Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-02-14

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which oozes from under the rocks over
which are the temple grounds. Women
wash in it,, and their garments, and the
vegetables destined for market. ~ We
enter the east valley, Kedron, then Jehos
aphat, the bottom occupied by vegetable
gardens, the path invaded by the sewerage
of the city above, hence most terrible
stencil even my animal refuses 10 cross
the horrible stream aud has 10 be whipped
on. (0) The Virgins fountain, deep, deep
hole reached by many steps. An old man
with a lance sits on a kind Of platform, a
few men are at little distance a dozen
women surround the upper rim of the
fountain entrance, gesticulate and scream
as we approach Women are bathing in
the fountain and Of course will not have
US. Before ! understand the situation my
foolish guide has ordered, in Arabic, that
they should all get out Of the water More
screams, more loud outcries a female is
| yet in the water, another half robed.
order my guide to withdraw and give him
a sharp rebuke. If the ladies in the bath
are like those around it, they certainly are
not attractive their faces are most com
mon place coarse, tattoed and repulsive. 90
! Tombs of Lechariah, st. James and Absa
! lom, neglected, near each other ! climb
ON top of that Of st. James and am in
the valley of Jehosaphat, with its thousands
OF Jewish tombs, which occupy half of the
western slope OF the Mount Of Olives.
sit on one OF them its inscription has been
erased 10y time, centuries perhaps, and /
muse, muse near by Getbsemaue, over
me the temple
| have omitted ever 80 many points-Al-
cedama or potter's field, bought with the 30
silver pieces, the Scandal mount, where
] Gnlptppu pHapaI sasriHga. tp Mpl,f.h atp
etc. We return by st Stephens gate, the
| Via Dolorosa, across the Judiciary gate,
where was rendered the judgment against
Jesus or something of the kind. With so
many facts and spots aud legends it is easy
TO make mistakes, and if have made any,
never mind.
Pho advises my donkey boy to become a
/ Christian. advise him 70 remain what he
| is sincere Mussulman Yesterday he
waited on mother, and rewarded him we'll:
today he is all devotion as give him little
work | AM more stingy. He says he is my
servant, and will he satisfied, even if /
| give him nothing. Simplicity or shrewd-
/ ness Which
Sdn,e ddy, afternoon - Mother has re-
| turned from her five hours mass pleased
and rested has read the Imitation of Jesus
during the service aud is all serenity We
.
| Latin patriarch arrive Just too late the
| doors are closed and no amount Of back
shish will open them Last year the French
consul arrived late also, and there was an
immense row, but the doors were not open
. ed Yet IL lacks half an hour Of the al
yertised time, il seems as II they wanted
/ TO have a small congregation. We rush to
/ the Greek convent, climb ever 50 many
stories at the top iud locked door which
a big Rratuity opens. aud We ure in the
Greek gallery overlooking the Holy Sepul-
chre some ~ feet above ground able to
see what Is going on below. There is a
small congregation, not 100 people, around
the door Of the Sepulchre. At2o'clock the
Catholic bishop arrives ia full dress, with
his white, red, black robed suite his golden
big followers-m mother does not want me to
call them names, hut they are 50 ludicrous
that smile within myself whenever look
at them-reading, chanting, lDcensing
praying. Then the bishop, kueeliug on Il
purple velvet cushion, pours water over one
foot Of the pilgrim before him, which has
been well-washed previously. An acolyte
holds "a pile of towels neatly folded on "a
glitteriug silver tray. A new towel is used
for each foot, which, being duly wiped is
kissed by Mr.. Bishop: how much, how lit
tie, a touch, big smack, cannot tell
am too far up TO see. In the same manner
twelve pilgrims, all IN black and well
dressed, rich men and priests who have
brought fat contributions, have each one
foot washed, wiped, and receive a small
framed image, a certificate which they kiss
The ceremony has lasted AN hour and the
dignitaries retire. 1t is complete farce
and | write sermon on rich Jesus, rich
disciples perfumed towels in the year Of
our Lord 33, or thereabout.
We are fortunate not to have been in the
church We would have been obliged to
stay till j:l5 o'clock, two long hours, doing
nothing and catching cold Pater is al
ready blessed with Jerusalem grippe. and
does not care for a new dose Mother wisely
returns to the hotel while pater follows
the Rev. Stephanos and English ladies to a
tedious visit to the Greek printing estab-
lshment and library, then TO a girls school
and the Greek hospital. where We see dy
ing youth, and whence | withdraw as soon
as possible without giving offence. | hate
to contemplate sutferings which cannot
relieve. We have friends staying at the
Franciscan convent, called Casa Nova.
All good pi1us Catholics stay there They
have Just returned from the Dead Sea, and
their account is not at all encouraging.
The moon Is full it is 10 O'Clock when we
plck our way over the pavements oi the
street We have had difficulty to leave the
convent the doorkeeper had already gone
to bed, and had the big key under his pill
low. When We reach our hotel We find
they are also closing aud locking the doors
We are in feudal city and, with the weird
light, everything looks spectral, ghostly.
We climb to our upper room, stop to look
at the Mount Of Olives, at the whole city
with a single palm tree, illumined, whitish,
sepulchral.
l find it impossible to cope with the
abundance OF materials at my command.
When read what have written, find it
coarse boiled meat without salt and pepper
| have omitted the thousand petty details
which would give it SAVIOR; but then | write
this on April <, while mother is yet asleep.
after reading 20 pages of guide book to
the Dead Sea, and my pen will not move as
fast as my thoughts.