davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
In the Cellar of the Earth.

This Jordan valley is the cellar Of the world II
ia a great trench which begins thousand or more
feet above the sea, in the Lebanon mountains, and
within distance of 100 miles the crow flies cuts
its way down 1900 feet below sea level where It
ends in the Dead sea. The bottom OF that. sea 10
half mile below the surface Of the Mediterranean and
in Jericho, where am writing, we are almost 1000
feet below the highest point in Jerusalem. There Is
no other part of the earth uncovered by water where
the land for any distance is sunken for 200 feet
below the level of the This is the greatest
trough of the world, and of the strangest.
Typical of heaven, the Valley Of the Jordan is en-
blematic of hell The most of 1t is thirsty the
dry sands of the Sahara and just now its heat is as
torrid as Tophen. The plain over which rode today
on my way to the covered with thorn bushes
The only green after leaving the irrigated farms about
Jericho was that which borders the gully through
which the Jordan runs the remainder being OF aka
line earth thrown up by the floods In castles and
mounds making gullies and hills Of all sizes and
shapes.
The mean temperature Of Jerusalem is 81 Fahren-
heit II is temperate throughout and the snow falls
in the winter The heat here is great that
Of the center of Nubia Dates be grown and in
the past Jericho known the city Of palms
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Contents of a Mans Pocket

One hears much about the contents of the usual
small boys pockets and what is TO be found in the
purse or handbag Of the average woman, but It is
probable that explanation of the collection that
might be taken from the pockets of ordinary man
would be interesting says the Philadelphia Ledger
The other night young man delyed into the hand
bag OF young woman in house where they were
both guests. He had commented facetiousy as he
pulled out bits of lace samples OF dress goods, but
tons, pennies and whatnot, until finally he dared
TO exhibit the of his pocket under agreement
that II he did not have varied assortment Of
trhes concealed about his than did the young
woman he would be treated TO a good supper II his
pockets turned out than found in the young
woman's handbag he 70 buy theater tickets for
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

greater variation have considerable areas of wet or
hily land.
The number of farms operated by white farmers
decreased from 22sS95 to 216,6O8, the amount being
1872, So per cent while the dminution in the
number of colored farmers from 227 to 204.
The number OF farms cultivated by part owners
decreased from 2s9ss to 26,531, the difference being
2457 S.5 per cent; while those reported as being
cultivated by partnership of and tenants de-
creased from 2,12S to 6g1, loss OF 1905.
The farms operated by tenants increased from
1916 to 82,O99, gain OF 2SOS, or 20 per cent
There also increase amounting to 2lS per cent
in the number Of farms operated by hired managers.
In 1900 there ,5s1 such farms, while in 1910
the number Is 1918.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

three. He played fair and turned out all his pockets
This is what they contained:
One chain and keyring, TO which there was at
tached keys; pocketknfe, fountain pen,
nail clipper two ye-dolar notes one ten, one 50-cent
piece, quarter and ten pennies; wallet containing
railroad pass poll tax receipt, three receipted
bills, poem on Love-" four personal cards Of
friends two business cards and slip OF paper con-
tanning half a dozen telephone numbers From vari-
other places he dug up couple OF theater seat
checks, old coins Ave letters addressed to himself
and ready TO be mailed to friend; memoran-
dun, spectacle case, nail file. watch match box cigar
case, pair Of gloves, two handkerchiefs and two
cigars. The young women are going TO the theater
with him on Thursday night
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
The Vegetation.

AS to the vegetation, there some farms in the
upper part Of its and the sultan has sugar
plantation half way between Galilee and the Dead
sea, where he works soldiers laborers. There are
small fields Of grain, including millet wheat and bar
ley here and there and told that rice and indigo
can be grown.
Down near the Dead sea there is considerable cul-
tvation the Jericho plain, The land is irrigated
by stream from the mountains of Judea and by the
spring OF Elisha. 1t Is cut up into small patches,
which covered with orange groves. almond or
chards and vineyards Much of the fruit goes up to
Jerusalem. There also fields of egg plants toma-
toes and melons, and dates could undoubtedly be
grown. All the way from here to old Jericho dis
lance OF three miles orchards, vineyards
and gardens. They fenced with thorn bushes,
the thornS which great hooks turning inward.
They said to be the thorns those of which
the crown Of our Savior was made.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Baptismal Water.

