Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-19

was not difficult 10 understand why the
Smyrna fruits, figs. apricots, etc, are OF
such superior quality
On our way we crossed the old Meander
river, but / have seen rivers In Pennsyl-
vania and Nebraska that easily out
meanders the original. At the station
where we left the train for Bphesus there
were some old ruins, columns and parts
Of high walls. On the tops OF all these
ruins there were storks' nests and storks.
1 saw more storks In one look at the top
of these ruins than 1 had ever seen be-
fore in all my life. A short distance from
the station we camo to the outer walls OF
Second Ephesus. We passed through tho
gate Of the wall called the Gate of Perse-
cution. Close by this gate, but further
up on the hill, are the ruins Of the st.
Johns church, erected In the third century.
Nothing but fragments OF II remained. At
the foot Of the hill on the way to Old
Ephesus there is a well preserved mosque,
built in the twelfth century, Of the Per
sian style. A short distance further In
the low meadow land, close by small
stream of running water. Is the site OF the
great Temple of Diana of the Ephesians-
There was nothing of the superstructure
remaining and but few foundation stones
were to be seen above the water that COW
cred most OF the area OF the main temple.
The whole site Is surrounded with grown
up and branching thistles. so thick that i
could scarcely make my way through
them down to some foundation stones. All
the reputed magnificent superstructure has
perished or has been taken away and built
into other temples, mosques or scattered
everywhere. In museums, etc. About
mile further on we reached the ruins OF
the outer walls OF the original Ephesus.
Ruin. Are Wen Defined.
We passed through what might be re-
garded the gate and visited the Stadium,
the library adjoining the Stadium street,
crossed Water street, that at one time went
down to the sea, which sea is no longer.
even near Ephesus. We next entered the
theater in which was the disturbance about
Paul and other Christians by the Ephesian
worshipers OF the Goddess Diana. While In
the theater a portion OF the nineteenth chap
ter of Acts was read out of the Testament
given to me by Mr.. Morse on my sixty
eighth birthday. Some pictures were
taken OF parts Of the. theater. Afterwards
we visited the market. which must have
been a very attractive place, and the
paved street running eastward from the
market These ruins are we'll defined. The
tails, cornice etc, much Of it beautifully
sculptured, indicate very plainly what a
splendid group of buildings formerly occu-
pied the place of these ruins. What we
saw paid US well for our trip.
We hastened back by the same route
we came to Smyrna. Smyrna IS live
place and beautiful for situation. II has
one Of the finest streets along the harbor
front I ever saw. The houses fronting
this, street are OF a high order. The VIM
dows and doors are artfuily ornamented
with iron wicker work. These dwellings
seemingly afford delightful places to live.
very high hill or mountain behind It stands
an old fortress called the Crown. II can
be seen from any point in the city and
the harbor. 1t Is said that il probably
suggests the term crown to st. John or
St. Paul in one of their addresses or epis-
ties I did not see as much OF Smyrna as
wished: entertained the hope that
would stop here again on my way to
Athens. longed for more time to visit
the sites Of the other churches mentioned
in Revelation. L wanted to stop at Pat
mos and visit Tarsus, but had 10 hasten
on to perform the task had undertaken.
In the evening we boarded our vessel
again. II passed out Of the harbor before
dark. which permitted US 20 take a good
look at Smyrna and surroundings. We
reached Constantinople the next day. May
g. 1905, about noon.
ROBERT wErDENsALI.
Geneva, Switzerland, July 30, 1903