The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-25
Among the Books
"rhc Lnn,l ana the nooI..n

.'rhc Lnnd md the nonIS."
BY w. NJ. Thomson. D. D. Harper
q Bros. New York and London. S2.40
net. Two volumes.
These books are properly described
as being made up of a series Of bibli-
cal illustrations drawn from the man
ners and customs. the scenes and
scenery of the Holy Land by an au-
thor who was for twenty-five years
missionary in Syria and Palestine.
He says OF his work that "a large
part of 1t was actually written in the
open country-on seashore, or sacred
lake, on hillside or mountain top. under
the olive or the oak, or the shadow
OF great rock. The blessed book. a
once his guide, pattern and text
wears the same air of country life.
and He who came from heaven for
mans redemption, loved not the city.
The pictorial Illustrations OF the
books have been prepared with. much
care and add greatly, not only 10 the
interest, but to the real value of the
work The maps have been compiled
and drawn with reference to what they
exemplify. Each volume is supplied
with two copious and carefully pre-
/ pared indexes. one of texts and the
other of names and subjects. greatly
! facilitating reference TO those parts
of the work where the various sub
| jects treated of are TO be found"
| The book begins at Beirut the to-
| Biography and history OF which Is
given together With its legends and
f, its comparatively recent rapid growth.
! The period Of the book is that Of the
middle nineteenth century. II is in
/ teresting to note that Beirut is be-
the patron of England. st. George
! killed the dragon. and the deep bay
! which washes its shore is called by
! the saints name.
| Ancient cities within easy travelling
| distance of Beirut; Acre. with Its
beautiful plain and landscape, and
Caesarea, with It's oak glades, memo
rablc for the scene of the transns
uration near 1t; the Huleh, the plain
/ and marsh of which formed the battle
ground OF Abraham. enlbellish page.
which are otherwise occupied by &C
| counts of the temples, ruins. ruling
| families. aqueducts and sarcophagi
! which render Palestine one of the mos,
interesting countries in the world for
| q traveller TO visit and write about
| The country is portrayed intimately
| through its Orientalisn in matters OF
| betrothal and wedlock, through IT,.
| superstitions. It's llora and Its fauna
1 its rivers and its monuments The
| lovely tomb of Lady Hester Stanhope
! OF England. on the summit of Mount
| Lebanon. recalls in the mind of the
author some curious condolences be-
(, tween her burial and that OF her carry
| love. Sir ] ohm Moore. In silence. he
! writes. on the lone mountain al mid
night, with lanterns dimly burning,
with the flag OF her country over her
we left her alone There was hut one
OF her own nation present. and his
! name was Moore. tf iE
Volume second is as full OF interest
and as fully illustrated as volume
first. In tracing the history of Jeru-
! salem Mr.. Thomson says that the
| Franks kept possession of it less than
100 years, for 1t was given up to Sala-
| din in 1857. and from that day TO
this II has remained In the hands of
! the Mohammedans. Jerusalem had
(. existed ALT years when overthrown
! by Titus. Its whole aEc is nov about
4 1861 years"
4! In estimating this statement tbs
reader must take into account that IL
speaks of Jerusalem in the year 1855,
and not al the present time. The time
and space devoted TO 1t give the first
impressions Of the author, describe
| the church of Mary and GethsemaHe
Ain Karin. the birthplace of John the
/ Baptist. the Holy Sepulchre and Cal
vary.
Mr.. Thomson. in quoting Josephus's
rapid sketch of the history OF Jerusa-
lem, quotes also the following words
With which the sad story of Josephus
closes: Yet hath not its great anti
guilty, nor its vast riches, nor the diff
fusion of It's nation over all the habit
able earth. nor the greatness OF the
generation paid TO it on religious ac-
count. been sufficient 10 preserve /,
from being destroyed"
parting Friends
!. Fly ". p. Howells. Harper end