Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-05-26

how it win be Advanced by the New Rail
way from Jappa to Jerusalem


The completion of the railroad from
Jappa to Jerusalem In Palestine is one Of
the most interesting of modern events
Owing to several extraordinary circum-
stances Palestine, since the invasion of the
Romans, has been of absorbing Interest
to a vast proportion Of the human race,
but it has withstocd all the influences
which have made other less accessible and
less desirable tracts OF country productive
and comfortable. Not much larger than
the state of Vermont, it has convulsed
Europe more than once. Lying in the
track Of empire, it has been repeatedly
ground to powder by the tramp of invad-
ing hordes, and yet millions have made
the pilgrimage with tears Of homage to
its ruined shrines and temples, and risked
their lives to tread the soil which is still
sacred to scores Of powerful and conflict
ing sects. Jerusalem lies humbled like a
beggar in the Syrian sun, but myriads Of
pious souls at the farthest limits of civil
cation turn in fancy to its storied
stones and streets and wander reverently
still in imagination shy cool Sloan 8
shady rill. ~
With all the affection that springs from
| association, with all the historic interest
that still draws the savant and saint to
ground, every foot of which is legendary;
with all the rewards of enterprise lying
fallow in the plains Of Esdraelon and on
the sunny slopes of Olivet and Carmel.
the world has never, since the Roman en-
perors vanished, been able to break
through the spell that fell on the country.
and which has kept it in the same print
tive condition of poverty, incidence and
insecurity. There is probably not another
tract of land, equally familiar to men, and
equally accessible, that has SO persistently
retained for two thousand years, It's Gus
toms, It's peculiarities, It's observances, its
faith, It's very modes of life and labor an
It's habiliments, in spite of the growth Of
intelligence, the spread of practical know
ledge, and the Improvement in social and
industrial methods all around it.
But now the spell is broken. The men
who have been spiking down the steel
rails across the plains of Sharoa are the
audactious pioneers of the new conditions
! The roadbed will undoubtedly be carried
on in time past the sea Galliee and the
Anti-Lebanon to Damascus on the trail OF
the Babylonian conquerors, and the pill
grims who have braved the surf at Jappa
may ride through vestiges of the Crusa3es
dnu MOSioH lIIuLupH over Ice silver S3nQS
of Gennesaret ard though the dews of Her
man to the edge of The Syrian dessert,
where the Ashana still pours its ice-cool
brook. One can easily see the telegraph
following the modern highway, and the
American hotel Swinging up in the
shadow of Zion. The express company
will open its Office at Nazareth, and the
messenger boy will jostle tie Levite in the
wailing-place. Suburban villas will spring
up On the the Mount of Olives, and news
paper press will begin to rattle in toe Via
D lorosa, and push its reporters through
the Golden Gate to the temple area itself.
he wedge has entered Palestine. The
iron holsa will wax, the echoes in all the
ways of Judea, where nature herself has
slept ever since Titus outraged her.-New
York Commercial Advertiser.
Customer: You say TINS Goth will wear
like iron. I've only worn these trousers
two months, and now look at this. Do
you call that wearing like iron?''
Taioy. ssCSrtQinlv 7 do Ain't fhev