The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-31
OCCUPIES A MANSION ON
THE SACRED MOUNT OF OLIVES
ItAffords an Ideal Retreat From
the Turmoil, Cares and Wor-
Iries of the WoHd-Sir John
Edward Gray HnI. Owner of
the Mansion, Once Had a
Perilous Experience With
Bedouins

the time which W. can spare from
werk-a-d day existence to journeying in
Syria"
THAT which has charmed us most
was the glimpse which we had gained
into the life of the Arab nomad tribes,
and the silent impresSiveneSs of the
great SolitudeS. To see something more
. of the simple pastoral existence of the
Bedouins, and to breathe the air of the
wilderness; to sit with Father Abra-
ham under the great tent, and to be-
hold Isaac and Jacob in their habits as
they lived; to watch the fockS and
herds go forth to feed at dawn and
come home to the protection of the
tents by the light of the setting sun,
to camp alone in solitary Businesses, or
upon boundless plains; to gaze into the
starry depths of a Syrian night; to see
the great disc of the full moon rise
across the Eastern desert lone until
the splendor of it's light irradiates the
barren gorges and changes the dark
and silent surface of the Dead sea into
a luminous floor of water, was what
we now most ardently longed for. In
each succeeding year we have found
greater and greater delight in the pur-
suit of our desire; and although the
q
some experiences and involved some
serious risks we still look forward with
all the pleasures of hope to again and
again revisiting that strangely attract
i've land"
On one occasion the desire Of Sir
John and his wife ito see something
more of the simple pastoral existence
of the Bedouins" came near costing
them their lives. They fell in with a
pack of these desert revers, who. after
breaking bread and eating salt with
them, violated all the traditions Of
Arab hospitality by making prisoners
Of them and demanding substantial
sum of money for their release. They
refused to believe that a man of Sir
Johns Importance and imposing ap-
.pearance had not that much on him,
and when it was not forthcoming they
drew their knives and Sundry other
dangerous weapons and made 1t clear
that SO far as they were concerned it
was a case of backsheesh or blood.
But Sir John had not undergone a
lawyers training for nothing. He kept
tight grip on his temper and Incl
dentally on his revolver, determined to
make sure of potting their leader if
things came to the worst, and by the
exercise of his persuasive powers sue
| ceeded in inducing them to postpone
their murderous designs for few days
while he dispatched 'holy man" to
Jerusalem for the money. During the
|sabsenee of his messenger relatio
We're very much strained between Sir
Johns little party and the Bedouins.
Among the latter were some who, fear
ing that they would not get any share
of the ransom money, were bent on
looting whatever they could lay their
hands on, and several times a shindy
was narrowly ayerted. But the "holy
\ -
and returned in due time with the cash
and Sir John considered that he and
his wife got rid of the marauders very
eheaply for something less than $1,000.
They were bound for the famed rock
city of Petra when this adventure up
set their plans. Sir John has not yet
repeated the attempt but he fully ex-
poets to reach it some day. and Lady
Hill declares that she will accompany
him.
Sir John was in equal peril of his
life at another time, when he undertook
to explore the shores of the Dead sea
in little open boat in search of
cave where he had been told there
were some interesting Mics of an
tiquity. The boat proved leaky, and
when a fierce storm arose the three
natives who accompanied him were too
seasick and scared to be fit for any
thing. They stretched themselves out
at the bottom of. the boat and left Sir
John to battle with the wind and waves
alone. He contrived to beach the frail
craft in safety in small creek, and,
nearly famished, reached his Mount
Olivet establishment three days later.
He has not done any exploring on the
Dead sea in a small boat since.
Lady, Hill is clever artist, and has
painted many charming pictures Of
Eastern scenery. Several of these lat
ter adorn the walls of the Law So
cietys building.