The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-12-23
q sF Y = vMr -
A visit to the Garden of Eden.
.Fss =, r -. ~ q

"A VlSIt " tuC UhIUcu vi Lucus
A couple Of hours r : ride q over q most
wretched bride path, up ana down
rugged mountain passes, brought
us to this charming oasis called
" Ehden.n,, The. Arabs assured us this
spot was the real Garden of Eden and
sysse i sas.ssss iSsssis s tasg 2
traps, we had no difficulty in believing
this to be the garden where, our first
mother Eve dwelt ere she grew too
fond Of apples. aA ,.Fav1e soiaB u or
This Eden is situated in pretty littleS
valley in the heart of the mountains, at
an elevation of some 5000 feet above
the level OF the sea. Water is abundant
here :and consequently everything is
is full of vineyards, with hpomegranates
and fig trees, and olive and mulberry
plantations, and oyer-topping the whole
can be seen some mme fise walnut trees
that look as old as the world.
AS I am writing these lines sitting ON
camp-stooi in front of my tent, 1 can
see the whole. population of sEhdep col,
lected round our camp staring at us.
Young and old, men women and chill
dren are pressing forward to. have a
good look at us; and some Of these wild
children Of Eve have climbed up the trees
to have the luxury OF a bird eye view
of urcanp. aaEohg before we reached
brought that caravan of people from
beyond the mountains and perhaps, oh
wonder! from beyondsthe sea. was COM
ing to camp in their oasis. The news
spread like wild fire among the tribe
and there was a general rush for the
best places to see us come in and get
of Dur horses Theewoih en- left of their
work in the fields, the men left off play
ing on the reed-pipes and the children
left off CRYING to see us coming. Bar
num's circus arriving in village "out
West" never created such sensation
as we did on approaching this earthly
paradise As We fled past through this
aisle of human Beings, we were greeted
with shouts and mock salutations. The
women giggled, the men smiled, the
children roafed at the queer figure we
cut in. our European costumes Two
ladies with as were made the objects of
avery, popular oyation, .,. 49,.
The green goggles which some ofsmy
companions wore seemed to raise the
enthusiasm of the crowd to. its highest
pitch, and many swarthy finger was
raised from among those Arabs, point
ing to these green goggles, while the
women called to each other and raised
their children in their arms I'd make
them enjoy the treat. Meantime my
friends. quite unconscious of their great
popularity, did not knowwhat to: make
of all this crowd. But as we drew near
the tents and I helped Mrs, E. off her
horse, the crowd pressed SO much on US
that Hail and his men were obliged
to drive them off and to have ropes
stretched around our camp to keep the
intruders out. CT
Here with plenty of elbow room en-
Joy the Scene, which indeed. is. very
picturesque. When the excitement had
somewhat subsidized I strolled out to en-
Joy theIgorgeous sunset. The western
skyswas aglow with .laminous tintss of
orange, pink and purple. This glory
lasted but minute, and all was hushed
in the gray tints Of evening.
Later in the evening some young men
and young women were admitted in our
dining-room tent. These Arab women
were dying with curiosity to see and
handle the clothes and trinkets of our
lady friends. Velvet seemed to attract
their attention and admiration more
than anything else, save perhaps our
watches and gloves. The gloves espe-
cially seemed to puzzlethem. The Count
ess took out her repeater and made
il strike for them. They seemed .de4
I lighted, just as little children would
be with the sound of the tiny bell Some
of theseF pretty Arab girls asked me,
lthrQugh our dragoman, il all the ladies
in our country were like the two that
were with usp Il told HALL TO ask these
kgirls what made them ask that question.
They answered witha giggle and shy
look from their roguish eyes. " II they
are all SO large it must be very hard
work for the poor horses to carry them. ~
| Charles q. Ardissos, IN the Chicago
AduGssce. Is ,,ss
a--Andrew Simpson. of Carbondale,
Pa, is in possession of the boiler, cab
and several other pieces of the locomo-
tive purchased in England by the Della
ware and Hudson Canal Company, June
IL, 1929. This locomotive made the
| first trip in this country. between Homes
| dale and what is now known as Old No.
4, on the Delaware and Hudson gravity
road, in 1880.