Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-17
Rock Islanders in the Holy CityH
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Jerusalem, Oct. 81, 1910.-Editor
Rock Island Argus: Jerusalem is in
many respects the religious capital
of the world Jews, Christians and
Mohammedans all consider it a holy
city and count it a privilege to stand
within its walls. l feel sure your
readers will appreciate a letter from
here as much as any place we have
or will visit.
Damascus is probably older and
more beautiful in the midst of its
green gardens and encircling noun
tains 1t does vastly more business
and it's old bazars are more curious.
1t is also the dirtiest place l have
ever seen on the face of the earth.
But none of these things give it the
profound interest which appeals TO
us in Jerusalem, the city of David
and Solomon. the city of the temple
to which the tribes of Israel came
up. and of the Mosque of Omar,
which stands on the site of the old
temple to which the fanatical follow
ers of Mohammed now come up, glor-
wing over both Jews and Christians.
Jerusalem is one of the prosper
Gus and growing cities of the east.
Ever since the German emperor Wis
tied Palestine in 1898 there has been
an increasing tide of improvement.
There was a breach made in the wall
beside the Jaffa gate at that time
TO admit his majesty and retinue. 1t
was a great mark of favor. and a
good thing for the traffic OF the
city ever since. The Germans have
stood in high honor since, and have
taken advantage of it to plant them
selves very strongly in the holy city.
CHURCH DEDICATED TO ST. PETER.
Besides the splendid Evangelical
Lutheran church which stands on
the site of the ancient Church of st.
Mary. built by the knights Hospital
leTs of the order of St. John in Cru
sader times. and which the German
emperor dedicated in 1898. there has
recently been erected on Mt. Zion,
near the traditional site of the house
of CaiaphUS. by the German CathO-
lies. i magnificent church dedicated
TO St. Peter. Its dome towers high
above the Mosque of Omar and is de-
Cidedely the most prominent object
in the panorama of the city. There
Is also being erected on Mt. ScOpus
tc the northeast of the city a very
large hospital. under the patronage
Of the Empress Augusta Victoria. 1t
stands in the midst of large tract
of land presented to the German EN-
Teror by the Turkish government.
This is now being terraced and turn
ed into a garden which will add much
to the beauty Of the landscape and
reveal something of the ancient glory
of the mountains round about Jerus-
allen.
We understand that there are rep
resentatives of European capital now
in the city seeking a concession for
the establishment of an electric light
and telephone company; that there
are also plans on foot for the in
crease of the water supply. 1t will
probably take a long time to secure .
these improvements, for the new and .
party in power at Con-
meets very vigorous Op-
position in conservative Jerusalem, .
Damascus and Beirut. But they must .
come, for a city which is growing as
fast as Jerusalem and receives an
nually 5000 American and European .
tourists and 10000 Arabic pilgrims,
cannot do without them.
We began our sightseeing by a
drive to Bethlehem. six miles south
Of Jerusalem. It was 9 a. m. when
we started and the sun was shining
brilliantly. yet the air was so cold
hat my heavy overcoat was not I'M