Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-09-08

center OF the world.
The three most important objects
Of interest in Orient to the tourist are
the American Press, the Syrian Pro-
testant college, and the bazaars- The
American Press is a stately building
in the business portion of the city. In
this building the Syrian Bible and a
daily newspaper are printed. Amerl-
can books and many articles from the
United States are kept for sale. 1t is
conducted by Christian natives who
have been converted under the work
Of American missionaries. The Amer
lean Press is Of gigantic Importance
to the cause Of Christ in Syria.
The Syrian Protestant College is To-
Gated near the coast in the southern
portion OF. the city. The buildings
are large and stately. The teachers
are educated and skilled Ia their de-
partnents. From seven to eight hun
dred students receive instruction in
the various departments every year.
The graduates are well informed men,
neat In appearance, aud invariably
devoted 70 the Christian faith. They
are filing the best positions in the
various cities OF the country, and set
ting the Christian life before the ma
lives. The Syrian Protestant College
is the greatest eyangelizlng power in
Syria.
The bazaars are In the old portion OF
the city. The lanes are narrow, crook
ed, and exceedingly filthy The goods,
wares aud merchandise are piled on
boxes here and there. Every article
Kept in these shops, are OF a foreign
nature 10 an American. The one
price system is unknown to the shop
keepers The bargain is never eonsum-
mated until the seller has the money
and the buyer the goods. Immense
thr0ngs croNd the lanes. The rabble
are travelling hitter and thither; many
Of them bowling at the top OF their
voices; and every hawker-looking
like a wild man-has something u
offer you. Sometimes you see a native
with a stick. beating on a box, pan, OF
barrel: going through all kinds Of con-
tortions and yelling at the top Of his
voice ia Arabic. The hawkeB-like
mani preachers-depend largely on
noise
II time will permit, the mulberry
groves, the famous drive up Dog River,
and the Mosques and churches should
be visited. The mulberry groves, on
which the silk worm feeds, surround
the city. These groves cover the rich,
est and most productive valleys Of the
country. The trees are principally
young and cut back every year 20 thai
the threads Of the worm may be easily
gathered. The threads are usually
exported to France as there are bul
few manufactures in the city. The
raw silk interest is the principally
business Of Beirut.
rhe famoHs dive up Dug River il
over a portion OF tue Old Coast High
way between Egypt and the far East
This is the oldest Caravan road in the
history OF the world, and wa the wal
path Of the nations for centuries The
N untain curves are graceful and ele-
giant; the scenery is grand and superb
and the historic interest Of peerless:
value On a promontUry ten mile,
north Of the city. near the sea. are
nine famous tablets They are coyer,
ed With inscriptions deeply carved In
TO the rocks. After a silence Of many
centuries, they have unfOlded theii
secrets W TIE world, and proven 10 b.
the boastful words Of Rameses IL,
Figlath Plleser, Assur Banipul, Shall
maneger, Sennacherih and Essai
Hadden The grooves worn by the
chariot wheels " the armies and The
holes made by the horses hoOfs are
still traceable 10 the rock. The match
less scenery along Dog River, the an
Client tablets Of historic renOwn and
the enyiguratlng and delightful atmos-
phere enhance a drive over the oldest
caravan road in the annals Of the ages.
The Mosques and churches are OF
vast Importance 70 the mission world.
There are twenty-three Mosques and
thirty-eight Christian churches 10 the
city. The Mosques are erected after
the same design aud architecture as
those previously described, except that
they are not 80 elaborate and costly in
fetish. The ehurcbes Of the various
| denominations are mudern 10 design
and architecture, and often seated
with foldea chairs in the auditorium.
The attendance ar the various church
services 10 the Orient Is much better
than ia our own Christian land IL Is
t~ruthfully said that the Oriental
Christians are seldom absent from the
Sanctuary q Coz when there are
services. l Wish that ali Christians in
tpe United States would learn the i'm
pOrtant leassn Of going 70 church frum
the Oriental Christians.
Beirut is famous for the Syrian Pro
testant College, ancient tablets,
baautIful lucatlDu and many Christian