The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-07-24


rest of us got our breakfast. We soon
went ashore and, securing carriages took
drive through Smyrna. This is beau
tiful city lying in crescent shape around
the bay with a rapid rise back of called
Mount Pagus. on the top OF this Mount
is the tomb of Polycarp, one of the post.
apostolic fathers and said to have been a
disciple of the Apostle John. The ruins
ofthe Stadium in which his martyrdom
took place is still pointed out. Here also
is said TO be the place of the birth and
death of the great Greek poet, Homer.
We saw the place of his tomb under 2
bridge that spans small stream flowing
through the city. While in Naples l saw
also the tomb Of my old friend, Virgil,
the Latin poet. suppose l should have
shed tear over their graves but the one
was so near the waters edge it would not
have been noticed, and the other was
perched so high on the hill side l could
not reach it. Besides l thought l had
shed enough drops of perspiration over
their writings while trying to read them
in college to be forgiven the lack of
tears while standing in mournful attitude
in the presence of their last resting place.
My chum, George, and 1 sweat five
hours day, six days in the week for
fourteen weeks endeavoring to make cut
what Homer was trying TO get at in his
lliad, aud felt that was sufficient honor
to bestow upon any man, OF his shade
either. And then Homer was rather
promiscuous with his remains. several
cities claiming the honor of possessing
them.
Smyrna contains about $50, 900 people
of whom the Greeks are the most pros
pering, being the business men of the
city, aud having very little respect for
their Turkish government.
For several miles along the water front
is most beautiful street, well paved and
lined back of it with a row of excellent
houses, many of them built of marble.
In our drive through the Greek portions
OF the city we were delighted with the
hne buildings, lean streets, large and
well kept stores, thriving shops and
markets, and fine looking men and wo.
men. But when we come into the Turk
ish quarters everything was changed
Squalor and filth abounded, dirty, mean
shops and markets, ugly looking men
and women. One could scarcely believe
so different conditions could exist in
such proximity. One wonders why the
Turk does not learn something from
contact with superior peoples. But he
seems not to do so, or at least is awfully
slow at his lessons.
At half past nine our special train was
to be ready, for which we were to pay IS
pounds English, or 5000. We were soon
aboard and having the right of way made
the run to Ephesus, forty eight miles, in
a little over an hour, alighting at the de-
pot we were at once confronted with a
case of native avariciousness, involving
question of morals. Before leaying
Smyrna sometime we telegraphed for
horses. When we arrived there man
stepped up and said ''your horses are
outside ready for you" We asked his
charges and were told it was one franc an
hour counting from the time we had sent
the telegram. AS it was such a bare
faced fraud all but three of the / arty re-
fused to use his horses at Iall. Of course
they got mad. They always do when
their extortionate schemes fail and the
bitter gets bit.
Where one of the greatest cities of the
east once flourished in all her wealth and
splendor there is found now ouly a mis- g.
cradle little Mohamedan hamlet with a
single lodging place, and people their
iorebares would fain disown. But it was
not these people we came to see nor their
mean little dwellings built out of mater
ial taken from structures that we're the
pride of Ephesus in the days of her mag
nifcent splendor and glory. The
Thoughts of other days" crowded in up
on the mind. Here Paul lived and la
bored for more than two years establish
ing christian church which became
the center of wide influence in this
heather city, TO which he afterwards
wrote one of his longest letters. Here the
youthful Timothy lived to whom Paul
wrote two pastoral letters and from
which the constitution of our church is
largely taken. But to me, most OF all,
here is where the Apostle John preached
many years, bringing with him doubt
less the most sacred legacy our Savior
bequeathed to him while suffering the
agonies of the cross-Our Lords mother,
woman behold thy son." behold thy
mother" 1t is here they both probably
lie awaiting the coming of that Son,
Brother, Lord in the glory OF Heaven.
On an elevation just west of the depot
is small ruin said to be the remains of
the very church in which John preached.
How near we seemed TO stand to those
days of the Apostle aud of our Lord him
self. A little farther away stood the walls
of an old church in which one of the
early great council Of the church was
held in 43l A. d. The walls are high and
in good state of preservation. The ma
terial is said to have been taken from the
old temple of Diana which stood close
by. This church was built and used by
The christians. Later on it was taken by
.he Mohamedans and became mosque.
When the Crusaders passed through
here it again became a place FOR chris
ian worship. Again it passed into Mo
lamedan hands, and now stands as
great ruin with a minaret rising from
)ne corner.
Quite extensive excavations have been