The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-07-02
A GLIMPSE Of
MODERN JERICHO
The Famous City Of An
cient Times.
ITS CONTINUOUS v|C|SsITUDES
And Present SqualOr Indicate
Its Rather InglOriOuS
History.
ABOUT 400 POPULATION NOW


shaped and rises 20 to 25 feet above
the plain. Prof. Sellin and the
German Oriental Society have laid
bare at a number of places the
walls of the old city. Like all He.
brew ruins. they do not show veff
great architectural ability. What
ever strength they may have mad in
Canaanitish times, they naturally
do not compare in magnificence
3nd in ability to withstand assault
with the fortified cities of the
Greeks and --- Romans. The--housas-
were built of sun-dried brick and
some of these are 20 be found in
the ruins The city which Joshua
assaulted lay several miles from
the Jordan, and its ruins are a mile
distant from the modern town. The
old city was built beside a magnifi-
cent spring which here issues from
che hills. Traditions do not always
need fountain to give them
growth. bat beside this spring a
tradition of ancient growth is found.
1t is to the effect that these waters
are those which Elisha healed with
salt, and therefore they are known
to-day as Elisha's Spring.
: The curious visitor, standing on
the mound at Jericho, wonders why
the city did not continue through
the centuries. In spite of Joshua's
curse, the city was rebuilt. The
fertile valley demanded a market
town. 1t was of sufficient impor-
lance to tempt Mark Antony, who
presented the city to the covetous
Cleopatra This fair lady sold the
place to Herod the Great, who en-
bellished the city with his usual
magnifcence. Here he was carried
from Machaerus to die. In the ear
ly Christian centuries Jericho was
an Episcopal residence. Yet Meth
er Hebrew, Roman, Crusader nor
Mohammedan could here perpetuate
his civilization. George Adam
Smith has written the answer.
"No great man was born in Jeri-
cho; no heroic deed ever was done
in her. She has been called the
key and the guardhouse of Judea;
she was only the pantry. She never
stood a siege, and her inhabitants
always were running away" We
have the praise of Judah's histor-
ian for Rahab. but if she was typi-
cal citizen. the walls of her city
could not long endure when its in
habitants began to betray their
countrymen. wwn-~ =.
Modern Jericho is a dull. squalid
village with approximately 400
population, Two or three hotels
take care of the tourists who come
by the carriage road for sight of
the Jordan and the Dead Sea. One
night spent here. which the trip
requires, usually sends the visitor
back to Jerusalem thirsty, tired and
fea-bitten. There is sufficient wa
ter and fertile soil to turn acres of
badly farmed and uncultivated
fields into sub-tropical garden.
Herod the Great had his winter res
idence here. and with the hot
springs across the sea, were there
initiative TO inaugurate improve
ments, the place once more might
become an attractive resort for all
Syria.
II was nearly when we reached
the Jordan Bridge. This is one OF
the two bridges which now cross
the stream. This southern bridge
is wooden. with rough, uneven
floor, and lattieed sides. II IL
quite narrow, and barely admits the
crossing of a carriage. The west
ern end Is guarded by gate which
opens only on the payment OF toll
The keeper lives near by. and hs
must respond at any hour OF the
day or night to the call OF caravans
and Shepherds lions Herald.