The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1893-06-17
GARDENS OF SIDON.
ecENEs or RARE BEAUTY m THE CID
PHGNiciAN CITY.

A Ansiant City Eotsd For IT. Many
Groves and Gardens Phsaiela - she
Appssrs Tsdsy-Ths Dress Of Jts People.
Thsis 0srnsnts and Their Arms.
Ihs dswdrops glittsrsd in the light Of
tho just rising sun, and the air was heavy
with swsst odou Of hundreds Of orange
snd lemon trees with white blossoms.
Tbs scene was . picture Of marvellous
fertility. Orange thickets, yellow and
white with their double burden Of fruit
and flowers; lemon. apricot and fig trees,
interpreted with the more tropical palm
and date. all growing In tho greatest
luxuriancs. At times we saw she queer
shaftliks leaves Of the banana, often 10
feet In length. An occasional mulberry
orchard explained the presence OF an en-.
terprising silk mandatory near by.
Every few yards little brooks babbled
along, the absolute essential Of this lux
uriance.
1t II not strange that this paradise OF
flowers and fruit is much frequentsd by
the Inhabitants Of the crowded, dirty
town. No one can ride through these
fair gardens and fail to perceive why the
worship Of tho old 6idonians was 10
closely connected with the grove. and
how from natures rich profusion shout
them they learned to worship the idea Of
fertility. which was tho essence OF their
religion. Tho ancient Sidon, too, was
not crowded down close by tho sea, but
was situated farther back in tho plain,
and thus was enriched by ring Of em.
srald.
On the outskirts OF tbs gardens we
came TO the catacombs Of old Sidon.
which have been excavated by the
French In the soft limestone rock ex-
tend long series Of connected chambers
which have contributed . few rude
statues, several sarcophagi and mum
mics 70 the very few mementos which
We have Of that enterprising people
who secured their alphabet in Egypt
and carried il TO Greece. and thus trans
mitted. with certain changes. the letters
with which We communicate our 10Th
century ideas. More Of tho nsthstic art
OF Ph1nicia IL 10 he seen today in
Athens than in gil Palestine. There in
the MycenB room enc can see the richly
inlaid daggers. the beautiful ornaments
and tho facsiniiles Of the beaten gold
cups which were also manufactured by
these artisans Of oriental antiquity to
grace the temple Of Solomon at Jerusa-
lem. Every ruin Of that ancient world,
whether in Fh9nicia or not. when laid
bare bears ample testimony to the ekill
and enterprise Of this Semitic nation of
traders.
Leaving these old tombs and the
thoughts that they inspired. We were
soon studying PhGnicis 10 abe appears
today. On our left extended the Leha-
non range. while Ia tie distance rose
Mount Herrnon. clad in snow. glis,euing
like Pentelicus marble in the midday
sun On the right was the blue sea, in
to which we ere long took plunge. Be-
fore US the narrow bride path extended,
now through fertile although only half
cultivated fields. now over q rocky prom
oaiory. which often jut;ed into the sea,
HAbita'ions were rare and generally
hnddlcd together for protection against
the Arab incurr4oaS.
On the highways wo often me. these
modern representatives and probable de-
scendan,s Of tho ancient Mid;anites
Tall. muscular fellows. with the dark
Semitic coanteranco snd black beard
clad with the striped abba. a square
piece Of goat hair cloth folded and sewri
above tho shoulders. tho chief garment
Of the patr.Archs and the mantle Of Eli.
3ah tho Tishbite. Underneath they wore
the kimbcx. tho long flowing irnic,
which appeared when they threw back
their abbas. About their heads was tight
iy wrapped tho silken keGyeh. crowned
with the two heavy goat hair coils. which
encsrclcd tho tops Of their heads like a
la.ge. black serpent. About the wais.
was tightly bound the g;rdle. adorned
with huge. odd shaped knives. or. IL b.
b . civilized Arab. with pistols.
An ugly looking spccr 10 or 20 feet
long completed the outfit. an outfit well
calculated to ongcndcr green envy in the
heart Of an American cowboy. A little
de;our enabled Us 10 visit the black tents
Of kedar, tho abode cf these perennial
campers out. II Is rectangular cdiEce
10 or 80 fec. long. supported on poles
which 20 or 30 centuries Of inherited cx-
pcricnce has taught them TO skillfully
place At exactly tho right angle. This
palace Of thickly woven goat hair
cloth IL held in position by strong guy
ropes. The sides arc raised OF lowered
at will, according 10 the position Of the
sun or tho direction Of the wind.
Within . curtain separates the WON.
EMS apartment from the common re-
cer'ion room. The cooking outfit, like
the dwelling, Is characterized by its Sc
we're simplicity, since fortunately TIE
Arab does not demand n many conrsc
dinner, and long years Of practice have
taught him to dispense with q super
fui'y Of dishce. which is generally more
than one for . fa,nily.-Chicago Inter
Ocean.
He Finally raid the Fee.