The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-02

rich merchant, the reception-room of which
is said to have cost 100000. 1t was of
fine Carrara marble, most deliberately
carved, with two fountains, both models
of art, on the raised dsis where the host
and ladies sat, and one below. The up
per ceiling and roof were ablsze with
color, and the whole effect was very strik-
ing. Coffee and pipes we're not wanting,
the ladies sharing the pipes, and the con-
versation was free. The host told us that
the house was built in part to make
Damascus attractive to strangers who
should visit it. We went into another
house OF the same general order, differing
in having large internal court with
shade trees, and walks, and seats, and
running water along marble eonduits, and
where the servants treated our ladies to
sweetmeats and flowers. But there is not
a newspaper published in Damascus, and
not public library there that could be
heard of. The Moslem teaching is the
memorizing of sentences of the Koran.
The letters are not learned, only the
words repeated, 30 a blind teacher, who
can hear pupil recite, is as good as any
one. We were told by missionary of a
sick man, who put line of the Koran
into bottle of water, and took 80 many
drops each day. 1t required line upon
line TO cure him. 1t is interesting to
visit the depot of the caravans where they
come in, in long procession and measured
steps, from the solemn East, and bow
down, and are disburdened. Six DAYS it
is, along dangerous desert path to the
wonderful ruins of Palmyra, the capital
of the fiery Queen Zenobia, and thirty
days to Bagdad. This eastern route of
commerce is not like the overland railways
to California. The center of interest to
the Christian in Damascus, notwithstand-
ing Abrshsm's connection with it, and
the tomb of Naaman, which is still pointed
out, and the Mosque which was once the
house of the god Rimmon, where the
king OF Syria worshiped, is st. Pauls
visit there. You pass over the level plain
on which he was struck down in his con-
version, by light above the brightness
OF the sun. Tradition holds the spot, and
has marked it by little clump Of trees.
1t is not far from the city his journey
was nearly done. You enter the western
gate, by a street which runs directly
through the city, the Via Recta of the
ancient Roman road, the street called
Straight" II is an open business street
still, wide for an Oriental city. The
house of Judas is shown, where Paul was
led, blind and overwhelmed, for COM
munion with God. The house is now
down underground, one full story, from
the rise of the street through the accre-
tions of time. 1t is used as chapel and
house of prayer where you sit and read
once more the inspired account of this
stsrting-point in the great apostles Chris
tian life. 1t is not long way to the
house on the outer wall where he was let
down in basket, and began his sublime
march of Christian conquest, which ended
in the sufferings and triumphs at Rome,
where he was taken to live forever with
the Lord, a sight of whose dear and
wondrous face he first caught on the
plains of Damascus. The Christian turns
away from the scene, asking anew the
question, Lord, what wilt thou have me
to do ?" Paul's blindness ended in light +;
his conflict in peace, and his sufferings in
fadeless glory. There are six missionaries
in Damascus doing difficult but valuable
work.-C. L. Goodell, DID,, in Advance.