The Monte Vista journal., 1913-04-19
LETTER FROM DR.. MOORE

The Rev. w. E Donaldson re-
ceived a letter from Rev. DR..
Moore which he is glad to share
with the many friends of Dr.
Moore through the columns of the
papers published here, The letter
was written at Cairo, Egypt, March
22nd, and is as follows:
Dear DR.. Donaldson
We arrived here safely yesterday eve
ming after a delightful car ride from
Alexandria. All the way was through
the fertile Nile delta. We saw the most
primitive kind of farming; but in spite
Of that the whole country shows won
derful crops of wheat, barley, alfalfa
and beans. They have an alfalfa with
white bloom that seems very produc-
tive. The plowing is done with the
same old wooden plow with one handle,
the point shod with iron. They we're
cutting alfalfa with crooked sickle.
Flowing is done here and in Palestine
with all sorts Of OK teams, cows, buffalo,
camels and donkeys; now and then a
team OF morse and COW, or donkey. OF
course the camel goes alone.
presume you will be interested to
know my impressions Of Palestine and
Jerusalem. Well; it is hard to say. /
never saw a land or city that filled me
with such feeling Of depression. 1t is
sad land and city Of sorrow. In the
shadow OF splendid churches rich with
carvings and tapestries, lighted with
lamps OF beaten gold and silver, the
people crawl through narrow filthy
streets, dirty and ragged and wretched,
scarcely a man, woman or child that is
not marked with some loathsome dis
ease. Signs OF extreme poverty every
where. Talk OF the slums OF New York
or Chicago-Jerusalem, inside the walls
is one continuous slum. The city, out
side the walls, is a modern city in its
architecture: splendid hotels and mon.
asteries, fine residences, etc. But inside
Beggars everywhere with their persist
ent cry "Backsheesh." Vendors OF al
sorts OF goods follow you only less per
sistently than the beggars, their prices
expect to get, and falling with each
square they walk with you. Surely the
people were taken at their word wher
they said, His blood be on us and or
our children A city desolate indeed |,
Jerusalem. wrote several letters ano
post cards from Jerusalem and bought
stamps and mailed the letters at tn,
Monastery Of Notre Dame de France
but since leaving have been told tina
the chances are that none OF them wer,
mailed.
The last night Of our stay, and hou
before the sunset, | climbed to tn,
tower roof Of the Hospice Of Notr'
Dame and had view OF Jerusalem
the temple area, Olivet, etc.-and 10
the first time had an idea Of Jerusalem
AS she once was. | shut my eyes t,
tnt sluhilu clty NJ hiy ieel. huut III,
ears to the absurd tales the guides hn,
told me. | felt the spell OF Zion tn,
City OF the Great King. knew tina
somewhere on the slope Of Olivet was
garden where for me the Man Of Naza
reth agonized. could see the plac
where they clamored before Plate
judgment hall Cruelty him, Crucif.
him. could see the one little spo
Of pavement where the old stree
climbed out Of the city OF Calvary, an,
felt for the first time in the week tha
the place was holy ground.
Some spots are authentic and tn,
more authentic they are the less the,
are held in reverence by the churches
that control Jerusalem, and the fewer
people see them because the majority oil
the guides value the places in proper
tion to wild traditions they can tell OF