Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-06-07
MAKE LIFE QUITE UNHAPPY IN
JERUSALEM.
AND FAKES NUMEROUS
Mohammedan Guards Maintain Peace
Between the Hostile Denominations
Even at the Very Church of the
Holy Representations Of
Living Objects Tabooed.

We were seven days going from Con-
stantinople to Joppa, skirting the shore
all the way, and making long enough
stops at important places for inspec-
ton. The weather being perfect, moth
ing remained for US but to thoroughly
enjoy the trip; and nature has on her
prettiest gown here during the month
of May
Smyrna we found very interesting.
It is the second city in size and COM
merce of the ottoman empire. So
many Greeks reside here that the
Turks call it infdel Smyrna We saw
the Armenian girls making rugs, for
which they receive the munifcent sum
Of ten cents per day; and the amount
of them-girls and rugs-didn't look
as though the supply would soon be
exhausted. The stores, or bazaars they
are called over here, are a sort of big
department store, all tucked in close
together, mostly one story high, on
winding. narrow covered streets. If
there is any peculiar plumber under
the sun that you can't find in these
places it's because it is too large to get
into the stalls. So many things are
being made, and in a very primitive
manner; almost everybody sitting
down to his or her work. Most all of
the things they manufacture are very
crude. Needle work is where they
excel.
Among the other places of interest
visited was the island of Rhodes,
one of the old stamping grounds of the
crusaders-those misgu'aed old fanat-
les who didn't know when they had
enough, but kept on fighting until only
history remained to tell the tale.
Perhaps I'm not glad that our Temp
lars of today have degenerated into a
social order. The old fort still looks
formidable, and miles of solid mason
ry line the harbor and town. We were
taught that Colossus straddled the
harbor, but it's now said he stood up
like a respectable little man.
At Alexandretta, at the extreme
northeastern point of the Mediterrane-
an, the starting point of caravans for
the far east, we saw the finest speci-
mems of Syrian camels. They are a
cross between the two-humped Bac-
TRAN and the dromedary of Egypt.
They only possess one hump, but are
large, homely, fine, awkward, patient
animals; and there doesn't seem to be
any limit to the amount they will
carry. The reason they are called
ships of the desert is because they will
carry ships cargo. We counted one
caravan of sixty-fve camels.
There's no harbor at Joppa the only
point from which Jerusalem can be
reached by rail. When there is much
of a sea it makes it interesting to land
from the steamers. We were kept
waiting several hours; but finally,
after being tossed by a bowling mob
OF boatmen, managed to reach shore.
In going from Joppa to Jerusalem the
road runs through the plains Of Sha-
ron, the only place OF any size around
here that a white man would be guilty
Of trying to cultivate; yet Sampson,
with his jaWbOne, thought it valuable
enough to play sad havoc with the
rightfu1 owners Of the land. The rail-
way train we are on has an American
made engine, and cars opening at the
end; and when the engine gives a
loud, star-spangled whistle-not the
little squeaking noises we have heard
on other railways over here we cry
out with great joy and are exceedingly
glad.
It goes without saying that Jeru-
salem is a place of overwhelming in
terest. To the student of history the
ruins of the old city are of course
the greatest inspiration; but to the
casual and unprecedented observer
other things have attractions. One OF
the most striking features constantly
kept before you is the intense rivalry
between the different religious denom-
nations. Some of them have schools
in connection and they are doing good
work; and when they get all the little
| Arabs civilized, then the teachers
would do we'll by turning their atten-
| ton to the different creeds. AS long
as those people keep up the good fight
| over the musty old traditions, it is
bound to go on indefinitely. Will they
ever learn that Gods holy cause is moi
| buried away among the ruins of any
ancient city or country, for the sinfu
suffering is universal in all mems
| hearts. regardless of time or place
The restraining powers of the peace.
| loving" Mohammedan is the lily thing
that keeps these so-caned Christians
from annihiIating each other. And
yet. didn't Jesus say: Il am come, no1
| to bring peace on earth, but a sword?'
| Ny private opinion is that he didn'
! intend that war should be everlasting
~ kept up.
Armed Turkish soldiers are sta
toned all through the Church of the
Holy Sepulchre, several serious fights
having occurred between the Christian
creeds who worship there. In the cen
ter Of the church is a small chapel or
which the Savior was laid after being
crucifed. and all the different sects arr
allowed free access to that; but all tht
other places, shrines, caves, certain
portions Of a room. etc., are the pri
vate property Of one or the ether O
the many creeds-Greek, Latin, Ar
menian, Copts, Abyssinian, Syrian and
several back counties to hear from
If, while marching around singing,
we are brothers, all"
one of them should happen to stel