Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-11-08
A Scutncrn Pilgrim in Eastern Lands
THE SAMARI7ANS By Edgar E. Folk, D.: d.

bring II out. When they did, 1t was not
the original, but a copy. I had read of
their trick and suspected that they
would play 1t on us. So l called for the
original IL took more backsheesh. But
they brought 1t out. It is, as / said,
written in the round Hebrew characters
of the fourth century AID. 1t is rolled
up I'm the form of q scroll, not like a.
book, which is according to ancient Gus
tom. To read it you must ''unrol the
scroll" Before leaving on Monday
morning l bought a small fac smile Of
it from one of the sons of Yakob, which
I shall be glad to show friends.
APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC.
While we were still in the temple"
a boy about y years Of age stood up
IN the middle of the room and read in
a loud, shrill voice the following APP
peal printed in English on one side of
yellow, dirty sheet of paper:
THE SAMARITANS OF NABbCS.
The little Samaritan community at-Na-
blus now the only Samaritan community
in Palestine has passed through very
great vicissitudes of fortune. The com
munity is now a very small one and is
extremely poor. They are quite unable
TO pay tthes sufficient to support their
High Priest and much less TO defray the
expenses of a school for their children.
The members of the community are very
anxious TO maintain a school where the
Pentateuch in Samaritan and Arabic may
be taught and they earnestly appeal TO
travellers who know and value Coo
word to assist them in doing this. Their
Scriptures tell them (Deut. xxx, 81
Keep therefore the words of this coven-
ant and do them, that ye may prosper
in all that We do Those things which
are revealed belong unto us and to our
children forever, that we may do all the
words Of this law But how shall the
rising generation obey Gods law If they
do not know it, and there is no means
of teaching il in the Samaritan tongue.
The Samaritan community therefore APP
peal earnestly for funds to maintain an
efficient school and they look TO travel
ers to give them liberal support"
More backsheesh expected. We gave
them some. 1 struck a bargain and
bought the copy of the appeal. / gave,
think, half franc for it-ten cents. OF
course they have other copies, but l i'm
agine not very many.
LAZY SET.
1t is my opinion that if the Samaritans
would depend less on travellers and
more on themselves, would work less
with their tongues and more with their
hands, they would be a good deal bet
ter off. II may be that the prejudice
existing against them IN SneCneUl WOulu
render ii difficult for them to get work.
But a large part Of this prejudice is due
TO their lazy, shiftless habits and to the
fact that they are known as a commu-
nifty OF beggars. If they really wanted
to work. I imagine that it would not be
very difficult for them to find some
thing to do. If there is nothing now for
them they could start some industry
through which they might become self
supporting. In this way they would be
happier, healthier, more robust, would
have the respect of their neighbors and
of the world at large to a much greater
extent, and would live longer instead of
gradually dying out as at present.
PATHETIC PICTURE.
AS it is. I do not know of any more
pathetic figures in history than this lit
tie band of Samaritans in Shechem, I'M
less they the American Indians. But
our government has adopted the Indians
as it's wards, and is caring for them,
while the Turkish government cares
nothing about the Samaritans, and so 1t
does not care for them. Besides, it is
too much impoverished itself to take care
Of a community of paupers, even If 1t
had the disposition. And then if it had
the will and ability it Is too corrupt to
do so. It Is not in the habit of helping
others, not even its subjects. 1t would
much rather get than give, rob than help
and plumber than support.