell for near thou
sand years, but were at last sold by a
Turk to Jew, and all carried away
The only reminder now to be seen of the
medieval glory of the city of Rhodes is
the impress left upon it by the knights
of st. John, who for two hundred years
held it under their imperial sway In a
street which still bears their name there
are number of massive houses built of
stone, with the armorial bearings of the
Knights sculptured on the walls, where
one may find the arms and heraldic de-
vices of some of the great families yet ex-
listing in Europe. | was interested in
finding in the streets and imbedded in
the walls a number of huge cannon balls
of stone, like those you have so often seen
on the short pillars at the corner of Mar
shall and 9TH streets in Richmond; and
if | mistake not, I have heard that they
were brought from Rhodes, by whom and
when | know not Our friend, Judge
Wexford whose father so long resided in
the adjacent house, can probably tell. In
the history of Rhodes there are two Incl
dents worthy of remembrance. After
the conquest of the city by Alexander the
inhabitants revolted again and behaved
with such gallantry during the next siege
to which they were sub ected that the as
saulting general smitten with admiration
at their heroic defense, presented them
with the engines he had used in the at
tack and withdrew his forces. And at a
later period when Rhodes was besieged
by the Turks, under Suleiman the Mag
nifcent, the knights of st. John were
compelled to surrender, but their mag
unanimous conqueror made concessions
most honorable to himself and grateful to
the vanquished, for he pledged himself to
preserve their churches; to permit those
who desired it to quit the island; to ex-
empt those who chose to remain from
taxes for five years, together with the
free exercise of their religion; and he al
lowed the Knights to embark with all
the honors of war, lin their own galleys,
carrying with them their arms, banners,
records, state papers and private property.
Magnanimity like this to vanquished
foe on the part of Turk might furnish
an example worthy of imitation in some
of the wars of modern times, with equal
advantage to both parties in the conflict.
Hgean Isles.
The next day of our voyage we sailed
among the enchanted islands of the
Hgean Sea, over the most transparent of
waters, tranquil as lake, and with an
atmosphere which was Just delicious.
Among other memorable places which we
passed was Halica7naSs1S, the birthplace
of Herodotus and the site of the noblest
of ancient tombs, that of MaabSozals; then
by the island of PotmoS, ever associated
with the memory of st. John the divine
and the apocalypse; then by Kos, the
birthplace of Apelles and Hippocrates !;
then by ObioS, whose capital was one of
the cities which claimed to be the birth
place of Homer, 1.-THE blind old man of
Scio's rocky isle" and so on to Smyrna
where our steamer was to remain thirty
hours, thus giving me the opportunity Of
making another visit which was not in