Morning journal and courier., 1890-02-12
THE PALESTINE PARTY.


Through she Holy Land
AT Jerusalem-The M0sque of Omar
-ssTombs of the Kings,'-Gethsem-
ane Region About Jerusalem
when the Jews Bury Their Dead
Visit to Bethlehem-Ohurch OF the
Nativity.
JERUSALEM, Oct. 18.
To the Editor Of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
Morning finally dawned. Faint streaks of
light in the east betokened the coming Of the
fiery god of day. We are nearing Jerusalem.
Slowly we ascend the mountain that marks
her western boundary. Now the blue noun
tains of Moab are distinctly seen on the dis
tant horizon, feathery and dreamy, seeming
ly the happy home of some celestial poet or
other favored inhabitant. Suddenly we are
at Jerusalem, without the walls. Modern
buildings mostly are manifest, while others
are In process Of construction. The lumber
ing, dirty stage stops. A Turkish soldier
from sentry box approaches us and pass
ports are In demand. Happily 1t is in my
pocket, and not on the back of q pack-horse
with my luggage wandering over distant and
dizzy precipioss. 1t is critically examined.
Since It is in due form, with Turkish wise
attached, there is no possibility for "back-
sheesh" to be wrung out of the traveller.
Escorted by guide, am conducted on
foot through the Jaffa gate to the "Ameri-
can" family, a. It is called. No wheeled ve-
hicles enter the walls, burdens and passsn-
gers being conveyed on the backs of DON
keys and oamels. Marrow streets are found,
about the width Of the average sidewalk,
and yet destitute of separate pathway for
pedestrians, while small dingy shops or ba-
zsars abound. Little variety is found, as
one must go to separate stores for nearly ev-
srything. In the streets crowded with AMI
mails and people the purchaser stands or sits
on bis heels to select his goods. No one en-
ters the small store or booth as . rule be-
sides the proprietor or clerk, except very
few modern though small establishments of
recent origin.
When the call for prayer is given from the
minaret the Mohammedan merchant drops Q
netting down in front Of his stock of goods,
without locking or shutting doors, and goes
away to worship. His bitterest enemy Is not
mean enough to molest anything. If GUS
toner chances to come and wishes anything
the nearest merchant glancss toward him and
he leaves the money, taking the goods, the
cash being undisturbed until the devout Mo-
hammedan returns. Surely here is primi-
tive simplicity. It would be difficult to par
allel it In Christian lands.
The Americans" a. they are styled,
greeted me pleasantly and stated with ge-
NAL welcome that "my room was ready I r
me-" About eighteen or twenty persons are
now included in this Christian home. Hold
ing peculiar views possibly regarding the
second coming of Christ, and the Importance
for some Christians to be at Jerusalem to IL
lustrate his teachings by godly life. they
have for more than eight years walked by
faith, and, like their divine Lord, 80 "about
doing good" Jew, Gentle, Turk or Arab
are treated with equal courtesy. From limi-
ted resources they entertain frequent guests,
never accepting payment, though offerings
subsequently, for their missionary work are
never declined. The 1oathsoms lepers of thu
valley and sunny slopes of Jehosophat have
received frequent and timely aid flom them
Sick people. even those with smallpox, have
been nursed by them baok to health. A col
ony Of one hundred and thirty poor Jswi
recently arrived at Jerusalem, drawn, al
they believed, by some impulse suggesting
the immediate restoration Of their race. II
their abject poverty the Americans" provi
ded for their wants. Armed Arabs from th,
desert have visited them in q body and di
vested themselves voluntarily of their arms
| which IL never the case elsewhere In their In
tercourse with society. In return the Amor
leans" have accepted the hospitalities of tn,
| Bsdouin, going long journeys under tho pro
teetion Of An armed escort furnished by tn
| children Of Ishmael. Then barbecueu hav