Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-16
THE EAST AND THE WEST
Entertaining Talks by Prof Cyrus Adler
and Mr.. 0. P Austin.

The Closing Meeting of the Season of
the Mems Society, Church of
the Covenant.
- ---
Last evening the closing meeting for the
season was held by the Mems Society of
the Church Of the Covenant In the chapel Of
the church. The occasion was one Of more
than usual interest, not only from the fact
that II was the last of a series of monthly
meetings which have been held during the
past year but also from the presence of
ladies' who were there as the guests vi the
members. brief business meeting "as
held In one of the upper rooms, with the
president, Mr.. John B. Wight, IN the chair.
and Mr.. c. s. Clark as secretary. Shortly
after 8 O'Clock The guests of the society
came into the chapel, where they were re-
ceived by the members program that
was original and entertaining was rendered,
after which light refreshments were served,
and thu remainder Of the evening was de-
voted to social intercourse The music was
furnished by the Capital Mandolin, Banjo
and Guitar Club, composed of Messrs. O..
Fred. Conboye. w. b. Littleton, George 3.
Ostermayer. and Max Schmidt. director
The selections were finely rendered by these
accomplished musicians, and were greatly
! enjoyed and appreciated by the audience
VINO insisted on an encore in each case.
| The baritone voice of Mr.. George A. Provost
was heard to advantage in a solo.
A chatty, familiar talk was given by the
well-known oriental scholar. Prof. Cyrus
Adler of the Johns Hopkins University and
OF the Smithsonian Institution. on "Jerusa-
lem and how to get there AS the speaker
remarked. the subject could be better stated
in the form of How to get there and
| Jerusalem" and he proceeded to discuss it
In that order. He said that New York was
only fourteen days from Jaffa, the seaport
which is forty miles from Jerusalem. A
railroad now connects the seaport with the
aAeient city, and the speaker said that
there was good deal of speculation as TO
what effect the railroad would have upon
Jerusalem. In his opinion it would proba-
! bly, be the same as that which followed the
introduction of machinery into the manu-
!. featuring centers of England. 1t meant a
4 change IN occupation. and he supposed that
| the people who We're engaged in transport
Ing by mules, donkeys and camels, goods
| between Jerusalem and the seacoast would
be obliged to seek other means Of livelihood
Modern Features.
| He created a good deal of amusement by
| speaking of the real estate boom which has
| sprung up about Jerusalem. and told of one
man who said that three or four years ago
he had paid 5000 francs for a house. and
now he could get 5000 He combated the
prevailing idea that Jerusalem was occu-
pied mainly by lepers and beggars. He
| spoke Of the establishment of libraries and
! their patronage by the people there, of the
Industrial schools and of other features
which mark modern progressive life He
said that, strange to say, the Turk in Jeru-
salem occupied the place of peacemaker
and prevented the factional rows which
were imminent each Easter day between
the representatives of the Greek and the
Latin churches.
Naturally. what he had to say of the
archaeology Of Jerusalem was OF great in
| terest. He referred to the work OF the
| Palestine exploration committee, which had
been interrupted by the Turkish authori-
ties. but was now to be Resumed. There
was so little known, he said. about the to-
Biography of ancient Jerusalem that these
| researches we're of the highest Importance.
| He spoke about the ancient wallis and de-
scribed the old marble quarry from which II
| Is supposed the stones were taken that we're
used in the construction of the temple.
This quarry Is now $50 feet deep and about
| 1000 feet In extent. He referred 10 the
statement in the Bible that there was no
sound of the hammer heard in building the
| temple, and said that he had found evil
dences in looking over the quarry that the
work of dressing the stones was carried On
in the caverns in the lower part Of the
quarry.
The audience was introduced to IN en-
| tirely different theme. but one that was
full Of interest, by Mr.. o. p. Austin, the
| welf-known newspaper correspondent, who
gave an account of President Harrison3
trip to the Pacific coast IN the spring Of
| 1881. Mr.. Austin was a member of that
party, and his account of the journey of
| 10000 miles, occupying thirty-one days, was
| followed with close attention. He spoke Of
| the character of the train which furnished
! the accommodations for the party Of eight
cen. and he said that for the Presiden. It
was journey of constant work. The
! speechmaking, he said. began at . O'Clock
/ In, he N at
night The train schedule mai provided
but for three stops the first day. but dele
cations boarded the train and INSISTED upon
halts at other points. The result was. said
| the speaker. that seven stops were made
| seven speeches of welcome fired at the
President, seven bands played Hill TO the
/ Chief" seven assemblages cheered them
selves hoarse. and seven addresses each Of
| an entirely different character from its fell
| lows. were made by the Presidel,.
! And SO 1t was, he said. all the way
through the trip. and however unexpected
| the demand. The President was always
| ready with kindly response. In regard to
| the impromptu character of the Presidents
speeches, Mr.. Austin said that his duties re-
| ouired him to be near the President when
| ne WAS speaking. and that he never saw
| him refer to Il single note or memorandum
| during or prior to the delivery of the one
| hundred and forty speeches made by him.
Mr. Austin said that he felt convinced that
| none of the speeches were prepared before
| hand. Some of the speeches were greeted
with cheers and some with tears for his
touching remarks to the old soldiers or
words of encouragement to the hardy pion-
| GERS often reached tender spot.
One Of the most touching Of these solemn
! demonstrations, said the speaker, was at
Salt Lake. where the President, speaking Of
! the American home, used the words:
| "Where one wife sits in single uncrowned
| glory" This was greeted with many q SOL
emn Amen from those about him. Many
of the incidents of the trip, the personal ad-
| ventures of the members of the party in
| their attempts to snap kodaks and to collect
souvenirs were related in an amusing and
| entertaining manner.