The Republican journal., 1895-10-31
Miss sibley in Berkeley Temple.
WHAT THE BOSTON GLOBE SAYS OF HER Lee
TURE ON PALESTINE.

WHAT THE BOSTON GLOBE SAYS OF HER LEC-
TURE ON PALESTINE.
Miss Charlotte Thorndike Sibley, gradu-
ate OF Wellesley College and a student in the
post graduate department. Of Yale, gave an
interesting address at Berkeley Temple last
Sunday evening on the subject, "Over Pales-
tine Hills on Horseback
Miss Sibley was with Dr. Dunning's party
which left last February for five-months'
tour OF Palestine, Egypt and Southern Eu-
rope. Five weeks OF this time were passed
within the borders of the Holy Land. and IL
was this part Of the journey that Miss Sibey
graphically described.
Almost all the travelling was done on horse
back, the travellers sleeping in tents by night
and awaklng in the morning to the jangling
OF the mule bells.
The party consisted of 81 members, beside
~ serN ants and guides, with 12O horses and
donkeys, and occupied II tents.
The first point Of interest visited by the
tourists was Joppa, where they We're shown
the house which Peter is said to have enter
ed, gong upon the roof and seeing the fate
full vision.
Although they did not patronize the Joppa
q Jerusalem railroad they We're much inter
ested in 1t, as it is the only one in Palestine
The concession for building it was gained
from Turkey, and the materials from differ
ent Christian countries.
The country between Joppa and Jerusalem
is so beautiful that the travellers would fain
have fingered to consider the lilies and other
features Of the landscape, bat in time they
came to Jerusalem, and from afar view ed
the two most prominent features, the mosque
OF Omar and the Russian tower upon Olivet.
Jerusalem means the possession Of peace,
but conflicts and earthquakes have left their
mark upon the holy city.
Most interesting is the wailing place of the
Jews, where they stand with their faces to
the wall monotonously intoning their la
70 n1% ~
disappears when one remembers that they
are paid to perform this doleful service.
The travellers held a service on Calvary,
the first Christian service held there since
Mr. Moody was there some years ago.
In Gethsemane they viewed the olive
trees, and from Jerusalem to Jericho, a
descent of 1000 feet was made in distance
OF less than 20 miles. The road now, as
formerly, is dangerous one, and the tour
lists paid robher captain to 90 with them
and keep off his band while they made the
journey.
Jericho was once the city of palms, but
now contains but single palm tree, and is
reduced to village Of 5000 inhabitants.
From here it is 10 miles across treeless
country to the Dead sea, on whose borders
there is no sign or sound of life. Thence
they passed to the river Jordan, on which
some OF the party went rowing.
En- route southwark to Bethlehem, they
passed the tomb Of Rachel. where women
were crouched upon the floor chanting in
monotone. Bethlehem has now popula-
tion Of 5000. Here is the church of the Ma
tivity, the oldest one in Palestine, perhaps
in the world, erected by order OF Constan-
tine 16 centuries ago. Sixteen lamps are
kept burning continually, six by the Greeks,
| five by the Latins and five by the Arne-
mans.
! In Nazareth the pilgrims drank at Mary's
well, and held morning service in the open
air on the green sward.
| Damascus is the pearl Of the Orient, the
garden of the east, and its flowers, fruit
trees, white streets and minarets give it a
| splendid appearance. 1t was old when
Abraham was born, and one Of the guides
assured the party that it was founded by
| Noah's son, Shem.
| The passage over Lebanon to the Mediter-
| ranean led lit rally through the Clouds and
| lent Il new impression Of Palestine
| The last week was passed in Beyrut, where
| the work and influence of the missionaries
and teachers, who not only do such noble
work in the schools ana charities, but are
active in the government and public works
is strongly felt.