Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-04-05
JERUSALEM.
How il Impressed the Tourisrs--visit
to Historic Points Of Interest in the
Ancient Jewish Capital Letter Num-


On BOARD New ENGLAND.
March 9, 1900.
As to the sights seen in Jerusalem
it is difficult to write to interest one
who has not seen them. Jerusalem
needs a gospel of cleanliness. 1t is
indescribably filthy The streets are
so narrow that no vehicles ever go
upon them. They are paved with
blocks of stone on end, worn so
smooth that with the filth and wet
that is upon them they are so slip
perry one must watch that he does not
slip and fall Donkeys and goats and
dogs pass over them and the filthy
excrements add TO the disgust that
naturally arises. On the hill slopes
the streets are paved IN steps, 50
that the footman is either ascending
or descending smooth, sleek stone
steps almost constantly OF course
they are crooked and the tourist
must, if he would see internal Jeru-
salem, wander about between the
houses, first this way, then that,
through filth and water, and ever
witnessing indecent scenes and ever
having the feeling that he is Gagged in.
until at last he comes to one OF
the gates in the wall through
which he can pass out and
breathe more freely The stores
and markets encroach upon the
streets already so narrow, and the
donkey has right of way, so that
the footman must step aside to let
him pass At the entrance to GER
Es..y. tN1o .ad
across at a certain height to prevent
camels from passing upon them. We
wondered if this did not constitute
the real needle S eye, but learned
that it is rather the small gate with
in the large gate.
We visited the church of the Holy
Sepulchre, and were shown almost
everything of antiquity, including
the graves of Melchisadek and of
Adam. Yes, even the center of the
world" is here, and we huddled close
to the little monument that marks
it's place, but are fearful that we
lacked about six inches of standing
in it because of the aforesaid monu
ment preventing US from getting to
the exact spot.
Passing from here we went over
the Via Dolorosa, past the houses of
Pontius PLATE and Caiphas the High
Priest, and on our way we passed
the German Lutheran church, which
the German Emperor came to assist
in dedicating.
1t is a beautiful church, built of
squared blocks of stone-the most
beautiful building as to outward APP
pearance that we saw The Emperor
did much good by coming, and caused
such stir of preparation for royal
guest as has not been known for
many a century, and psrmeated all
Palestine.
We went to the church of ST Anne,
the mother of Mary, and beneath its
spacious enclosures penetrated the
rooms where Mary was entertained
as a guest IN her mother S home.
Near by we visited the Pool of Beth
esda, and in this instance felt sure we
were in the genuine place. Recent
excavations have brought to prac
teal use the same stone steps down
which the impotent man found his
way to the pool, and we too walked
down and saw the pool. Looking a
little into the soil, where excavations
have been going on, we were reward
ed by finding an ancient Roman coin.
Later, at Jericho, we also found a
COMA mite, such as was put in the
treasury by the poor woman.
We went through the Gate OF st.
Stephen and down along the outside
of the wall, and saw many large
stones that were put in by sol
ONION. The Golden Gate on this side
is filled up, because the Mohamme-
dams believe that so long as this is
closed the Jews cannot regain posses
sion of the city 1t is said TO be the
gate through which Christ entered
Olivet, on his triumphal entry.
Another place of great interest is
the TombS of the Kings north of the
city We descended a series OF
twenty five stone steps, each twelve
inches high and an average of three
feet in width, at the base of which
are two fountains, the whole being
from solid rock. To our
left we enter a large space eighty
four feet by ninety, open at the top,
and about thirty feet in depth, this
too being excavated in the solid
rock. From this we entered what |
call the vestibule of the tombs. An
opening about three feet square is
the entrance to them. But the most
part is the circular stone
fitted in its groove to be rolled over
this opening Never before did | SO
clearly understand they found the
stone rolled away from the tomb.
And here let me remark at the tomb |
of Christ at New Calvary the |
groove for the round stone is there, |
but not the stone itself Within are |
rooms or tombs one after another, |
and we penetrated them, wondering |
how all this rock excavation has ever |
been accomplished. We also visited |
Solomon 5 quarries under the city, |
and down, down, with lighted can
lies we went and witnessed the won
ierful excavations that have been |
made to obtain rock for the building |
Of the city. We also visited what is
spoken of as the heap of ashes made
rom the sacrifices of the Jews. |
Whether ii be this or not it is i'm !
and is on the north side of /
the city. ELLwooD O. ELLIS.
Municipal Ownership.
Editor Richmond Palladium: