Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-04-28


A recent writer says nothing can we'll
exceed the desolateness OF much OF the
Holy Land Treeess II Ia for 30 or 30
miles together. Forests which did exist
30 years ago--for instance, on Mount Car
mel and Mount Tabor-fast disappearing;
rich plains of the finest garden soil asking
to be cultivated. at best but scratched up
few inches deep In patches, with no
hedges or boundaries; mountain terraces,
naturally or artifcIally formed, ready to
be planted with vines, as the German
colony arc dong at the foot of Mount Car
mel; The villages nothing but mud-huts,
dust. dirt and squalor; the inhabitants with
scarce clothing enough for decency, their
houses ovens; large tracts without a horse
or COW, sheep or dog; no pretense at
roads, except from Jaffa TO Jerusalem, and
this like a cart road over ploughed field,
the rest at best like sheep-walks on the
Downs of Sussex, but for far the most
part like the dry bed OF the most rocky
river, where, amid blocks of stone, each
makes his way at foot-pace as best he
can, or on smooth, slDping rocks, or over
loose stones thrown down from the old
walls ON either side, which no one offers Il
finger 10 remove; nothing upon wheels,
not SO much as a barrow, TO be met with
in a riue of over 800 miles Everything
Is taxed: every fruit-tree, 80 none NJ w are
planted; every cow or horse, etc.; every
vegetable sold out Of private garden.
Every eighth egg is net taxed, but taken
by the government. IN some places the
taxes of the district afe sold to the highest
bidder. The farmer as unable to sell
measure of his corn N all has been col
lected into heap and Ahe tax collector has
set his sum upon Ii, tom which there is
no appeal. Double taxes are expected
this year, because, after three years OF
scarceness, the harvest promises TO be
abundant. Nothlug Ike q small farm
house is TO be found faR or near. III there
were, the owner Is liahle to have soldiers
or revenue officers quartered upon HIM, TO
be boarded and lodges at his expense.
The towns are filthy inathe extreme, none
mere 80 than Jerusalem itself, where, how
ever, taxes are levicdftrom every house
for lighting and cleaning the streets, while
a sprained ankle or i ash into hole of
blackest dirt is sure tope the result OF a
momentary carelessness# Nothing Is done
for tie good or improvement OF the people
or the land by the government. Not only
SO, but every ofer-andHl heard OF several
made by private individuals, or by COM
Danies lis at once refused, unless bribe
be first given TO the authorities. This Is a
picture, believe, in no way overdrawn of
that land which was once flowing with
milk and honey" What might il not be-
come again with fair usage and good gov
ernmentl But there is no hope for Pales-
tine while it remains inBtha hands of its
present rulers. The writer goes on to
show that the country ls woHth little 10 the
Turkish government the entire revenue
drawn from it being lez= than million
dollars a year under this wretched system
of misrul. ana oppression. He suggests
that in the present condition of Its
finances, the porte might be glad TO ''scll
out" for twenty or thirty millions OF dol
lars in hard cash and that an international
company for the p rchase and government
of the country (ai,er The pattern of the old
East India company would find such an
investment, even OF nifty millions, highly
remunerative In the long run. A mercan-
tile crusade of that sort might accomplish
what no military one was ever able To
achieve, the rescue of the Holy Land
from 'fhe unspeakable Turk, and It's
90 &c apriapt prpcnprity