1t is not sweet water at this point in its course
for it has gathered the salts other minerals from
this dry thirsty country and is full of bad mat
ter that those who carry it home for baptsms have to
boil and filter It TO keep 1t from smelling. l have
several eanteens which l fed mystelf from the
stream rather with the water which brought here
in wine bottles from the Jordan and had boiled and
filtered before it put into the cans II l ever
have a grandehild it shall be baptized with this
water. The eanteens bought at the Jordan hotel
here at Jericho, They are kept hand to be sold
to tourists and pilgrims, and vast number Of them
are carried away every year.
But let US visit the river and cross it to the land
where the Moabites live 1t is only few miles from
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
How the Jordan Looks.

The Jordan is not navigable, 1t has no harbors,
no boats and no cities villages Of account along
its whole course, II has numerous fords, but no
bridges of any size There is a wooden bridge about
six miles above the Dead II is toll bridge with
fords above and below IT, The people use the bridge
only when the river is high. At other times the cara
vans save the toll by passing over the fords
On Its course from Galilee to the Dead sea the
river narTows and widens. Now II is a swift black
suilen current flowing between ugly mud banks COW
cred with refuse, It close the mountains
which border the valley either side and down here
at the Dead sea it reaches width of 500 feet being
80 shallow that you could almost wade across It.
The water catches the foundations Of the noun
tans II changes in color from to season and
In the spring II spreads out in floods the valley
II is said that the partngs Of the order that
the Israetes might pass when the river was
at Its highest Just II is low and almost clear
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

Jericho, and drive there in a carriage. AS we
start the great white blazing is climbing the blue
above Mount Nebo, and the faint streak Of the Dead
sea, with the haze that hangs always It, be
seen down the valley Our soldier gallops In front
to scare of the Bedouins and wind our way laziy
In and out through the wheat fields Leaving these
we enter desert the edge of which stands Gilga
where the Israetes first encamped after crossing the
Jordan, and then go on through thorny scrub among
gulies and hills until approach the long fringes
Of thicket which border the river. There is more
vegetation as we near this and go through the
bushes until we come to a creek which is no wider
than the average street of American city II looks
like Of the small streams of our central states
know Of such in Indiana, Illinois and Ohio and there
one of just about the same size which goes by the
name Of Goose creek in Loudoun county, Virginia
The Rhine and the Hudson the Potomac or even the
Shenandoah, could swallow the Jordan without bulg
ing and Just now it is small that in the United
States 1t would not be known as a river.
Nevertheless, the current is swift at this place and
we hire fisherman to take us across. He charges
% cents for the boat and for this rows US I'D and
down stream for an hour He stands up as he rows
and leans on the We go to the other side Of
the Jordan and climb out through the willows How
quiet 1t is! The only sound is the ripple of the
stream 1t washes the banks and the sweet-voiced
birds which sing in the trees our left AS we re-
turn we lean and battle hands in the Jordan
The water is cold. II looks like weak milk when
taken up in g bottle. We taste It; It is acrid and
salty and we spit It out in disgust.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
The Seas of Life and Death.

The remainder Of the Jordsns course runs be-
tween the OF life and death. refer to the Sea
OF Galilee, at the north, and the Dead sea- at the
south The first is sweet full of hsh and surrounded
BY yerdure The other is saer than any other water
OF earth and bitter and poisonous that no living
thing exist within IT, The distance between these
two IN straight line north and south is about
azty-hye miles, and the slope from to the other
r. almost twelve feet TO the mile over 600 feet
Connecting them Is this great trough OF the Jordan
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

the Of tens OF thousands of baptismB The
chief time for baptzng is Easter when the Russians
come by the thousands, and when other members OF
the Greek church unite with them In great
which comes here and camps.
At that time the water is blessed by the high priest
OF the church and there many priests here to bap
tie the faithful. The and dress In white
garments and go into the water together. They
change their clothes on the shore. The garments
they wear in the water usually shrouds, which
they have brought from home with them for this
pose and which they intend to take back to be used
at their burials.
The scenes Of these baptisms make one think OF a
picnic. The men, women and children rush about,
some laughing and screaming and others quietly talk
ing. The priests dip each three times in the Jordan
and give him their blessing. After baptism some soak
other shrouds in the river to them that
they may carry them home to their friends. They
also drink Of the dirty water and bottle 1t up take
home. Some of the pilgrims are old and have to be
lifted in and out Of the river The current is swift
and men are frequently drowned.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
The Dead Sea.

