The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-01-14
Syrian Native Says Miss
Stone Is Safe.
NEED HAVE NO FEAR
Brig q nds Will Not Harm Her,
Says Maloof--lnteresting
Character Visits
Canton.

M. j. MalOOI, syrian, only rev
years in this country and employed
as travelling salesman for New York
wholesale house, was in the city today,
guest at the Barnett house. He is a
native Of Damascus, Syria, the Oldest
city in the world. Until recent date
he has been practicing the profession
of civil engineering. He was commits
stoned as civil engineer by the Turk
ish government in Syria, and took part
in the excavation of the ancient city
of Sidon, where sixty tombs were un-
covered in 1886.
Mr.. Maloof is an interesting charac-
ter, and is well informed on oriental
topics. He has with him sword
which was originally the property of
the princes of the house of Harshoof.
who Joined the Christians in their up
rising against Turkish oppression in
1860. Mr.. Mahoof secured the sword
through his uncle, Shibley l.. Maloof
who, at the head of two hundred Chris
tians, Joined forces with the house of
Harshoof against the Turkish soldiers
and were defeated. The sword had
long been an heirloom of the house of
Harshoof. Mr.. Maloof says it Is 200
years old, and it certainly looks the
part 1t is battered and dinted, but
it still has the evidences of its high
origin. 1t is beautifully engraved and
contains the coat of arms of the an
cient house of Harshoof.
THE ANCIENT CITY.
In speaking of Damascus, Mr.. Maloof
says its present population is about
275,000. 1t is a magnificent city, and
contains walls that have existed there
for unknown centuries. The popula-
ton, he says, is about three-fourth
Mohammedan and the rest Christians
and Jews.
"There was time when the Chris
tians were very much prosecuted in
Damascus. 1t has only been a few years
back since the Christians were COM
PEELED to walk in the streets with the
horses. If one of them presumed to
take the sidewalk he was showed out
into the street and called an infidel
dog. This condition of affairs lasted
until 1871, the conclusion of the Turko-
Russian war. After Czar Alexander's
victory over the Turks, one of the sew
enty-one conditions that he imposed
unon the sultan was that the Chris
tians be shown respect, and be given
all the advantages of peace. Since
then the Christians have Jared well
but they often get it thrown up to
them that they are Christian dogs.
"The Mohammedans are a very ia.
natical people, but they are acknowl-
edged to be among the bravest fighters
on the globe. This is because they
believe that If they die fighting for
their religion they will go to heaven
and be permitted TO marry a hundred
heavenly maidens. You see, man
firmly fixed in that faith would dare
anything"
MISS STONE SAFE.
What do you think of the case OF
Miss Stone?"
II think the Americans need have
no fear for her safety. To my own
mind there is no doubt that not hair
of her head will be harmed. This is
partly because she is a woman, and
partly because the Turks do not want
to offend the civilized world to that
extent"
who do you think is responsible for
her abduction?"
81 think the trouble could be traced
to some of the high Turkish officials
in Syria. They are a powerful and un-
scrupulous lot, and stoop to all kinds
Of crimes to accomplish their ends. !
do not believe that the sultan is re-
sponsible at all. These high officials
are in league with the banditti, and
they are doubtless in for share of
the ransom. say this because know
of the same kind of cases occurring
before. They have been known to hire
the bandits to kill political opponents,
giving them, besides their pay, prom
Use that they would not be prosecut-
ed"
Mr.. Maloof is an entertaining talker,
ap6 cpaaEo oaUaraI 10 N