The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-10


PALESTINE 10 the one In which the
world is most interested. Over these
comparatively few square miles have
swept most Of the forces that have
oAde hiatory. Here were given to
Ne race those Influences which have
1oas most to change the history of the
past two thousand years. Ruins Of
hak . dozen civilizations strike the
go o0the traveller through the land.
xst, notwithstanding all. the life of
- Syrian peasant ~ not greatly ali.
-tersnt from what Il was In the time
a. Abraham.
Wondsr of Wonders. this old order
b now undoubtedly passing away.
This II the most interesting of all the
slghts here for the discerning traveller.
H b . revolution wrought by the
return TO this land Of forces which
had their inception here. After affect.
ing most Of the surface of the globe.
they have como back to do their work
I'm the place Of their birth.
Palestine 10 more deeply travelled
by the prevailing unrest Of the times
than any other nation I have yet Wis
itsd- Pressed upon from many sides
by the most modern influences, made
>ensitive to human rights by centuries
q oppression, II is small wonder that
the Syrians were most enthusiastic In
hailing the new regime. with It's prom.
- OF Liberty. Justice. Fraternity,
equality" In those phrases Is EN-,
bodied all that the people have covet.
- In vain. TOR generations. Now they
want these boons, and they want them
hight away. Failing their immediate
realization. they turn their faces
toward America.
From One Land Of Promise to Another.
One morning / witnessed the week.
~ exodus Of Bethlehemites at the Je.
rusAlem station of the Jaffa railroad.
X was a scene for painters brush.
The young people who were leaving
for America were dressed in foreign
style; only the young men still wore
the fec Of Turkish subjects. This they
woold exchange for hats as soon as
tb.s got on board ship. The stern.
vfsAged old men. clad as their fathers
had been clad before them for gen.
srntiois, grimly tried to suppress all
eigns OF grief: they must abide the
old conditions to the end. The women
did not wall aloud. as Ia the usual ori.
entail way. over the departure of sons
and daughters: for these fine-looking,
strong eatured women are almost
AngloSaxon In their appearance,
thanks to the strong strain OF Crusa.
esr blood In their veins. The fight
from Bethlehem TO America has been
unusually large because OF these ira.
eifional qualities of aggressiveness
and independence. The loss to Syria
n great. for the Bethlehamites are IA.
nous workmen. especi ally In the cary.
ius OF mother OF pearl.
The magnitude and Importance of
the migration to America from Syria
can hardly be overestimated. More
than quarter of million are now
- the new Land Of Promise. to which
- many more have their faces turned
To- government sent the conscription
eocers after $50 Christians In Jeru.
sniem; II could find only 20. the 9th.
srs having fed. mostly to America.
The return Of emigrants to America
sod their letters home have power.
mi influence In increasing the unrest
here All over the Lebanon, which has
a sutonomous Christian government,
ana where property is therefore safe,
~ returned emigrants have built fine
booses-and then, In q surprising
nsnsber of cases. have left them and
gone back 10 America. usually taking
. nunber Of their neighbors along.
1Ae town Of Zahleh. In the Lebanon,
No. 10000 Of It's people In the United
States. where they have created q new
vnkage with the same name. More 70.
variable still In the case Of HANNA.
-. which now has 500. of it's native
sorn remaining here. while 1900 are
in America
American OIL "ths Light OF Asia"
In other ways America is contribut.
fng directly to the awakening of this
ns1 nation. Probably the most typical
single accessory of the life of Pales.
ttne is the water jar, carried on the
heads of women. As 1t was In the
Gays when Rebecca went to the well
with . clay jar upon her head. so II
coatinues until now. But q change
10 coming. The water Jar. as an In.
stitution. is beginning to crack. Stand.
ard OR tins are taking its place. ]
saw a woman at Jacobs well at Sy.
char carrying water on her head I'm
one Of these square tin cans. The
water. by the way. was used I'm max.
ing mortar for the building OF the new
Greek church over the well. At the
fountain OF the Virgin. in Nazareth, |
nave watched the village women FIJI
their jars and carry them of on their
heads. just as Mary used to do at the
same spring: but some. I noticed, car.
RED the square cans OF the Standard
Oh company.