Leaving the Jordan, we make way down the
valley to the Dead sea. The road goes through the
thorn bushes and winds about through dry, thirsty
hills. The land is salty and alkaline and all nature is
dead. How hot the sun is, and how glazing! Our
eyes smart, and horrd flies crawl with legs of glue
over our faces. We try to brush them of, but they
alght again, and bite as they crawl
Now we start the shore OF the sea. 1t is COW
cred with pebbles and driftwood; it looks more like
lake than sea and It is Just about the size OF Lake
Geneva, in Switzerland II Is only hfty miles long
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

from one to sixteen miles wide, Through 1t the
sacred river runs 1t winds about like corkscrew,
making so many turnings that 1t a
than 200 miles in It's sixty miles distance, 1t goes
with great force has twentyseven cascades and there
falls where electric plants might be put
in. The land each side might be turned to rich
farms II It could only have water and It may be that
the good fairy of electricity will time bring the
dead earth to life.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
Baptizing the Pilgrims.

1t is at this point that Christ said to have been
baptized of John in the Jordan. The place is about
three miles from the Dead sea- where the water at
ordinary times is four Ave feet deep. 1t is the
principal place Of pigrimages to the Jordan and is
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

and ten miles in width. and we see from end
OF 1t to the other.
The sea is bounded by stony mountains, On the
east are the desert hills of Moab where Ruth
born and Moses is buried. and the west lie those
OF Judea where the children of Israel after
Moses had pointed out the Promised Land to them.
There openings at the north and south, and
at the southwest works where the Turkish
ment s evaporatng the water to make salt for SALE
The Dead has outlet A mist usually hangs
over It, which comes from the evaporation, which is
enormous It Is estimated that over 5000 900 tons
OF water how into daily and nevertheless its level
changes only little throughout the year. and that at
the times Of the food.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
VA Ne eSource Of the cJoTdan near Daz1
lcopyrlght, 1g1O. by Frank G. Carpenter.l

Copyright, 1910, by Frank G. Carpenter)
sEEgywzN ERICHO-The Jordan How shall
EH+N Y make you see 1t it winds its way
ESSA through this great cash in the thirsty
kel-.I5u,A face OF old Mother Earth? All day long
kStS&J{A have been travelling upon It's banks In
&f&AASAS this the lower part of It's course.
have visited the ford where Joshua
crossed with his army Of Jews when he took posses
sion Of Canaan stood the spot where 1t s said
that Jesus baptized of john and have gone over
the place where the waters parted by the cloak
of Elijah Here at Jericho am within short gallop
the Dead sea, into which the Jordan flows and sit
ting on the steps Of my hotel can Mount Nebo,
where Moses stood when he viewed the Promised
Land which he was not TO enter. In former travels
! have seen the Jordan, near the Sea Of Gaee, and
have been not far from its source in the Lebanon
mountains.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
one-Fourth Salt.

Now dip up some Of the water in your hand and
taste IT, 1t burns your tongue and your lips 1t is
bitter gall and II drank glass of it you would
probably die It is about the saltiest water earth
II you will take a gallon and boil it down you will find
that one-fourth Of the contents is solid. 1t is six
times as salty as the salt of the ocean and a cubic
mile Of II would contain tons Of mineral
matter. The sum is so enormous you cannot
prehend IT, but at ninety tons to the it would take
5000 cars to carry that much, and II your
a little under forty feet long the train required
for the load would reach eighty miles
II you would further test the water, take egg
and drop It into the sea- it will float, leaving one
third Of the egg above the surface fresh egg
will sink in fresh water, and we break egg to be
sure II is fresh.
Another test. Let strip of clothing and
go in for a swim. You do not know how? That
makes no difference in this salty sea! The water is
30 heavy you could not sink If you tried You lie
on your back and float about all day long. You
stand upright and tread; but it is almost impossible
TO maintain such position. Your feet have ten
dency TO fly to the surface and you bob and down
like "the monkey on the stick" Now try to swim;
your feet fly out Of the water and you cannot move
on, as though the water fresh. Now let wade
out and let the dry skins. We feel though
had been painted with mucage; gummy
and oily and incrusted with SALT have been
scratched as we came through the thorn bushes and
the salts have got into and they burning
like FIRE We shall not be happy until we can get
fresh water 10 wash off the salt
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18
sodom and Gomorrah,

