The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-26

anu VbeoiudDlc az DuI lew places. IN
appearance and manners they are the
same now as in the days of the Virgin, or
when kebecca went down to the well
and filed her pitcher" before the admir-
ing eyes of Abraham's messenger. AS
rode down the steep sides of Ophel here,
on the back OF tough little donkey, was
descantinG loudly on my feats OF horse
manship, and explaining to Sasoor, my
dragoman Whose ideas OF America are
rather imperfect), how easy it was to ride
well when you knew how, and how, at the
last grand tournament held at the court OF
the king OF Indiana, had won the first
prize by unhorsing the noble Count FL
berto Dashero, and striking my simmer
ing lance fair upon the cheek of Duke
John de Martina, shivering it (the
lancet into ten thousand pieces
when the stupid donkey stumbled
and teil, and the prize winner turned a
beautiful somersault clean over the ami
mails head. After several revolutions in
mid air and rough roll down the rocky
hill side, | was gathered up not as hand
some as before, but knowing more, and
with much less to say about mighty
achievements in horsemanship. | am
afraid Sasoor lost faith in that tournament
story thereafter, and even doubted the
existence of Duke de Martina" and
somehow did not care to refer to the
subject myself any further, but held on
meekly with both hands as we rode
back through the "Valley OF Gihon" by
the Flower Pool of Gihon," where Hezekiah
gathered the waters and where David is
said to have beheld the fair Bathsheda as
she was bathing. 1t NAV be that l have
not reported the previous conversation
with that exactness that ought to accom-
pany an affidavit, but there is no question
that l most ingloriously went head-over-
heels over the donkey's head, much TO
my discontinue and greatly to the amuse-
ment of the moslem maidens gathered at
the virgins fountain.
Just before reaching the Jafa gate
scene made familiar by bible descriptions
is witnessed, and one of the most painful
characters that it is possible to imagine.
Here are gathered along the roadway
the miserable lepers who all day long sit
by the entering in at the gate" as they
did three thousand years ago. their gnarled
misshapen limbs and distorted features
appealing more strongly than their pitiful
words for 'backsheesh" at the hands of
the wayfarer, who filings them a copper at
safe distance, but would not
for worlds approach sufficiently
near to touch them. Miserable God
stricken creatures who are ostracized and
cut Off from all other human association
and compelled to dwell apart and mingle
only with beings alike wretched as them
selves. Stunned with horror by all now,
as in the days when the cry resounded
through the desert camp of the Israelites,
Room for the Leper;" "Unclean. I'M
clean" rs they crouch helplessly almost
Beneath the horses feet, beautiful chill
dren play about them whose exception
ally pretty faces are soon to he twisted
and contorted by the loathsome dis
ease that taints their young blood
but leaves them free until ten or twelve
wears are past. These are the progeny of
their leprous intermarriages, as they are
permitted to marry only among them
selves, and are compelled to live in a mis-
cradle quarter separate from all the other
inhabitants.
Passing on the inside Of the Jaffa gate
we turn to the left and ascend the cele-
brated Tower OF David, which, according
TO Josephus-who calls it the ''Tower of
Hippacus" one of the few impor-
tant structures in the city that was not
destroyed by the Roman legions OF Titus.
IL was the residence of the Christian kings
during the crusaders occupation, and all
the authorities agree that it was standing
IN the time of the Savior, and that it was
on or about this spot that David built his
great fortress on Mount Zion. 1t was
likewise in this neighborhood that the
first inhabitants of the land" had their
stronghold when David "smiteth the
Jebusites" ana captured their city and
here did the king Guild him an house.
with the timber OF cedsrs" sent by the
king of Tyre and prepared place for the
ark of God. - ChrOn., xl, xiv, XIV. Near
the gate OF David stands the handsome
Armenian monastery with conference.-the
tamarick trees in front of it, claimed to
have been planted by King Herod in per-
son, and the church of st. James, which
is a part of the convent, is believed to
cover the place where st. James was be-
headed. The Armenian bishops and
patriarchs are buried among the remains
OF what was once the city residence of
Caiaphas, the high priest, and the scene
OF Peters denial of his Master. As the
monks even show the stone pillar on
which the cock perched when he crew on
that eventiul morning there is, of course,
no doubling the absolute truth of all these
claims. tits not strange that Peter wept
at the Growing of that particular cock or
that he was caused TO weep
by those of the holy city in
general, as the Jerusalem rooster has an
astonishing mania for Growing and begins
about midnight and throws all his ener-
gies into his work from that time on until
morning. | am a wretched sleeper at
best, and myself experienced a desire to
weep-or murder-caused by their efforts
many times during my stay.
A short distance from the convent the
tomb of David on Mt. Zion is reached.
and the best-informed students of the sub
ject believe that this is the true site of
the great kings burial as we'll as that of
other Hebrew sovereigns. 1t is in the hands
of the Mohammedan Imaums, who give
David high place in their system of wor-
ship and most jealousy guard his tomb,
but two Christians having ever been per-
mitted 10 ascend TO the underground |
chamber, which contains the sarcopha- |
gus. A room to the right of the main part |
OF the mosque, to which free entrance !
is given is claimed to be the bona |
fide 'cenaculum" or guest cham |
Der" where the last supper was
''the large upper room |
furnished and prepared" which the |
Savior sent forth two of His disciples ito |
secure for the feast of the Passover
Mark xiv, 1915. 1t was here also that |
Christ is said to have appeared to His |
followers after the resurrection, and that |
the Holy Ghost descended from heaven |
upon them on the day of Pentecost.
In addition to the Armenian mon |
astery just mentioned, there is also an in
monastery under the rule of the |