Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1904-09-01

| THE GREAT SEA and
THE HOLY LAND.
By IoHN Z. MASON.
ARr1crrs No. 8.


From Constantinople westeamed up
the Bosphorus, turned our big ship In
the historic water Of the Black Sea
and hastened ON our way to Smyrna.
The Bosphorus is strait some twenty
miles long, from one-half to two miles
wide, connects the Black Sea with the
sea OF Mormora, and separates eastern
Europe from Asia Minor. On the right
hand and on the left the scenery is
grand, sublime and picturesque. The
superb and pictorial beauty holds the
fancy and enriches the soul as the
steamer plows the famous water.
Hours pass like moments while the
vision rests ON ancient castles, rejected
forts and distinguished ruins. These
are ancient landmarks, and objects Of
colossal fame.
Just above the entrance OF the chan
mel into the sea OF Marmora stand two
stately forts OF great antiquity and
beauty, one on the right and the other
on the left bank. At this point Dari-
us constructed his historic bridge Of
boats, crossed bis stupendous army Of
seven hundred thousand men from
Asia to Europe, and made his unsuc-
cessful attack On the Scytbians. In
1853 Mohammed III besleged Constan-
tinople, crossed the strait at this
point and captured the strongly forti-
fed city. Many events Of world wide
fame, recorded in annals OF the past,
have their origin on the scenic banks
OF the turbulent Bosphorus.
On the left bank OF the inlet, on
beautiful summit, and In Europe
stands Robert College. Itisan Amer
ican institution. not under the juris-
dietlcn OF the Sultan, but chartered
under and goyereded by the laws Of
the Empire State. While we were
passing this costly structure, fully
Ave hundred flags bearing the stars
and stripes were unfurled In the
breeze; bedspreads waved from every
window in the dormitory, triumphant
shouts from two thousand people, and
thrlllinglwhistles from the engine Of
Of our boat rent the atmosphere.
Robert College is monument for
Jesus Christ In Turkey.
We passed and viewed the rugged
shores, many dangerous, rock-bound
cliffs and hazardous reefs. Two pic
turesque light houses stand at the
head of the strait, one on the right
and the other on the left shore. They
point cut the enormous danger OF two
hidden ledges Of rock to incoming and
outgoing vessels. These preserve many
steamers, and save many seamen from
the depth Of the great deep.
The Black Sea is large inland body
Of salt water, about seven hundred
and fifty miles long, some three hun
dred and seventy-five miles wide, and
ranges from one totwo hundredfathoms
deep. The coast is broken and rough,
the suface smooth and placid, and
the currents, surface and under, strong
and powerful. Several ranges Of stately
mountains lie along the shore. 1t Is
often visited by severe storms, and
great havoc is wrought among the yes
sells. that ply Its water. Heavy and
dangerous fogs which almost hide the
sun from view gather over the sea dur.
ing the winter and give dark and
gloomy appearance to the entire sur.
rounding. Ii is connected with the
Mediterranean Sea by the Bosphorus,
the Sea OF Mormora, and the famous
Dardanelles. The Black Sea is delight
full and enjoyable.
Leaving the famous waters Of tht
Black Sea we returned by the Bos'
phorus, crossed the Sea of Marmora,
passed down the Dardanelles, ant
steamed for more than two hundred
miles to Smyrna. We passed many
places of renown, saw many islands Of
matchless beauty, gazed on the play
ling porpolse, watched for hours the
floating jelly fish, and gave attention
to many rare specimens Of the "toileri
of the sea-" Early on the following
morning we looked for the first time
on Symrna, the city made famous b!
the faithful Polycarp.
Smyrna is the chief city OF ASH
Minor, and the second seaport Of th,
Ottoman Empire. 1t is situated OF
shore Of the gulf, at the base and OF
the northern slope Of Mount Pagus
1t presents an imposing and statel.
appearance from the sea. 1t has
population of two hundred and fit.
thousand, composed OF Greeks Turks
Armenians, Europeans and Jews. Th
city is divided into five divisions b
correspond to the five nationalitie
named above. We saw many thing
OF vast Importance to the visitors
schools, libraries, hospitals, mosques
churches, Mount Pagus and the toni
OF Polycarp.
The schools are the best In the OF
toman Empire, especially the Catho
lie and the protestant mission schools
The course of study is valuable, th
Instructors skilled and the progres
of the students is encouraging. Th
libraries have many of the best books
are modern in structure and arrange
ment, and give stately appearance
to the entire surrounding. The hos
pitals are modern, the care Of the sic
and the injured is the best, and th
results are seldom surpassed. Th
mosques are beautiful, furnish q plac
for heathen worship, and add grandeu
to the appearance OF the city. Tn
christian churches have a lastin
effect on the Christian yisitol
INSPIRE him for active duties, an
give encouragement to the soul for th
salvation of the heathen. Noun
Pagus is a dignified mountain. 1t
dome-shaped summit rises just benin
the city, and contains the ruins Of th
Acropolls. The ruins are massive. th
walls colossal and the fort, In days pas
unapproachable. From Mount PagJ
a person gets a lovely view Of the cit
and the bay. About half way up II
mountain side stands two beautifn
but lonley Cypress trees. They mar
the spot where the ashes Of the faitl