The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-10-20
1eAAkING
[ ,.II obs
OBSERVATIONS
Palestine and High PolIties--A Deep
Discomfort Pervades the People and
Ayrlsds Of Them Have Emlgrated
Ao the United States.
az WILLIAM Z. LEE.


Jerusalem or ail the old nations,
Palestine Is the one in which the
world Is most Interested, Over these
comparatively few square mlles have
swept most Of the forces that have
made history. Here were given 10
ahe race those Influences which have
d0ne NEST 10 change the history Of the
past two thousand years Ruins OF
half dozen civilizations strike the
aye OF the traveller through the land.
Yet. Notwithstanding all. the life OF
the Syrian peasant is not greatly dit.
fersnt from what It was in the time
o. Abraham.
Wonder OF Wonders. this old order
Is now undoubtedly passing away
This Ii the most interesting Of all the
sights here for the discerning traveller.
II Is revolution wrought by the
return to this land OF forces which
had their inception here. After affect
ting most Of the surface of the globe,
they have come back 10 do their work
in the place OF their birth.
Palestine is more deeply travelled
W AbA HhNfNIAht4 uHNNDN vi AhN tiitlRh
than any other nation ] have yet Wis
tied. Pressed upon from many sides
by the most modern influences, made
sensitive to human rights by centuries
OF oppression. II Is small wonder that
the Syfians were most enthusiastic In
Aailing the new regime, with Its prom
ise OF Liberty, Justice, Fraternity,
Equality" In those phrases 10 en-
bodied al that the people have coyet-
ed Ia vain for generations. Now they
want these boons, and they want them
right away. Failing their immediate
realization, they turn their faces
toward America.
From One Land Of Promise to Another.
One morning witnessed the week
b eHuaus Of Bethlehemites at the Je.
rusasHm station Of the jana railroad
II whs scene for a painters brush
The Young people who we're leaving
for America We're dressed In foreign
style. only the young men still wore
the fez OF Turkish subjects. This they
would exchange for hats as soon as
they got on board ship, The stern
NaNhEGA &lh Atittlp titth an tlNlE AhNtlfib
had been clad before them for gem
erntionH grimly tried to suppress all
signs OF grief, they must abide the
old conditions 10 the end The women
did not wall aloud. as Is the usual ori-
entail way. over the departure of sons
and daughters; for these tine-looking,
strong featured women are almost
Anglo Saxon In their appearance,
thanks to the strong strain OF Grusa.
der blood In their veins. The flight
from bethlehem TO America has been
unusually large because Of these ira.
aitionai qualities OF aggressiveness
and independence The loss to Syria
is great, for the Bethlehemites are Ia.
NOUS woFkmon, especially In the cary
tng og mother of pearl.
The magnitude and Importance OF
the migration to America from Syria
can hardly be overestlmated More
than q quarter OF a million are now
In The new Land OF Promise, TO which
80 many more have their faces turned
The government sent the CONSUMPTION
eficcrS after 150 Christians In Jeru
sHALeNs ~ WYNN anu hhAN aWs AiN hAAl
err having hed. mostly to America.
Nhe return Of emigrants to America
and their letters home have a power
sui influence IN increasing the unrest
here. All over the Lebanon, which has
an autonomous Christian government
and where property is therefore safe
tho returned emigrRnts have built fine
hOuseH--and then. in surprising
Rumber OF cases. have left them and
gone back TO America, usually takinG
q number OF their neiEhbors along
ne town of zahleh, In the Lebanon
has $4,000 OF It's people In the United
States, where they have created a new
village with the same name. More re.
ularkable still In the case OF HANNA
ma. which now has 500 of It's native
born remaining here, while 1900 are
In America,
American oil "the Light Of Asia"
In other ways America Is contribut,
ing directly to the awakening Of this
old nation. Probably the most typical
stngIa accessory of the life OF Pales.
tine Is the water jar. carried on the
heads of women. Az II was In the
days when Rebecca went to the weil
With u clay Jar upon her head. so II
continues until now. But a change
Is coming, The water Jar. as an In
siitution, is beginning to crack, Stand,
ard on tins are taking it's place. l
saw a woman at Jacobs well at Sy-
char carrying water on her head In
one Of these square tin cans. The
water. by the way, was used in max
ing mortar for the building OF the new
Greek church over tho well. AT the
fountain Of the Virgin. in Nazareth,
have watched the village women nil
their jars and carry them off on their
heads. just as Mary used TO do at the
same spring; but some, noticed, car
Tied the square cans OF the Standard
Oil company.
These same cans furnish most of
the tin that Is used in Asia, As l
have watched long caravans Of cameIs
bearing cases of Standard Oil into the
interior I have recalled the hundreds