The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-05-29
From the Holy Land.
DAMASCUS, Syria, April 80. 1901

mean by this that got my mail, the
first in three weeks, and in the quiet OF
my room forgot all about my pilgrim
age and the strange and wonderful
scenes through which have been daily
passing and read my pape,S -TuE RE-
PuBLIcAN-and letters surrounded by
the familiar scenes, faces and voices OF
good old America and Americans.
How true It is that
1--WE never miss the water
Till tho well runs dry"
even read all the advertisements and
thea to finish up read over the list of
boro and county officers. You gave the
only account have seen of the capture
Of Aguinado. We had only heard ru-
NOR of it before.
Our Palestine company trip is over and
just at present there is slight difference
of opinion expressed in regard to it.
Some who were not used to rouShing il
on horseback feel a little tired aud sore
and think the trip too hard for anyone to
undergo, others were more oblivious to
the hardships, or more accustomed to
them and are enthusiastic over it, | be-
long to the latter class and feel amply re-
paid for the WEAKNESS of body, without
which no one can take the trip, and only
wish could have Lad more time ON the
way to absorb what | saw aud learned.
The whole way from Jatla to Beyrout
was filled with surprises, wonder aud de-
light. l had read considerable about
Palestine and thought l knew something
about it, but now confess that my con-
ceptions ia most cases we've far from the
reality in so far as the topography of it is
concerned. To attempt description Of
this country in a letter would be to fail,
so shall coniine myself to matters in
general and leave the rest for some future
and more suitable occasion.
Our landing at Jafla was done by small
boats coming out half mile to meet us.
There is no dock here at all. This is one
of the things travellers dread, as the ma
tives yell rnd pull and clamor at you in
an unknown tongue till you scarcely
know yourself and could nof recognize
your own voice. TIE way in is full of
rocks which in a rough sea are not with
out danger to the boats. Fortunately we
got in at early dawn and had the benefit
of a luide who'knew what to do and how
10 treat those fellows so that we got to
land without incident worthy of note.
OF course we looked up the house of ST.
mon the Tanner and found it, and read
that portion of Scripture referring to him.
The well of water and large stone trough
are still there aud there is rot much doubt
as to the identity of the place. Then we
drove TO the house, or rather the tomb of
Dorcas, where Greek church now stands.
Jatia is much larger and more beauti-
full city than had expected 10 find. 1t
numbers about 5000 souls and has at.
tanned its recent size and importance
largely in consequence of the large num-
ber of pilgrims tabout $4,000 annually
who go to Jerusalem. Large orchards OF
oranges, figs and similar fruits, with
grain aud beautiful flowers in full bloom
were on every hand. The air was soft
and balmy which with gentle sea breeze
blowing in the cool Of the morning gives
one very peasant recollection OF the
place.
We left on the Jerusalem aud Jatia
railroad which is a narraw guage but fair
ly comfortable road. At once we struck
the renowned plain of Sharon lying be-
tween almost parallel ranges OF hills run
ming east and west but gradually closing
in on US as we proceeded toward Jerusa-
lem. This plain is about sixteen miles
wide near the sea and is usually very
fruitful. This year the winter rains
were light and ceased early so that al.
most drought has come upon the land
as in the days of old. AS we proceeded
eastward these ranges Of hills closed in
till we soon found ourselves in deep
gorge, up which we wended our way like
a serpents trail till we reached the great
centre of the worlds hist t)ry-Jerusale
This road is "a miles long aud fully half
the way it runs through this deep gorge.
Every foot Of the way is filled with inter-
est and our new dragoman, Esa, was
kept busy pointing out these places.
How strange it sounds to our ears to near
called out, the plain of Sharon, LYDIA,
RamIeh, Gizeh, Beth Heron, Beth Shem-
esh, Vale Of Elah, and know we were
looking upon landscapes that had been
the scenes of conflicts, or hallowed asso-
Citations, now possessing a reality un-
known before. And then the incongru-
ity of Jerusalem for railway station. l
am sure l would haye enjoyed it much
better had we been able to ride or drive
up from Jala. 1t would certainly have
been much more in keeping with the
fitness Of things than rushing in on a
modern railway train.
There are only three things in all Pal
estine that think would have recog-
nized without assistance aud one of these
/ is Jerusalem. Had ] been blindfolded
not knowing where | was being led, and
taken to the top of any of the hills round
about and the bandage then removed
would have said that is Jerusalem.
could not miss 1.-THE city of David. Tive
familiar passages from the Psalms camC
to my mind aud received new interpre
tion-"Jeruselem is builded as a city tha
is compact together" 1t has been said t
have no suburbs, and it is only recently
that any considerable number of houses
have been built outside the walls. Thes,
high walls surround an exceedingl,
small enclosure for $1,000 people. In ou
country it would not contain an ordinary
village. They know how to economic
space. The streets are mere alleys anC
] . I,a To-. f..