Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-15
HOW CRUEL MEN RULE
And Weak Women Suffer 10 Silence
Throughout Old Palestine.
THOSE MIRACULOUS WATER JARS
Cause Talmsge to Doubt the Truthfulness
of the Relic Keepers.
DISCOMFORTs OF HOLY LAND TRAVEL

| 1eLtef enQeQ VIII QeSCrIpL1on OF OamArla,
where we staid for the night. There, among
other things, we saw the site of Ahab's ivory
palace, to the magnificent architecture once
surrounding which, over 30 gigantic columns
or pillars, still in upright position, give
abundant testimony. In fact, 50 numerous
are the evidences to the faithfulness aud
trustworthiness Of the Scriptures that DR..
Talmage, although ever orthodox, claims
that now the Bible has become to him . new
book, of which the Holy Land itself iS the
most stunning commentary.
MOhammedan cemeteries are very numer-
Gus in this country, and we had long before
this become quite accustomed to seeing
them; but this morning our attention was
specially directed to one by a large throng
Of women, who were moaning and weeping
as though they had Just laid away one very
dear to their hearts. On inquiry we found
that with the Mohammedans it is customary
for the women to visit and weep every
Friday for one year at the grave of their de-
parted, and their grief manifested on such
occasions exhibits all the freshness and
earnestness usually occasioned by recent
loss. And here this chilly morning, thinly
clad, were probably 100 women comforting
each other as best they could while grieving
and mourning their own bereavment.
Sweetwater is not to be found everywhere
IN Palestine and private wells are altogether
unheard of. Wherever q well is found it is
public property and the women come from
near and far to secure q supply of the neces-
sary fluid. With faces yelled, boSoms half
uncovered, feet bare they present strange
appearance, and though most of them while
naturally quite pretty have been rendered
positively hideous by tattooing and stain
ing, ones heart is moved with pity and
sympathy for these patient creatures whose
form alone distinguished them from beasts
of burden.
A POOR PLACE FOR WOMEN.
Here a woman has no rights. Her hus-
band owns her body and soul. He can di-
vorce her at will without consulting any
law. One act of disobedience may result in
her being cast of. A water jar accident
ally broken entails corporal punishment,
and not unfrequentlY do these unhappy
women after meeting with an accident of
this kind absent themselves for days from
their miserable homes to avoid such catas-
trophe. So far beneath men are they held
in some localities that they are not consid-
cred fit to pray, and hence are not permitted
to enter a mosque. but, when their over
burdened hearts yearn for relief in prayer,
they may If they so choose kneel down in
the outer court without the gate, and there
offer up their unworthy petitions. mo
woman" said DR.. Talmage, "who has not
visited this country will ever fully appre-
ciate all she owes to the blessed influence of
our glorious Christianity. Heaven and hell
are not in stronger contrast than are the
dear women of America and those of
Turkey"
On wewent crossing the magnificent plains
of Esdraelon. Soon Nazareth, up among the
hills, the scene of the Savior's childhood
and early manhood, burst on our view. We
entered the village and the very first house
that we met had q carpenter shop on the |
ground floor in full blast. Naturally we
first wended our way to the Church of the |
said to cover the site of the |
occurrence described by its name. This |
church, it is claimed, enshrines as it we're |
the home of Mary and Joseph, and rooms in |
1t were pointed out as the kitchen of the |
Virgin and the carpenter shop of her hus-
band. All these are hewn in solid rock. |
Opinion as to its authenticity is divided, |
yet there is more in its favor than against.
NAZARETH UNATTRACTIvE.
While exceedingly interesting in connec-
that cluster around it, Nazareth in itself
has nothing OF any account to recommend
it or render it desirable for protracted stay.
The Russian convent at which we passed
the night was scrupulouslY clean, which
helped us to relish the breakfast
that we found temptingly spread before Us
On entering the dining room. After break
last we called for the bill, and iound it to
contain charges that would bankrupt the
hotel fraternity throughout our country
long before the Columbus Exhibition project
tangible form. Among other items
we found 80 cents charged for lodging,
cents for toast and tea, and 10 cents for
lodging of the servants. It is needless to
add that we paid the bill without q pro-
test.
After quite a journey between huge hedges
Of mammoth cactus plants, the barb-wire
fence of natures own manufacture, over
hills representing the refuse Of centuries,
amid the barking and bowling of innumera-
Dle dogs, which by the Mohammedans are
considered sacred animals, we reached Cana
Of Galilee, where Christ once graced with
His presence a marriage feast, the occasion
1f His first miracle. Dismounting in front
ot a neat little chapel, which tradition says
covers the exact site of the interesting event,
We awaited the coming OF the patriarch, who
admitted US and exhibited several large
water jars about two and half feet high and
capable of holding about II gallons each.
These he claimed to be the identical jars that
'nce contained the product Of the miracle,
4 statement which we received cum grano
Ialis.
We found both Capernaum and ancient
Bethsaida utter ruins, the former abounding
n choice specimens of artistieally sculpt-
/ rad nnafh1o rphila fho 1offar oFforo |
If any account in the way OF antiquities, but
s now being repopulated and brought under
cultivation by a colony of German vine
growers, whose beautiful gardens artistic
lily designed and few neat substantial
buildings, scrupulously clean, are in striking
contrast with the evidences of shiftlessness
md dirt that characterize everything pos
essed by the natives.
UNDESIRABLE COMPANY.
On our way from Palestine to Syria we
Tisited an old khan (inn), built in the time
# the Roman occupation and still in use.
Here the caravans from Damascus to Ueru-
alem, and vice versa, are prone to halt for
est and so on this occasion we found the |
nner court filled with camels, burdened and
and dark visaged, fiery looking
1en armed to the very teeth. In the rooms
n the lower floor, which were simply holes
q the wall that surrounded the court, and
Fithout windows or doors, veiled women
Tere preparing the evening meal over little
rood fires, started on the ground in the most
rimitive style. imaginable. Each apart
1ent was filed with smoke, there being
either stove nor chimney, and no civilized
uman being could breathe its air and live,
ct these women apparently suffered no in
Convenience whatever. The men looked so
icious that we felt quite afraid, being but
little company and completely unarmed,
nd more grateful were we than we cared to