The sun., 1881-11-20
axod double for thi. nriyilee.. The eaate closes


lift their misty elevations under great shadowy
clouds; and Hermon. the monarch OF Syrian
10 tho valley. is Illuminated Ly a crown of snow
Turn wheroaoever we will, this noblc triple
grandeur OF Mount Hormon, with his tiara Of
splendor, overmtsters oil other imagery. Look
With mo below. The appearance Instantly dis
closes why Damascus s the gem OF tho Orient.
lts fiat-roofed, whitish-brown houses are set
sQusrely on the earth. amid orchards whose
green is In pleasing contrast with tho lumber OF
the aubime horizon surrounding 1t above and
beyond. Below us, on tho west. is the old castle.
IL is itself chief object, but in the whole Wow
only an INCIDENT. Around us are, tho bulbons
roofs OF tho mosques, baths. and khans. Do
rare ornamen!sstion. hidden almost in the
arch It s7 IS Roman but ike Gn many 'g'sRna smRar
monuments; II serves only as q prop or cid TO
Often had heard H e0Ha'p Of the remark sSs OF Mo.
TOO oStstds cSclsims1: ! Wl'l. moi SSeef tfy
gates! Ny paradise is reserved for the next
worldn' With my elnss I easily 500 upon the
summit Of the whitish limestone mountain in
the distance. some 1000 feet high. a little TEN.
pla or marnbout. To- fix and celebrate the spot
from which no sighed and looked at this earthly
Eden. Turning 10 the east we see white houses
They form suburbs upon tho sides OF the noun
tains, and TO the west tho canals and rivers aro
marked by emerald belts. Here is the Christian
the south there Is large area OF groves for.
where water is so scarce and the brown and bleak
are so common verdure becomes exceedingly
precious. Looking closely in our surrounding
circuit we are within hail-so clear IL the sunlit
air-ol the other ,minarets Of this old temple.
Across the way. in the centre OF the northern
court. is the ininaret Oft the "Bride"-whte with
few rosy colors. 1t is as graceful in its heay-
whose honor 1t is erected in this city OF graces.
Then. arising $50 feet, high on. Of this
wonderful-this apotheoss to our Saviour! But
IL is not so wonderful when we perceive With
the mosque a splendid tomb. which cncloses tho
head OF John the Baptist, he of the wilder
like all these seers Of the, Orient. he came forth
thAA ss,,l os1Hro - thoI -
proclaim rules OF faith and duty. As such the
Orientai mind recognizss them. II is not 80
nizcd by the Mosiem as a ersat teacher and
prophet. and that the pride OF Syria enshrined
here does not disdain. in ,hi, emblematic way.
World. Jesus Christ" who. when he comes, will
descend upon this elegant minarst!
take place here there would be some other
bloody and deceittul" men lbesides those whom
sentsncsd punished for their persecution and
massacre Of the devotees Of Jesus in 1860.
Then began venture
headway through the street which is called
Straisht." and which has given rise to some
have no sympathy. and by those who will not
consider, that all things are comparative. 1t
straighiness; and its reSilinearness i. " one Of
the culminative proofs ot tho story o! St. Pauls
So ,nw NOT m Gnsy 10 os o9d % Ms pass
buy. The silk department is full 81 females
The Christian women are draped in pure
white from head to foot but their faces are not
concealed. and are sinsuiarly spiritual. Tho
Arab women have their faces hidden-not a Ia
shining out OF the involu,ions OF tho yashmak
but under dark.hfured slnare cauzy veil;
apn Ground @ which j. inrGs. howinS mantle OF
curiosity. The children OF this azure sheen"
have black eyes; and there are no children
especially tho giris-to compare with these in
future Congressional districts
environs have villages and caves which have
record N the historical portions OF our Scrip;
Jews. is not to be despised as a medium OF
memory, Unlike the nonsensieTHl s nsouous
S sna 11er 10 RosS
bewn wells. tombs. and temples confirm holy
sites and d even eye ph The ansien, customs. ns de.
were three thousand and more years ago. Who
can refuse to believe Tint Abraham once ruled
proves it, and every Bedouin see in the bazaar.
lett handed with his rude wooden poughshare
and driving his oxen with his antique goad. Is
OF the Apostles about these shores aud Ian is are
connrmed by geography. 1t is impossible to
mistake present Damascus ,,. and its walls % and
Writ. Roman remains MARI these spots. as IL
they wore the s;gnet of emoerors. kings.
- il, you are skepticsl a, to the story Of
pAul's conversion; go with me TO the tradi.
the miracle, and cali il. ou, OF, courtesy. a
beautiful fable. you will not doubt that right
IN
T." Acts" are yerties. The precise spot is shown
where the slaughter-brea,hing Saul SAW new
light. 1t 10 near Damascus. and on this old Ro-
man road. We know that it is the same road.
and that it vas at ,n the eastern =, gate
are not certain that the spot We ara
about TO visit is tho house OF Ananias. certainly
which is called Straight" which Was tho iod:-
Ing place OF Paul. Let US not be too critical. |
Gertainiy this Is SPOT oi wondefs even spgrak. prh
reniRr kable scholar and lawyer. 81. Paul. whose
name Is sounded from every pulpit in Cbristen-
arisen for 1900 years-from Damascus, in the |
very home OF his conversion, to proud old Rome
York; from the little church We saw under the
sun in Arctic Norway 10 the mighty |
teaeser 9 81 3hs eses a. ha
until the scales is!l from his eyes on this very
Go" we say to our guide. sawaheni. to the |
house OF Ananias!" Would you expect il to bs
lime Will cover with its mounds all things sa-
cred, even when the suostructures remain.
whose heavy doors show significantly the pre-
cautions OF these habitants OF the Christian
Ell. and we are quietly ushered through some
rooms occnpled by poor peorle. We pass down
into yaulted chHlnber whsre there ID u little
Catholic chapel. Several prints, representing
he martyrdom by the cross Of priests in China
and pictures o. 81. jerome and -. Francis ara
lpon the plain wa ls. Over the simple altar is
! good painting OF 81. Paul. His black beard
and hair and intellectual courage are well rep
res ented. lie Is kneeiug before n fair
lalred man. This is the good and truth
al Anaulas. who baptiz IS him. Ia ous. cor
ser OF the room Is large bronze lamp. |
yh cl is lit after nigltfGll. Our Catholic drag
'man grOws eloquent over tho scene. and
IS tao cavass cannot understand bis English. |
10 breaks forth in praise Of ms own father. who
ell in the massacre of 1860 = cut in tao pieces"
10 says. by the ciGie,er OF the Mohammehans.
lis last words wore. | die FOR my rsigion.'
They asked ME Il / would not be a Mosen. /
iId not know tlen more than 10 follow my
ather, aud so | said No. Will die with father.
.ud TOR the sake Of mis- saviour They wounded
ne here" as he pointed 70 his cheek. Gai
IN n living proof Of t!.lt terriJla time" deaf
I'd dumb bog makes n!s mute appeal 10 Us. and
ge puck some lavender aud flowers in tho
Curt - we leave tne house or Ananias.
W1lL tior rIdiE. here IA nov impG=siolei 10
he eastern gate 10 -es tiiies OtIsrts: one. tha