Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-01-16
HISTORIC CITIES.
A Bird's-Eys View Of some of IA. cities
Famous I'm sfarx and Spuu

Famous In story and Song
Alexandria sits dcmurcly by the sea.
an Oriental maiden attracted 10 the
sandy shore of the Mediterranean 10
barter her spices. silks. mats. with inil-
del. concluding To remain there aud
wander no more.
Jafia lifts up her head from n rocky
cliff, and with one hand salutcs tho
Mediterranean. and with the other wei.
comes the caravans from Damascus aud
Jerusalem. Jerusalem IL still the child
Of faith, dwelling where little grows.
where there is naturally little trade. or
commerce, or manufacturing; drawing
her supplies mysteriously from the rocks
and the skies; yet different races, differ
ent religions. different civilizations be-
lievc in her and huddle together about
her, awaiting something that does not
appear.
Jerusalem. sitting alone on the rocky
side Of Judea, IL the sublime child of
faith. coming Of faith In the pasi. look
ing forward To the future by faith.
Damascus is the fair maid issuing
from the ALBANIA or Baroda. mysterious
ly changing its musical waters into olive
groves, tropical luxuriancc and ,ccming
population, and sitting in qucenly robes.
with her feet in the sands Of the desert
OF the Han on, amid mosques and min
arets. and robed men. smoking the mar
gileh on divans, or by playing fountains
or cooling. streams.
Beirut, standing proudly on PENN.
sula-shaped hcadland on one side Of n
beautiful crescent bay. il the CONNER
cial or moral mistress Of Syria. sending
the currents Of life up the French high
way to Damascus. M the heart sends
the blood through the artery 10 the
head.
Smyrna is the mistress Of two ages
ard civilizations. reposing on quiet
plateau by the sea, welcoming the com.
merce Of the West. guarding the grave
OF POlycarp and the manners and forms
Of the East.
Constantinople nc q distance Is the
slightest of the cities, but on approach.
ing near you see she wears mask. and
behind that mask YOU pcrc, i've restless
ness. discomfort, perfidy and sullcn wait
ing for revolutionary chaos.
Athens is the bride OF the cities She
holds in one hand n broken marble
pointing to the ruins OF her art In the
heroic ages-the art which has CON
quered the world-and In the other the
scepter OF new springing power.
Naples, as we approach II by steamer
from the south and around the point,
rises up out Of the sea as charming.
timid apparition shrinking away from
Vesuvius, who holds smoking brand
in one hand. shaking il over her head.
and yet afraid to go in the other drec-
ton, rs he thrusts the other hand In his
subterranean pocket. touching the secret
springs that let off commissions In Ischia
and the regions beyond her.
Rome, the attractive, the interesting,
the historic, the hider and the rcvealcr
of the secrets of her mother, the mis-
tress Of the World" sitting In a royal
way on her seven hills-fuli as she Is Of
art and history-is nothing else. In form,
so much as she Is a saint She IL tho
high priestess in her tent of the cities Of
the earth Religion IL scroilcd upon
her buildings. outside and inside. ON
garments, on her food and manners.
do not know how far this sainthood
strikes in, or what il Is worth. I speak
emily Of color.
Florence, one Of the Queens. reposcs
half-asleep. half-awake, In a beautiful
cradle Of the Apeninnes, dreaming over
the splendors Of the past. displaying
still q matchless profuson Of art treas
ures, and beguiling those who come un-
der the influence of her charms through
labyrinths Of plastic and painted beauty.
Venice. the daughter of commerce.
sits with her feet in the Adriatic. snuff
ing the breezes Of the sea, Drowned and
weather-beaten and her robes soilcd. as
she toyed with the gondolicrs and water
sprites SO long.
much OF ideas or principles. or even
prudence or policy. ~ sentiment, rcigns.
The inspiration Of her patriotism Is the
love Of glory; of her letters and art. the
desire to crafty artificial demands and
tastes rather than TO cxalt humanity;
of her efforts In dress and manners, 10
create and maintain n bland. imperial
goddess, Fashion. and compel others %
worship ut his shrine. Sentiment Ii the
height and depth, length and breadth
of the popular feelings. Il is curious 10
note that painters and sculptors in Paris
do not rely on the expression Of soul. Of
character. in their works so much as on
intrinsic circumstances, sensational atti-
tudes, combinations. adjuncts. II YOU
see statue OF Liberty on column In q
public square. she Is represented n
standing on tip-toe on one foot. throw
ing the other far up in the air behind.
leaning far forward with flaming torch
in her hand. and her wings spread. as
If eager to leave the spot and fly away
to the ends Of the earth. while your
whole thought Is absorbed in the figure.
and you have no interest In the face.
You see no character. no truth. no ideal.
You have sensational display. Yet
Paris in her clean robes is attractive and
beautiful.-A5dny Express.