Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1914-01-16

81 that many people prefer not to
@ run; they would rather keep
81 the picture of Jerusalem in
their minds than witness the
degradation of an. ideal Jerusalem
where humbug preys upon credullty
at so many slfillings per holy site.''
Indeed, the faith and ignorance OF a
Russian pilgrim seems necessary II
one would retain unspoilt the child
hoods glamour of many scenes of
scriptural association. In spite OF
drawbacks, however, the ever-increas-
ing facilities of travel draw thousands
and thousands to Palestine, many OF
whom return with faith stimulated
and imagination strangely viyified. For
the danger Of disillusion is confined
more or less to the cities, whose
vulgar modernization SO utterly de-
stroys any glamour of the past. The
country, the atmosphere, the climate
remain fortunately unchanged TO
follow the route of the Israelitish ex-
odus, for instance, challenges cOmpar-
ison less crudely. To visit the scenes
of the 40 years wanderings in the
wilderness, apparently holds less risk
of establishment. For the desert
does not change; the granite peaks OF
Sinai may have crumbled, but it has
not yet funicular railway to bring it
up to date; and no tramway line
makes convenient, though hideous, the
desolate shores of the wonderful Red
sea.
Rock Moses Smote.
With a thrill of reverent awe one
looks upon the rock that Moses smote
for water, the slope where grew the
brilliant burning bush, the gray, waste
plain where the golden calf enfiamed
the idolators, and the bleak, limestone
heights whence Moses watched the
battle against the Amalekites while
Aaron and Hur held up his aching
arms.
From Cairo by train to Ismalia,
thence to Suez and across the Red sea
from the Valley of Moses. some eight
miles down the coast-vand then, by
EASY camps. always prepared in adj
vance by Cooks dragoman, TO Mount
Sinai and it's monastery. A good map
shows the route, while the brief de-
scrintion and the striking photo
graphs persuaded the reader that he
had almost witnessed swift cinemat-
ograph performance. Formalities we're
considerable, it seems; permit from
the war Office had to be obtained,
while the necessary camel and Bedou-
in for the journey were engaged
by contract from no less a per-
sonage than the archbishop. of
Sinaii All the Arab tribes, from Suez
to sinai. are under the control of the
Sinai convent. each tribe in turn sup
plying travellers with camels. The
dragoman. in this instance. was typi-
cal of his race, and the actual start
was attended with as many difficulties
and delays as those Of the Israelites
themselves experienced. Far Mr.. Sui
ton made the mistake of believing that
when Iesa said thing was done. it
had been done!
From the journey itself one gets a
vivid impression of desolate and
bowling wilderness. bowling with
wind not savage animals; of waterless
wadis. unbroken By any sign of plant
or creature life. their sandy floors
strewn with gigantic boulders that
earthquakes have shaken down from
the surrounding peaks: of occasional
delightful cases where the wells,
though sometimes brackish. were plen-
TRULY filed: of crystal atmosphere,
fierce heat, and gorgeous sunsets. The
temperature varied between 35 de-
grees Fahrenheit; often the track
made by camels only was fat enough
to allow motor car to travel smooth
III the average camel pace was three