Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-04-27

;oo interesting letter from Damascus:
cv,ia. to the Chicago Record-Hefald'
Nth reference to matters which are
80 oroat interest in biblical history
Near the east gate of the city OF
D.mascus are several interesting
,,,ocos associated with scripturai his
torv. A large, dilapidated building,
now used as hospital for iepTosy and
other contagious diseases, is said to
have once been the palace OF Naaman,
the leper, who was cured by Elisha,
Rihlical students are inclined to think
that the hospital may occupy the same
site as Naaman's palace. 1t is consid
cred very likely that more than one
structure has been erected and crum-
hled upon those foundations since the
great Syrian general washed i'll the
waters of the Jordan
little farther in the other direc-
tion is a tower in the wall known as
ST. Paul's tower, for there, according
to tradition, the apostle was let down
through a window in a basket, as he
informs us in his second letter to tha
Corinthians, and escaped the ven
eeance of the governor An Arab lady
with brilliant costume stared at us
out of the window this morning, and
observed our kodacs pointed that way,
requested us to send her photograph.
The atmosphere in this vicinity is
polluted by enormous piles of manure.
which cover large area along the
walls, and every now and then are
stirred up in order to dry The stuff
is used for fuel and not for fertilizer.
Across the street are the cemeteries
of the various Christian denomina
tions, one of them being especially
notable for the tomb of St. George,
who killed the dragon. was not able
to discover any evidence to sustain the
claims that the patron saint of Great
Britain is buried here, but it is de-
Tended with great confidence by Mos
lens, Greek and Roman Catholics
Notwithstanding the almost positive
testimony in favor Of LYDIA, the town
in which st. George was born and
lived and suffered martyrdom, and
where church erected in his honor
has been standing since the time OF
Constantine. LYDIA is on the high
way between Jaffa and Jerusalem and
was one of the chief citadels of the
Crusaders.
The tomb of st. George in the Da-
mascus cemetery is rude edfice, in
closed by cheap wooden fence in Or
der to protect it from relic hunters
The grave, which is walled up with
brick and smeared with cement is the
chrine of many devotees of all the re-
llglous sects. 1t seems to be revere
by Mohammedans quite as much as by
Christians. and offerings of flowers
are constantly placed there.
In neighboring cemetery is the
tomb of Henry Thomas Buckle, the
eminent English historian, who died
here in 1852
The site of the conversion of ST.
raul, who, as he came near Damascus
breathing out threatenngs and
slaughter against the disciples of the
LORD, and with a warrant from the
n1gh priest to arrest any men or Wom-
en- who believed in Jesus, "and bring
them bound unto jerusalem" met the
Holy One himself, and was stricken
with blindness, was formerly located
at the village of Kaukab, about six
miles southwest of Damascus on the
road to Galilee. During the last half.
century, however. the monks have re-
moved to more convenient locality
near the window in the wall. the house
OF Naaman and the tomb of ST. George.
so that pilgrims can visit all three
places in the same day. Four other
spots have enjoyed the honor at diff
ferent periods.
Within five minutes walk also is the
mousse OF "a certain disciple at Damas.
Gus named Ananias, ''to whom the
Lord appeared in vision and in
structed him to go into the street.
which is called Straight and inouire
IN the house of Judas for one called
Saul OF Tarsus, for behold he pray
eth. And Ananias cured Paul of his
blindness, baptized him and sent him
ON his way to preach the gospel and
confound the Jews. which dwelt at
damascus, proving that this is the
very Christ
The house of Ananias is within the
walls, and belongs to the Roman Cath.
one Sisters of Charity, who have pre-
served It with tender care, and keep
IL IN beautiful order as they do other
ehlngs. There is a damp little chapel
Underground. in which the Christians;
used to meet secretly for worship dur
ing the persecution period. The hous-
es or Judas are near by The Greeks
nave one and the Roman Catholics an
ct33e:, and probably the claims of both
1or authenticity are worthless. All
these holy places are situated in what