Telegram-herald., 1890-09-08
IS SUNNY SYRIA
strangs Customs Of an Anelen-
Raea.
1 QTARTn OF CHRISIIu CasTnD
Teii what the Mi.sies2ries 4Fe DsiRS
fsr Fhslr Fsllos Ss1Ekrs uaea AZ
tha Orssat-Ihe 1exataS
Lishx - SFe4ktas-

The eougEegaI.oa IL toe Westminster
PFesby teEiaa ChGgeh as entertained
last evening by four syrian converts,
tao ladies and tao geRtlsmens wao are
the fEuA Of the Presbyterian Aissloa
established b BeyEoat.
They we're dressed in the gs.ly color
ed, picturesque costumes or thslg ns-
tive land, aad gave a interesting ae-
count of the customs that prevail IN
the orient, and told OF the grand work
Of the Christian Missionaries that are
ciyulAng aud ChristianNng thelr tel-
lOw cOuntFymen.
one OF lhe gentlemen gave something
Of a history OF the Christian work
already accomplished he said that
dlaOugA tAe fiFst efforts IA behalf OF
/ tie people were rather dlsheartenlnC
MISSIONARIES and converts meeting with
| cruel Prosecutions and some suffering
martyrdom, YET the good seed sown
| bore abundant fruit The land that
was Tiled with darkness and super
/ st.tlCn IS waking 20 and Christianity
has gained firm footing among the
I people.
There are now 80 public schools. 100
| preachers and teachers and 80 churches.
/ The produce OF syria consists OF a
| great variety OF fruits aud grains.
| Ninety pounds OF grapes can be pur-
| chased tor 20 cents, and labOrtrs are
paid about % cents day. The TIM
/ Ter of the country was destroyed oy
| the crusaders, and Il has never been
| replaced. The cedars OF Lebanon are
almost the Only forest trees now stand
Ing, and they grow 70 an immense size.
| \ bunch OF cones was shown, piucked
from tree $50 feet high and 40 feet IN
circumference.
| The four then sang a Syrian version
OF Presbyterian hymn. The music is
. wild and wierd, and the voices were
1 rather dlscOrdant. Ii IS much pleas
anter 10 hear one verse OF the song
| than 10 hear more.
One of the gentlemen was arrayed IN
the costume of a Mohamedan Shelk,
and ne gave Il representation OF the
Muezzin's call 10 prayer. The Meslems
| believe that the sound of bells attracts
| evil spirits, so men are appointed to
call from the minarets of the mosque
at the proper hours for prayer.
The words translated are, "God Is
Almighty | certify that there is no
God but God Mohamed is the prophet
OF God. Come TO Prayer. There is no
God hut God"
The call Is sonorous and musical and
is repeated five times day. At the
| sound of the muezzIns voice the p.ous
| mOslem begins his devotions, the man
ner OF which is very peculiar. On
entering the masque. the worshiper re-
| moves MS shoes and lays his outer robe
| on the floor. At first he stands erect
| with his face toward the sky snd slowly
| strokes his face with each hand, then
he carefully examines his fingers. He
| repeats these operations several times
| and then kneels upon his robe bowing
his face TO the ground. He then goes
| through a series of motions not unlike
| the setting up drill that IS inflicted upon
a West Point "Plebe." The exercise
| last some time and must be strengthen
ing 10 the loins as well as gratifying to
the soul of the worshiper.
One OF the ladies donned head dress
| such as is worn by the women of Leb-
anon. 1t consists of fireman's tin
| trumpet, the bell being fitted TO the
scalp and held in place 10y a contrivance
like q worsted lamp mat. The lady
said that they were worn by tine ladie:
while doing their housewOrk and that
they weigh three or four pounds each
A lady coming up the cellar stairs with
pan Of milk must find them very
! troublesome. as theyarc about 20 inche:
in height, When they 60 on the street
they wear a white cloth thrown over the
pinnacle that wells them from head tC
foot. The Mahomedan women always
90 veied, but they allow ono eve and d
small part OF the face 10 be seen. The
observer may be sure that II is the bes
part.
The sexes are kept very much apar
before marriage, and courtshIp IS q
thing unknown. When young mar
of Is years or more feels n hankerlns
for welded bliss, ike a good boy, h'
confides IN his mother. She goes abou
and looks up gIrl that she thinks vii
do for him, and reports. The young
man takes j COW and goes over to MAKE
a deal with the girls father, and th'
bargain Is soon closed. lie takes the
girl home and the veil is drawn aside
Ii he finds that instead of a dark eyed
bewitchlng hour, he has drawn an ole
scarecrow, with false hair and teeth, h
takes her back. and tells her father tha
tile goods are not as represented anC
he thinks he would rather have th'
COW.
All these barbaric customs are done
away with as soon as the people becom'
Chr stiansed.
The four people are handsome anC
intelligent. aud their faces are no
unlike the faces that were painted
upon the walls of the houses auC
tOmbs Of Egypt 1000 years ago.
Complexion powder IS an absolute
| a.....I A.-.I..A