Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-12-22
CHRISTMAS READING.


From the top clean down to the toe.
60.
CHRISTMAS READING.
The Holy Places as They arc To-Day, De-
scribed by Hon. s. S. Cox-Sunday in Je-
rusalem-The Tomb OF David-The Cruel
fxion and the SepuIchre.
JERUSALEM, Oct. 10. 1881
We should gladly have gone to church to-
day, but it is our only day to see the Mosque
of Omar and the site Of the Temple.
To omit these is to omit Jerusalem from the
programme of Judea.
On our way we stop at the Armenian
Convent. 1t is near the Jaffee gate, and
the street to it, though like ali the rest in
narrowness, is exceptionally clean. In fact,
the Armenians of Jerusalem, though few in
number, are rich in purse and in charities.
The Armenian church is called St. James,
and as a representative Of "St. James" i'll
the Old Seventh Ward, with its 5000 par
ishioners, felt bound, after seeing his
mausoleum in the valley Of Eidron, to look
upon the place Of his martyrdom, and the
methods Of worship under the auspices Of
that most moderate, just and wise disciple.
We dismoInt in front of the church.
Over the walls opposite and in the large
tamarisk and pine trees give their cool
shade; birds, rarg aces her fly and twit-
ter; while the bells from the Russian quar-
ter outside the walls cali to prayer upon this
sweet Sabbath morning While waiting
for the custodian, we examine the plants
which cling to the old walls and the Arabic
arches of the large edifce; but cannot adj
mire the poor daubs of pictures at the door
and in the vestibule., Some American
characters, likely the Lords Prayer, are
written over the archway-a common usage
in the east. Standing under the porch are
solid boards of wood and pieces of metal,
which, when struck, answer for bells. The
stones of the pave are worn glossy by time
and pilgrims. This convent and church was
founded 800 years ago by Georgians. The
Turks talked it nearly to death, and the rich
Armenian Christians bought it in 900 years
ago. Next to that Of the Holy SepHlchre
this is the largest church in the city. The
Armenian school is here, and we hear the
buzz Of the scholars reoiting their Sunday
lessons as we await the appearance Of the
warden with the church key. He does
not come, and we are dis
appointed, not because we fail to
see the rich vestments on the extrevagant
pictures which the church contains, for
these are said to be tawdry and highly COL
orea as to be barbaric, for it must erecol-
lected that Armenians are Asiatics. But
We did want to bear home to friends d
mental photograph Of the chair of st.
James. which is here preserved. We con-
tent ourselves with going into the convent
and through its corridors. Within its
valued and capacous rooms there is an ex-
tensive printing establishment. It is un-
der the control of the Armenian patriarch
who lives on the premises. We we're OIL
lowed to go upon the fiat and stony roof on
the convent. From it we look down on
the barracks and castle to the north. and
over the exquisite gardens of the convent
on the south, and to the east-for we are
in the very midst. of Mount Zion proper
we look to the other mounts which made
Jerusalem so celeb ated, but whose eleya-
| tons are not SO apparent, owing to the
masses Of building. On one especially,
crowned with the dome Of the sepulchre,
we look, for it is proudly eminent above
all. Upon these roofs, under which 5000
pilgrims can be accommodated, are
many conveniences. We see an
Arab servant drawing water from a
| well on the roof; he is filing his
| goat skins. We look at him curiously, as
| he is using small skin funnel to fill his
quaint sack. Would you believe it? he
| asks for "buckshith" for looking at the op-
Grafton! Attend to that at sunset" says
| the guide. He responds in Arabic Morn
ing is better" This wasa reflection on my
pet name, which I resented by Withholding
my plasters. Grapevines grow about on
the roofs and out of the very walls in the
courts below jessauaine festoons the angles.
| We are reluctant to leave 80 exceptional q
street and quarter. It's neatness is fascl-
mating.
AS we pass into the streets out of Zion;s
gate, at the southwest corner of the walls,
we meet company of Circassians. They
are Turkish soldiers, and in the peculiar
uniform which we saw in Russia, with theil
shining metallic cartridges on their breasts.
| "A numbering crew." says the guide, as We
pass the hirsute lot. They look it.
| Those familiar with these ways of Jerusa.
lem, in and out of the walls, will anticipate
why we leave by the Zion gate. Upon an
eminence on the extreme south end of the
city is David's tomb. 1t overlooks the
lower parts of the city and is as we'll au.
thenticated as most of the main objects OF
| the city. There has been much logomochy
and demonstration as to this and other spot:
for the royal tombs, but it is generally
thought that David's tomb was on Zion
and aboveH the valley of Hinnim. Certain
it is that when Peter spoke as to David he
said that his sepulchre was with us unto
this day." Certain, also, it is that Solo,
mon when he buried David, placed treas
ures in the tomb, great temptation for its
rialng, and it is equally certain that others
besides Herod were guilty of the sacrilege.
All these tombs Of royalty were hewn out
of the solid rock, and eliminating all the
legends, we come to the solid facts that
among the groups Of tombs in these valleys
AND. hills none are so imposing as those al.
legged to belong to the kings, David aad
Solomon. None have been or are now
guarded 80 seriously. Only one person
Miss Barclay, daughter of the author OF
the City OF the Great King" who, for the
services of her father, aphysician, in curing
q pasha. was allowed to go down and see
them. The account of what she saw, "is il
not written, says our guide, con the 212th
page of her fathers book?"
| We are not allowed to go into the tombs,
but only into the temple over them. We
look through grille, and see DID,, moth
eaten, and ragged mantles, red and blue,
covering something. They are made like
| the tombs of the sultans and calipas.
large coffin is placed over the tombs. which
are in the rock or earth below. This QUITE,
covering is all we see, and for it we pay
quite sum, which leads to a fight between
the sheik's son and her attendant. This
fight for the spoils about the abode Of the
royal dead lacking in decency as well as ir
pluck. No blows are given only choke,
pull of the hair. collection Of saliya
and spiteful spit at the enemy, some
clawing out, and only one billigerant at q
time. This is the general Arabic way Of
settling controversies too complicated fol
| heir jadber.
Once year the Catholics are allowed tc
worship on this temple. Why? Not ssbe-
cause OF David, but because here is the