The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-23

they heard the roar of the waves OF this
largest inland lake. which is popularity
supposed TO be silent and calm. Survey
ing the country from the top OF Mount
Olives" says Prof. Vogel, II judged tho
distance from Jerusalem to the Dead sea
to be not more than three hours ride.
but soon discovered my error after travel
ing through the barren and lonely land
scage
fear of breaking our necks in climbing
the precipices or descending into the Wa
bis valley. After about four hours ride we
came TO. a great white mosque, erected
over the grave of Noses so we We're told.
The Moslems seemingly never heard OF the
passage in holy Scriptures which says:
And, no one has found HIS grave up 70
this day They have a grave OF Adam, too,
in one of the Jerusalem churches After
dismounting for luncheon at the mosque
we discovered another party OF tourists.
the society of hotel employees Of Cairo,
twelve in number. Their leader informed
us that the Dead sea was but a few miles
away. but the observation proved as much
of an optical delusion as my own was on
Mount Olives. We had yet 10 climb many
a hight and had to traverse many a stony
valley before we reached Its neighbor-
hood.
when we were about half q mile from
the Dead sea we heard the terrible roar
of the breakers, and five minutes later we.
saw the white foaming surf. About ten
feet from the strand the water was calm
and Of blush color. A fresh refreshing
wind blew over the lake and into our faces
ries that say Whit from the Dead sea Is
poisonous. Poisonous, indeed. and that no
bird dared cross it, saw hundreds flying
about in the best of spirits.
Another superstition is that II would
be suicidal to battle in the Dead sea. None
of us could swim, but that mattered lit
tie, as the density of the water is 80 great
that the human body will not sink In 1t.
Before we reached deep water, however,
we had become very very much exhausted BY
Riding farther north. we came to the
ford of the Jordan, where our Savior
was baptized by John.
Jordan unto John to be baptized OF him.
" But John forbade him, saying Il have
need to be baptized by thee. and CONTEST
q And Jesus answering said unto him:
Suffer it to be SO now; for. thus II be-
cometh US to fulfill all Righteousness"
Then he suffered him.
And Jesus, when he was baptized.
went up straightway out of the water
THE description of the neighborhood In
Matthew iii holds good to this day; the
river flows at this point through a muddy
fiat. and We found the ford passable. as II
was in the period when our Lord was bap-
''At this famous historical point we were
surprised to find established a German
saloonkeeper. who welcomed US in effusiye
style. He lived In a sort Of barn con-
structed of rafters and dried mud. And
there was beer garden. too. with arbors
Offering protection against the hot sun.
rough tables and benches. The proprietor
proved 10 be native OF the Prusslan
town OF Gmesen. his name was Mayer.
He sold beer or some kind OF stun mas
querading under that name. and snative
wines, the latter being quite good.
THE photographs we took Of the river
gave a faithful picture Of the neighbor-
hood, but the camera missed q siRn pole
near the edge Of the water with the Legend
'Boats 20 Let Mayer had half dozen
Of them, beautifully painted, and asked
two francs for an hour Tor their use. We
had q good meal ana rest A. thls inn, ana
niiing our bottles with Jordan water for
haptismai al home"