The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1886-09-07
BATHING IN INPAnEspINE.
A Dip I'm; the Waters or Jordan ana
ff y ~. tho Dead Sea. 4

jShtfff ~ - eci - CAAO A11NSh Sptasf ~ so a
The Jordanis about the color Of O.
new slate--a slate with greenish-
gray cloud still covering its surface.
Its waters are opaque, thickened with
clay, but delicious in temperature, and
very refreshing to a. Pilgrims pal.
ate. Is 1t q wonder that the river
rushes like a mill racer From its
source to Its mouth, 136 miles in a bee
line, 1t. descends 5000 feet. It's very
name tsYarden." In Hebrew signifies
descent. 1t twists and turns until 1t
has trebled the natural course from
fountain to sea. It rises in its might
and covers the plains, and drives back
the fl0cks and herds that feed along it's
banks. You cannot bridge it; often,
you cannot ford It,
We got out Of our clothes, and with
the fresh air Of the morning blowing
upon US. we passed into the cleansing
flood. There was life in every drop Of
1t. There can be no doubt about it; as a
tonic the Jordan is unrivalled. While
we waded cautiously nearly the shore,
sitting down In the clay bottom to get
as much Of the water with as little Of
the current as possible, we were startled
by a crashing Of underbrush and
thunder of feet. Out Of the bush
emerged the Russian pilgrims in the
widest excitement. Each strove to. be
the first to plunge into the stream.
and they speedily stripped, and put on
a long, white garment-a kind of
shroud in which 1t is their wish to be
buried-aud having immersed them
selves in the Jordan, they took off the
shroud. rolled it carefully up, and hav-
ing placed 1t in their luggage, returned
quite naked to pass a half hour in the
river. i
OFF for the Dead Seal A rapid run
In the fresh morning air, over the
parched plains. Much Of the way we
followed the Jordan bank, and were
sheltered somewhat by the foliage that
fringes it. All this time, though we
could have leaped into the stream
with hop. skip and a jump, we caught
only occas onal glimpses of the river as
it rushed like mill race between its
steep clay walls, buried out Of sight in
luxurious groves Of willow. Until we
were actually upon the shore Of the sea,
ploughing through pebbles and soft
sand, we STRAINED our eyes in vain to-
ward the valley of death, eager to
catch a glimpse of it's bitter waters.
Our trail wound through dense
growth Of cane, oleanders, cactus and
tamarlsk. Wo trotted over the baked
soil in Indian file, thinking OF the wild
boars, wolves, jackals and leopards that
proWl IN the vale of Gilgal-the vale
that was old compared tn the Scar
den Of the Lord" We saw nothing,
not even a vulture. though no pano-
rama Of the Dead Sea is complete with
out shadow of his wings darkening
the canvas.
Out Of the splendid distance, over
| the Salt Sea, the Sea Of Asphalt, the
! Lake of Lot-call it by what you will,
| for it bears all these-over the Eastern
Sea Of the old prophets, stole the with
erlng breath Of furnace. Our horses
sweltered in the heat. There was no
possible shelter near the shore, for our
camp trapplugs had already gone up
into the wilderness. A dip into the
grummy and elastic water was all we
asked now, and in ten minutes we stood
upon the sand lialf-blindedl with the.
heat and glare that nearly overcame us
before we were safely out Of it.
The sea near the plain of the Jordan
is shallow. Looking toward the south,
the eye Is lost in the profound mists
that enyelop it. Six and forty miles OF
Isky blue crystal. 1900 feet in depth,
the topmost wave Of which IS 1,3O0 feet
below the level OF the Mediterranean.
Neither fish, shells, nor coral are found
here. There are fish bones on the
shore, the wrecks Of the Jordan. The
bitter oil-it is hardly worthy the name
Of water-strangles everything to death,
and then spits it out into tho sun. Six
million tons Of sweet water fall into
the Dead Sea daily; 5000 100 tons rise
out Of it, spiritualized, and float over it.
i When we. passed into the water we
felt the weight OF 1t before we had got
knee deep. Soon we grew buoyant,
and kept our balance with some diff
Guilty. 1t was like trying to- swim, on,
corks that won't keep their places. A
few steps further and over we went,
heels up, and, to our surprise, heads
up, likewise. The bath was certainly
most refreshing, and the novelty of 1t
not unlike good.natured practical
joke. When least suspicious, over we
went on all fours, boDblng like blad-
doris, and finding it extremely difficult
to make much headway Through. the
| almost solid waters. yts(E az
The Dead Sea does for a change Of
medicines; it was as bitter as gall; but
| Iwould as soon think Of swimming in
a'strong solution Of feather beds. lTFf Il
When we had once more got into our
clothes and struck out for the wilder
ness, our skin burnt like fire, and we
shed flakes OF salt in such profuslon
you might. have easily smistakengus for
members Of the Lot family.
---7-4A ! $44s> - II -T-------4A--@} - ~ }f4'
One Way to got Married.
| p.
n"The two young people are not at
| all rich. They are going to live in
four rooms upstairs in q little suburban
house. Neither one had home, and
when they ma 1e up their minds to be
married they began first Of oil to save