The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-01

The International Sunday School Les
son for April 2 is, elisha heals
Naaman the Syrian" II Kings 8.
A BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
- UDDENLY our course Of Sun
day school studies lands US in
A~ Damascus, the romantic, the
beautiful, the unchanging.
By some claimed to be the
oldest of living cities, it unquestionably
is the most picturesque and Oriental.
What a revelation it would be to the
twenty-seven million members of the
Sunday school, as they come this week
to make the acquaintance of General
Naaman, of Damascus, if they could but
peep into his native city. Perhaps they
would go from the coast, by way of the
iordly Lebanon mountains, coming
gradually upon the swift streams and
luxuriant gardens. until the peerless
panorama of the city unfoldS before
them. Or they may go up by rail from
Haila, passing through the magnificent
scenery, the many ruins, the desert
ghmpses and the romantic hermitage
region of the land of Og. Every rod of
the way, in either direction, is replete
with associations, as well as with in
trinsic interest.
Damascus itself, the great mart now,
as 1t always has been, for Oriental
wares, has the best baZars in the east.
This is not a travel article, else would
the spices of Arabia, and all the food
and raiment and furnishings that
make the east different from the west,
are trafficked in by visitors from the
desert and beyond. Portents OF the
near conquest of this rich city by the
western ways may be seen in the num-
Der or foreign articles on sale in the
bazaars. In the city square, too, rises
curious pillar, entwined by the repre-
sentation of a telegraph system, and
~
top. to commemorate the completion or
the Mecca railway as far as Medina
An electric street car line runs out
, through the Meidan, past the Beduin
. bazaars, and often the cars must stop
while sacred camels, slowly trudging IN
fsom the desert in caravan formation,
ass gentled past this fearsome wonder,
pa modern street car.
A Great Man, But
Through the midst of the city Of
Damascus runs a clear, swift stream
called now the Barada, but identified
with the ALBANIA of the Bible, the stream
which Naaman compared with the Jor-
dan, to the latter's discredit. 1t is true
that the Barada is clearer and swift9r
than the Jordan, although lacking the
latter'S volume. 1t has now been con-
fined within walls, inside the city, and
past the government buildings, where
rules the Vail. The wealth of the citi-
are also the richness of the furnishings
of the houses. The inlaid woodwork
of the city is now a more celebrated
product than the Damascus swords.
One of the rich and powerful men
of old Damascus was Naaman. the
Syrian general. The oranges and the
date palms doubtless grew in his ex
tensive gardens, just as they do today
in the gardens of the leading men of
the city, and his house was one of the
49, Ct
pointed out as he passed down the
narrow streets, and the oriental salu-
tations to him were most elaborate, for
was not he the deliverer Of Syria, and
the kings favorite?
''But-" and the people shook their
heads sadly as they said this under
their breaths-he was leper. All, for
these butts that mar every fortune
and character! True. Naaman went
about his duties, for to this day. in
some parts of the Orient, leprosy is
no bar to a persons following his en-
ployment. 1 have a friend in Japan,
who, a few years ago, discovered that
her baker was a leper. Naaman was
a doomed man, none the less. He was
losing the sensations of various parts
of his body; and sensation is life. Per-
haps his fingers were dropping off, as
with the lepers near GethSemane, who
entreat aims from travellers. His skin
was thick and puffy. Alas, but he
was a leper."
Some Things Kings Can Not Do.
Some great success is certain for
even the lowliest person who improves
all his opportunities to be helpful
The pivotal character in this interest
ing story is an inconspicuous Hebrew
slave girl. Among the multitude Of
servants in Naaman's household she
was perhaps the least. Only a little
slave girl, brought among the captives
from Israel; with no family or friends
near. she was inconsidereble to the
last degree. Hard was her fate and
we'll might she seem Justified in rail-
ing against it, and all who had to do
with rending her from her beloved
homeland. Instead of hating her mas
ter and wishing him i'll. saying to sym
pathetic fellow slaves concerning his
af5iction, SERVES him right" she no
bIy wished for his healing Doubtless
Naaman was a kind master to merit
such sentiments. 1 have known some
military officers whose soldiers threat
ened to shoot them if ever they should
get into action. We can only speculate
1IDon the temperament of this man,
who was beloved alike of king and Of
serving maid.
THE woe which is pronounced
against the person who has good news
and withholds it was not merited by
the little Hebrew maid. Back in the
dear homeland there was a wonder
working prophet; would God her mas
ter might honor her. The wish of the
little servant maid was soon being
mentioned in the ear of the king. With
him to think was to act. No cure must
he left untried for the great Naaman,
SO off to IsraePs court he dispatched
an embassy.
Probably he thought that this won
derfuI prophet, Elisha, was sort of
court preacher. Unfortunately for
the plans of states and fathers, great
ness does not always thrive in pal
aces and high places. GODS great
men have a way of developing in the
IoNIy places. There are gifts beyond