The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-02-24

ls easier TO float than 10 swim. But
what a strange aud oppressive place
the shore OF the Dead sea isl The
waters are ~ beautiful as those Of
Lake Luccrne. but nothing lives In
them, and no human habltation Is
found on their banks. One thinks OF
sodom and Gomorrah buried beneath
the brackish lake al the southeastern
side OF Il. and here In this deep, 1900
feet below the surface OF the Medi-
terranean. breathing the dusty air Of
what seems like a close summer day.
one IL not eager 10 lingor.
An hours drive brought us TO the
fords OF tho Jordan. the traditional site
OF our Savior's baptism. where the
Greek pilgrims throng by thousands
Immediately after Easter TO battle In
the waters 10 drink from the sacred
stream. and TO an their jars from II.
30 that friends In far-avay Russia
may share In part their privileges. For
many centuries Christian pilgrims have
come hither. and once these shores
were paved with marble. At the pres
ent day ropes are stretched along the
bank during the time Of pilgrimage. for
the security OF those who enter the
swift stream, and a wooden cross Is set
up In the river Only few OF our par
" bathed Ia the Jordan. partly because
the waters are muddy, the shores
rough. and the undcrcurrent sometimes
perllous. an American gentleman hav.
Ing lost his life here two years ago.
Very many had brought with them bot
ties TO be hllcd from the Jordan. and
used ut christening services In Eng
land and America. Il was pleasant to
linger on the shaded bank and muse
over what had been. The secondary
history which has followed the great
scriptural events associated with the
Jordan Is interesting. and a knowledge
OF precise localities Is not essential
John the Baptist may have stood where
We were then gathered. Al any rate
on the banks Of this same stream, and
not Tar away. he carried on that mighty
ministry which prepared Tor the Mes
slabs dlvlner work. And who could
help remembering that, ascending
from these waters OF the Jordan, the
Savior OF mankind went 10 His temp
tatlon In that rocky Judcan wilderness.
TO which our eyes frequently turned!
After being photographed we le-
turned 20 our cncampment AZ Jericho,
to an ample luncheon, and most OF US
to an afternoon OF rest Toward even
ing. when the shadows Of the ludcan
hills were stretching farther and far
, Their across the plain. many OF rs
, mounted donkeys Tor a twenty-mlnut,
, ride TO Elishas fountain near which
, pitched my tent In 1874 The road Il
Il was past some beautiful gardens. full
, Of oleanders, poplars. bananas and a
, press. and through clumps OF thoI,
, trees. the Splna Christi. from which
the crown Of thorns Is supposed Il
, have been made.
/, There was a fan OF rain during th,
night. 80 thar our drive 10 bethlehem
4 the next morning was over a dustlea
road. on either side Of which the tree
and fields looked green.
Before reaening bethlehem We mad
detour OF few miles to visit N,
, three immense pools which bear IN
name OF King solomon. All but on
OF them now are dry. The aqueduc
u TO Jerusalem IL broken. when | sa'
the pools In 1874 they were allied wit
water. Il was here that We camped. o
tried 20. The rains descended 30 Vic
lonty that We ned for refuge 70 IN
? stone-yaultcd chamber Of a Turks
castle hard by. A company Of soldier
occupied q then. We could end non
on this visit The Turkish soldiers w
have seen On Jerusalem are ngce
and hall ihod. and present a most 'o
|plorahlc appearance. though they 90
lly represent the bankrupt empire
which O. Temporarily supported hy thgi
, hayoneis.
pcthlch s. largely A Crlsiill