An interesting thing about the Dead sea is that It's
shores were once the sites of Sodom and Gomorrah,
the two towns which became wicked that the Lord
rained FIRE and birthstone upon them There said
to be sulphur springs in the country about and It may
have been a volcano which caused the destruction.
There is asphalt or pitch in the bottom Of the lake and
the water has other minerals in addition to salt
deed the salt proper left after boiling comprises only
about per cent Of the whole
1t was right here the plain Of the Jordan which
was then, before the volcanic destruction OF Sodom
and Gomorrah a rich Egypt, that the nephew OF
Abraham and the cousin of Ishmae and Isaac the
good man Lot. had his estate, and 1t was in sodom
that he lived of the richest the only Just man
in the city It from there that he went out with
Mrs Lot and the two girls And It is said 10 be at
the southwest end Of the lake not far away that
Nine Lot turned and looked back and as we may sup
pose, longed for the feshpots. And 10! she became
pillar OF salt There sti deposits of rocksat at
that end Of the lake and the guides show the re-
mains OF pillar which they say was once Mrs. Lot
but which has been licked up by the cames that Il
has almost disappeared
FRANK G. CARPENTER
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-18

FRANK C. CARPENTER.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-05-05
PROVO WASHER MADE
THE BUTT OF RIDICULE
Accosts Young Lady Student on Street
Who Breaks Broom Handle
over His Face.


PROVO. May 5.-Here is q good
story; better because IL Is true The
name OF the heroine deserves to be
known. but dissemination ON her part
to be known in connection with the
male characters OF the story accounts
for her name being withheld She is
young lady from the country attend
ing the b. y university here. stopping
with her grandmother. one night a
few days ago she had occasion 20 go
out alone. on the street she was nc
costed and insulted by one OF the fell
lows who take delight IN that sort OF
passtime. She told her grandmother
that next time she went out she would
go prepared. a few nights later she
again went out this time with a girl
companion. As they passed one OF the
hotels two Washers spied them and
followed Them and when they caught
up with them, started conversation;
Good evening girls
No answer.
"Ah. have you any objections 10 our
walking along with you"
The girl who was armed drew n piece
of broom stick from under the folds Of
her wrap. and before her intentions
were known the masher next TO her
received q sharp blow on the face. The
blow was not So hard as his cheek for
q broke the broom handle. but when
the girls passed on their way he was
in "a STOPPING position carcssing his
face with hts hands. and his companion
was enjoying a good laugh az his eX-
ponsc
when tho girl arrived at her home.
she told the story and showed piece
Of the wood In confirmation. The story
also leaked out at the hotel, where the
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-05-05
PROGRAM FOR MOTHERS DAY;
GRANDEST OF CELEBRATIONS


LOGAN. May 4-The first observance
OF Mothers day In this city. on Sun
day next, promises TO be one OF the
most successful celebrations ever held
In Logan. as the ladies OF the city
have put their hearts and best efforts
into the work Of preparing for the day.
The observance will begin on Friday.
when the children Of the city will be
given dance IN tho Pavilion, and I'm
the evening of that day tho older PEG
pie will enjoy themselves there There
has been a tremendous sale OF tickets
for this function At the meeting 10
be held In tho tabernacle on Sunday
evening the following program win be
rendered:
Nelecllnu sstsss.sssst .sss.s. ...s... choir
Invocation. President Isaac Smith
Song. "a boys best friend is his
Mother" pee. Sigma Alpha fraternity
Address. Reverence OF Mother
hood. "..... President J. A. Widtsoe
Mothers Song" .... Meyer Helmund
1.-THE Lord is my light" ........A llltsen
Mrs. Nettie Sloan
Reading .....t.. .t...- Miss Huntsman
Benedlction. President Jas H. Linford
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-05-05
PROVO NEWS NOTES.

