The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-19
THE EMPEROR AT DAMASCUS.
A Multitude i'm Gay Attire Makes a
Brilliant Scene.
Damascus Letter in London Telegraph.

Damascus Letter in London Telegraph.
The day of the Emperors arrival was one
which neither the people of Damascus nor
the stranger within their gates are likely
soon to forget. / found myself in one of
the principal StreetS-a continuation OF that
called Straight-some time before noon, and
was caught in human torrent which could
not be Stemmed 1t seemed as though the
whole city was afoot, moving in mass
towards the great square where are Situ-
ated the principal public buildings and Of
fees. l managed soon to emerge from the
human stream, and did not venture into 1t
again. The people, however, were no more
disordery than an English crowd would
have been, and their demeanor towards for
etgn visitors was perfectly proper. Later,
some three hours before the Kaiser's ar
rival, l took a carriage and drove along
the imperial route in a reverse direction
nearly to the railway station. | have wit
messed many remarkable street scenes, but
never anything like the one which then met
my eyes. 1t was not the number OF the
people, for London has thrown its millions
into its streets ere now nor was 1t eX-
cessive order. or even the lack of 1t. The
novelty of the spectacle lay in a blaze of
color along the lines of the public in the
motley costumes and headdresses worn, and
in the varied tints of the thousands of
In western Europe street crowd Is always
more or less somber of aspect. 1t may i'm
press by its number and enthusiasm, but
cannot be ornamental, save In patches,
where special conditions favor feminine diF-
play. Here, on Monday, the multitude was
all ornamental. The best turbans were
WORN the richest garments of a Splendor-
loving race were put on and the result
know nothing to which | can compare it.
If | say that the men crowded on the
sidewalks and massed in the open spaces
resembled borders and beds of multi-col-
ored tulips. gaudy under the sun of spring.
L am ashamed of uttering anything so weak
and inadequate. The eye was fiercely as
sailed by so much color, and dazzled by
the incessant agitation of the heads and
forms which displayed it. Even the light
stronger than England knows at midsum-
mer aided the effect of the colors, and the
clear air that showed their intensity at
the farthest distance, helped TO the same
end 1t was wonderful, bewildering more
unreal to Western eyes than any drama
But there came some relief as my carriage
drove past masses of women and children
who, in places apart, were seated on the
pavement, or on terraces, or on the farther
bank OF the streams which flow thereabout
Covered with white or black garments, and
with faces more or less concealed, the fair
sex gave irritated eyes little rest But
TINS was only as the transient shadow of
q rock where the traveller cannot pause
Soon the Kaleidoscope was at work again
displaying its endless combinations and
organizations. The dark-cad police and SOL
diers had a busy time among the tulips,
yielding the stick without distinction of
color, and so great was that pressure in
places that some force stronger than per-
SuaSlon became necessary. This, however
should be attributed to the laws of matter
rather than to human will. The people were
quite orderly, and even anxious to obey
commands. Where any trouble arose-and /
saw little-it was not their fault. Through
the vast human garden and back again /
passed in safety. thanks to the skill of
shouting driver, who. continuously yelling
words of caution which he did not observe
himself, compelled a way through a network
OF vehicles soldiers, police and foot-people.
saw dozen marvellous escapes, all taken
quite as matter of course and provoca-
tive of no i'll feeling.
the carriage road was, indeed confusion
worse confounded There seemed to be no
rules for vehicles which blocked each other,
stopped the march of troops-a circurn-
stance accepted with supreme equaninity
by their commanders-and tied themselves
In knots on the smallest provocation At
such moments the shouting might have been
heard far up the adjacent mountains | did
not witness the Kaiser's progress through
the multitudes That was impossible with
out being in the procession or having q
place of vantage at some favorable point
But the cheering which greeted him reached
my ears, and presently news came that all
1ad passed or well, Emperor and Empress
having descended in safety at the Serial i'm
the great square. BY that time darkness
had Well-nigh set in, much to the disap-
pointment of long-waiting thousands, who.
trust, found recompense in fantastic IL
luminations, which turned the scene into
tairyland. Later in the evening we had a
display of fireworks but they were mostly
OF an inferior character.