Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-04-22
PRIDE IN PAST FAME.
Mohammedans of Damascus Resent
Western Advancement.
Modern Residents Still Affect Su-
periority Because if CapItars ror'
mer Glory.

Damascus is 2260 feet above the sea
Jo,,oI ana rho nopuIation is estimated
all the way between 23o,00o ana ooo'ooo'
There has never been census IL Is,
however. much less than formerly. IL
is believed that there were as many aS
. Ooo GOO nopulation as far back as the
seventh century, when it was the capt.
tai of tho world. At least One-third OF
the inhabitants are Mohammedans,
and it is the popular opinion that 10 per
cent are orthodox Greeks, 10 per cent.
Jews. ) per cent. Greek Catholics, 100
~ soo ponan Catholics and about 1000
pro.estants, mostly foreigners. There
are only two American families, those
of DR.. Crawford, formerly of Argyle,
Washington county, y. Y, and his
son, both missionaries. DIR. Crawford
has been living here for forty-four
years, formerly as the representative
of tn" American Board of Foreign Mis-
sions, but of late years working with
the Irish Prcsbyterians, to whom the
field was surrendered.
There is a Presbyterian church of 144
communicates and "a congregation
averaging 800. mostly converts from
the Greeks. There have been no con-
vcrts from the Mohammcdans nor from
the Jews since the Protestants have
been in this community. Nor can
find that any impression has been made
upon the members of either religion,
although their children and young men
ana women frequently attend the
Protestant schools, accept treatment at
their hospitals and enjoy the fruits of
their bencvolence. In the neiShbor-
hood of Damascus are ten native con-
grcgations of PTOtcstants and schools
with native teachers. In the city
there is a school for girls with about
sixty scholars.
The British Syrian Mission maintains
four schools ana an asylum for the
blind. The Roman Catholics have a
college at which good education is
furnished III the French language un-
der the direction of the Franciscan
monks. The Sisters Of Charity have a
small hospital, q girls school with
about 80 pupils and an orphanage
with forty or fifty inmates. Other de-
nominations have schools also, both
for boys and girls. The Orthodox
Greeks are particularly active in edu-
cational matters, and the Jews take
considerable pride in their schools.
The United States consular agent at
Damascus is subord rdinate to the consul
at Beirut. and the post has been held
for thirty-two years by Michael
Meshaska, Il son of the famous DR..
Mcshaska, one of the first Protestant
converts in Syria. who attained great
eminenco as Il scholar and a scientist
and held the consulate himself for
eleven years. Hence it has been forty
three years in the family. Mr.
Meshaska is q gentleman of wealth,
learning and high social position. He
is of great assistance and protection to
the missionaries and shows many
pleasant attentions to American
visitors, who number 200 or 300 every
wear. He receives no compensation
except a few fees for notariaI services,
but has the consciousness of virtue,
which. we are assured, is it's own re-
ward.
Several Syrian merchants in Damas-
Gus have spent much time in the United
States and returned to their birthplace
with considerable wealth. There is
constant stream OF emigration also
from the old city to the new world,
and it is asserted that not less than 5000
Damasccnes reside i'll Chicago alone.
The trade is comparatively small, al
though it is growing, the direct result,
MS | told you in a recent letter, of the
worlds fair at Chicago. The st. Louis
exposition offers an opportunity equal
ly favorable for promoting commerce,
and it would be Il great attraction if a
small section of the bazaarS of
Damascus were represented there.
Plenty of men would be glad to take up
tho matter, ana | recommend the man
ayers to enter into correspondence
with Consul Mcshaska with that end in
view.
The Damascenos are very fond of
their city, but they are notorious for
their intolerance, fanaticism and cruel
ty. The Mcsems are illitcrate and
proud. They realize the advancement
+ and the superiority ofsthe West and the
comparative insignificance Of Damas-
Gus in the affairs of the world at pres
ent, after having occupied 50 con
spicuotrs position for forty centuries,
and cannot conceal or repress their re-
sentiment. They consider themselves
superior TO other nations. and their
heiplessncss makes them jealous and
vindictive instead of stimulating them
to enterprise.
While foreigners are safe in Damas-
Gus if they observe the propricties,
they are not allowed in several parts
of the city and are apt TO be insulted
wherever they may so. We were
warned against attending the theater
for fear we might be jostled and other
wise treated rudely; we were cautioned
not to 70 into any of the mosques
without military escort; we were ad-
VsCd that people were making un-
pleasant comments upon us as we wan
dercd through the baZaars, but as we
did not understand the language 1t
made no difference, and no one offered
the slightest violence or showed any
evidences of hostility.
Damascus is the residence of the gov
crnor Of the province of Suriya (Syria)
and of the mushir general in com
mand) of the Fifth Army Corps, who
has a garrison of about 5000 men un-
der his command. Municipal affairs
are managed by n town council elected
by the people, which includes several
-hric i.p M lows