The clerlls' weekly half holiday start
ed yesterday. and Wednesday after
noon will be observed as such by the
principal business houses OF the city
closing during tho summer months.
Walter Cox. the Provo inventor has
placed "a OF his easement window fas-
teners IN T. o. Tau's new residence
and 10 i'm Judge Booths residence They
permit a French window 10 be- opened.
without interfering with tho screen and
have the highest approval 81 architects
and builders who have examined them
MT Cox has applied for n patent on
his invention, which promises to be
valuable
J. David Larson, proprietor OF Tho
Daily Herald, is about 20 publish
weekly i'm connection with the daily
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-05-05
RECENT DEATHS
RAsMrssEN. u. Lon Mondl

RASMUSSEN. II. Lon MONDAY
evening May ., II. l.. Rasmussen q
prominent citizen OF Spring City san
pete county. Utah, died at his HON,
after an illness Of some months. ne
leaves a wife and baby and Two
married children Of former mar
riagc Tie performed a mission 70
Denmark. and was faithful Chufeh
worker. He was choir leader Tor q
long time. and 20 the time OF ny
death was one Of the presidents p.
the quorum OF seventy at spHns
city. The funeral services were heIl
Wednesday afternoon IN the SPlHs
city Westinghouse.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-05-05
HIGH COUNCIL CHANGES.

OGDEN. Nav Sat a meeting OF
the ogden stake high council held on
Tuesday evening. George r. Ferrin was
houorably released as a member Of the
council as he viii move shortly to Bur
lev. Idaho. where he will make his
future home Virgil y. Stallings. for
merly an alternate high councillor, was
houorably released az he has been Sc
lectcd TO act as the second counselor
n tho Eden bishopric, r. A. Larkin,
formerly an alternate. was sustained
as a member Of the high council and
the vacancies I'm the alternates were
filled by George Fuller and Lars r.
Eggertsen Elders David o. Mckay,
e. C.. Richards and Samuel G. Dye and
Patriarch David Mckay commented on
the good records Of the released coun-
cilmen.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-05-05
SPRING CITY.
OUTBREAK OF SCARLET
FEVER CLOSES SCHOOLS

oTIIN1 VIIIl Nay 4-Ihe pubITo
schools az Spring city have closed ali
grades but the eighth for the present
week. due 20 an outbreak OF scarlet
fever. Some days ago, the children or
certain family were ill with what wa
supposed 20 he the measles. but on In
vestigati0n II was found 20 be scarlet
fever. Several rooms Of the school mad
been exposed and four or five cases Of
the disease have broken out since
Hence the closing Of schools.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-05-05
rrNERN1 or MRs. D. c. RoMAN.

OGDEN, May 5.-Funeral services
over the remains Of Gertrude Roman.
wife Of Daniel G. Roman. were held
at the Riverdale westinghouse Wed
nesday afternoon AT ] o'clock, Bishop
a. A. Bingham presiding Music was
furnished by the ward choir and Mrs
Jane whittier rendered the solo. 20
Grave Where Is Thy Victory" The
speakers were Gilbert Parker. Peter J
hammers. John w F. Volker and
Bishop Bingham. The attendance was
large and the floral offerings were nu-
merous Iuterment was made in the
city cemetery and the grave was dedl-
Gated by r A. Larkin
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-05-05
CENSUS TAKING
CLOSES TODAY

OGDEN, Nav To-day was the last
day Of census taking and there Is
every reason TO believe that a correct
count OF the population OF Ogden has
been made -Four additional days were
granted after the enumerators had
completed their work and a special
enumerator for the restricted districts
was sent TO ogden az the request OF
the Weber club Many estimates. plac-
ing the population at anywhere nom
20 900 to $4,000 have been made and IL
will be interesting to compare these
figures with the number returned by
the director Of the census a few months
hence.