The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-23

swaddling clothes. Both of these spots
have shrines filled with burning lamps
over them. This to great degree spofls
the scene for you. as you wish to see
them just as they were in the olden days.
These people are accustomed to Dowlns
to images and shrines; but 1t Is unpleas-
ant to u.s. that spots so sacred should DE
desecrated and made to look like notn-
ing more than SaCw place. The Church
of the Nativity like the church OF the
Holy Scpulchre. is owned by the differ
ent religious sects Armenians, Latlns,
Copts. and Greeks. From Bethlehem we
went to Mar Saba where we encamped
for the night Thursday morning we
were called at five and had breakfast
and were in our saddles and away at SIN
We had hard day ahead of lbs and had
70 make an early start. We were bound
for the Dead Sea. After five hours up
and down and around mountains and
through some beautiful though barren
country. we reached the Dead Sea. You
can ina CINE how delighted we were to dis
mount after five hours in the saddle. The
wea Their had been unusually fine ana we
had everything in our favor. The Dead
Sea is from twenty three hundred to
| twenty eight hundred feet deep and forty
miles long and lies right down in between
two mountain ranges. We had luncheon
here and rested one hour; then on che
| Jordan. Here we had a very uncomfort-
able ride over the desert which made the
heat intense. The Jordan is a muddy. I'M
| impressive little stream and only interest
! ing from it's past associations. / took from
the river n quart of water which will
bring home. 1t may he that my sister
| in Kansas CITY will desire to have my
little nephew, Harry Flower. baptized
with water taken out of the river Jor-
dan. Any way. l am going to extend her
the privilege.
Does some one ask. Are not ALBANIA
and Pilarpar, rivers of Damascus. equal
to the waters Of Israel" Yes. am
quite sure that the water that good
Brother Hail in dear old Trinity church
last Christmas put upon my little broth
er Austin's head in the baptism was as
holy as this water taken out of the JOr-
dan. From the Jordan we rode for two
hours across the plains to Jericho. Here
we encamped for the night What wei
come sight our little white city was
after having been in the saddle for eight
hours. lou can imag CINE how good 1t felt
to be able to fall down for a little rest
after the days fatiguing travel.
From Jericho we jOurneyed back to
Jerusalem. reaching here after six
hours ride. with Il rest and luncheon at
the Good Samaritan Inn on the way.
1t was refreshing to get home again and
enjoy a rest from horseback riding. In
the morning we begin our trip up the
country and across to Damascus. This is
Il two-weeks' trip. duling which we will
be III the saddle anu in camp. And this
will complete our journeyings in the Holy
Land
| There is this pleasing reflection con-
corning these scenes and places that we
have been looking upon While we can
not always definitely locate the places
made memorable by the life of Christ,
yet we know that hereabouts was the
scene of his earthly career. These same
mountains. that | see out before ne.
looked upon that pure. unseltsh and
holy life. These same valleys, tnat lie
at my feet, We're pressed by his gentle
footsteps. These same fields, that stretch
out toward the horizon, witnessed the
beauty and beneficcnce of his works.
Surely the privilege of visiting this re-
gion made sacred by the ministry of Him
whose life has carried sunshine and COM
fort and gladness to so many darkened
homes is an experience that should
lawaken our most grateful feelings.
LALLA RUTH CARR.