The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-07-03

to this upon leaving Egypt we were
brought here contrary TO our wishes. a
case of plague had been discovered at
Alexandria on the day we lel Cairo.
When we reached Port said we were told
that as there was not quarantine at Jaffa,
our port, we would be taken to Beyrout
and held for two DAYS. You can imagine
perhaps, how we felt when our object was
to reach Jerusalem for the Greek Easter
and instead lie in quarantine. However
they were master of tue situation and we
could only obey. There was one redeem
ing feature about it TO compensate in
part for our disappointment in missing
the Holy Fire in Jerusalem. 1t gave AS
the opportunity to see a large part of the
coast between Beyrout and Jatia and un-
derstand what a time Hiram's raftmon
must have had in getting Hiram's logs
to Solomon's market if the sea was
little rough.
Tyre and Sidon also lie on the coast and
snow capped Mount hermon away in the
interior was easily seen from tue steam
er's deck.
For two days we lay out in the roads
with the miserable yellow flag of quaran-
tine flying from its place between the
masts warning every one TO keep their
distance, veritable cry of "unclean un-
Clean while Turkish officer lay in his
little boat near us TO keep us from get
tin away. We were all taken to the
quarantine station where an officer wrote
out bill of health, or something else for
all we know, as it was done in Arabic,
for which he charged us a good price.
Then we were taken into an adjoining
room where they had bucket full of
disiniectant and garden hose with
which they sprinkled our baggage and
squiIted little of it toward us. They
allowed us to return to our ship which
later on they dosed with this disiniectant.
1t was all largely farce but we had to
pay for the music. The prevalence of a
plague and other infectious diseases in
that country render a strict quarantine
law necessary although the slight causes
sometimes make it appear ridiculous.
Neither had we nor our ship been ex-
posed.
Beyroute is the chief commercial city
of Syria and does a large business with
all parts of the world. In one year 629
sailing vessels and 254l steamers entered
ITS port doing an export busines of over
eight million dollars. Among the inter-
esting industries is the silk trade. In
our drive to the Dog RIVER along the
coast we saw scores of little houses built
out Of cane stalks or material of that
kind in the groves of mulberries. These
trees were cut back to almost the trunk
every year and from this stump great
numbers of sprouts grew covered with
heavy foliage. 1t looked strange to see
so many groves like this but we soon
learned the reason. These little houses
were where the silk worms were kept
and fed upon the mulberry leaves which
were cut and led to them fresh. We Wis
tied one of these worm houses. All
around on the inside were shelves upon
which were laid these mulberry branches.
The leaves were covered with large
white worm aud all Of these were busy
eating away at the leaves. The atten-
dants were careful to keep them supplied
and also TO keep the strong wind flom
blowing on them.
The Moslem is being gradually dis
placed by the Christian in Beyrout. OF
the 10000 inhabitants only about $4,000
are Moslem, the others being Greeks,
Maronites, Jews, Latins, Armenians,
Druses, Protestants, etc.
The Presbyterian mission is the largest
institution and one Of the most successful
of this churches foreign enterprises.
They have a college of about 500 students,
a girls seminary with 100 students, a
hospital, churches and about l43 schools
in different sections under its care. The
printing press supplies Arabic literature,
as the Bible, ETC., to all Arabic speaking
people. 1t is sellsupporting and some
years turns in a balance to The mission
fund. They also print a weekly paper
and monthly magazine. The names of
Drs. Bliss, Jessup, Thomson, Smith, and
Van Dyck are household names in mis-
sionary circles everywhere, and they
have accomplished great things in the
eductional and religious life of this pa
per. Other institutions for special work
are successful also, as the Church of Scall
and Jewish Mission, British School and
Bible work, the German Hospital, Or
phansge and Boarding School, also a
large Kindergarten under Italian control,
The Dog River, about two hours drive
along the shore, is point Of interest US
ually visited by tourists. It is said 10
receiye its name from an incident that
occurred centuries ago. An army was en-
camped on the one side Of the river and
during the night the enemy steathily ap-
preached from the other side when a dog
alarmed the sleeping sentinels by bark
ing. The opposing general cursed the
dog which was turned into a stone where
he stood in the middleo Of the river. TIE
stone is there where IL can be seen till
this day. There are also many other
similar stones there. This fording has
been considered by many as 'the enter
ing in Of Klamath, " or the road by which