Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-12-14
CIVILIZATION IN THE HOLY LAND.

of construction. As the distance 10 be
covered between the two places is on
lv about forty or fifty miles, the rail
way cannot take long to complete, so
that we may within a few months eX-
pect to hear that the locomotive Is
running regularly The construction
of a railway is not the only sign OF
progress. The country is rapidly
changing in every direction. JaiIa,
the beautiful. a it was Of old desig-
mated. is changed out Of all knowledge.
The old wall which surrounded the
port, and which probably existed
when Jonah embarked on board the
PhpnicIan coasting vessel i'll which he
sought to fly, has been pulled down
warehouses and magazines. built after
European models, have been con
structed upon its site, suburbs have
grown around it, whole quarters Of
the older city have been rebuilt, and
the place goes far ere long to Justify
its ancient designation. 1t Is well
cleaned and lighted. and the country
all around is one vast orange grove.
For miles along the road TO Jerusalem
the traveller sees nothing but well kept
vegetable gardens and orchards. rails
ing some of the finest produce imagln-
able. The orange trade is growing in
importance and value year by year;
and if some enterprising shipping firm
would establish a line of steamers
trading direct with the Palestine coast,
so as TO avoid the expenses and loss
incurred by reshipping everything at
Port Said or Alexandria, highly lu-
crative fruit trade could be done with
the Holy Land
The best proof of the progress made
in this part of Syria is to be found in
the fact that land in the vicinity of
Jaffa is not to be had now at any price.
Many places in the interior have pro
gressed at even a more rapid rate.
Nablous, the ancient Sichem or Shec-
hem. is quite manufacturing town.
Its specialties are soap and boots. An
other town changed beyond all recog
milton is Bethlehem. A few years ago
the place was neither more nor less
than u collection Of dirty novels.
Pavement was unknown, and after
rain. or in winter, the roads were i'm
passable. Now Bethlehem is neat
and clean little townlet, well paved
and lighted. and passable at all times.
It's houses have been rebuilt, and,
most suggestive of all, the dwellings
have glass windows, striking sign Of
progress. Indeed, the growing use OF
glass throughout Palestine and Syria
is most remarkable indication OF the
changes which are gradually coming
over the country. The tiny port Of
Cesarea, once an important Roman
harbor. is on the high road to regain
ing its former trade; a colony of Cir
cassians have settled there, while the
Turkish Government has made ar
rangements for building custom
house, so that vessels may regularly
land their cargoes there.
|. Beyrout is becoming an important
city One-half of the place has been
rebuilt in accordance with modern no.
tions. 1t is supplied with water, is
lighted with gas. il well paved, and
has corpse Of scavengers-a decided
novelty for an Oriental city. Ii can
boast twopaper mills and an omnibus
company which runs very good ser
vice of vehicles to Damascus, over one
of the only roads that exist in the
whole of Syria Its inhabitants have
increased fourfold in the last five-and-
twenty years and the tonnage Of the
vessels frequenting the port has risen
10 over hundred times what it was
quarter of century ago. In another
twenty years Beyrout Will be the most
important maretime city on the shores
of the Mediterranean. 1t is in and
about jerusalem, however, that the
most striking changes have been ac-
complished. Jerusalem is losing some
thing Of its Oriental character day by
day, and. OH the whole. the loss is not
to be regretted. The city gates are no
longer closed at night Church bells
are allowed TO be tolled. The mem
bers of the different religious denOmi-
nations mix together much more than
a few years ago; and there is less fric-
ton in the relations between the au-
thorities and the non-Moslem commu-
mites. Outside the walls Of Jerusalem
new town of imposing proportions
and extent i gradually rising