Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-11-04
JERUSALEM.
lRr Rer. Horace .. Haslelr.l


xvh;,e modern Jerusalem is predomi-
a.ntlya Jewish city, it Is also an ire
s.onsible conglomerstion OF races, Lam
,.res and religions. All the continents
ara. half OF the countries OF the world
rspresented in it's motley crowds
n.onle in almost every color and kind Of
s..,ume mingle with and jostle each
o,her on the streets.
One day a friend and myself went out to
.nunt nationaiities and languages
within stones throw OF the Thabor, the
sous Of the Newman institute, we sue
.ssded in writing down the following:
arabic, which is the ordinary language OF
me city; Turkish, Syrisc, Armenian,
Kurdish {dialect), Abyssinian, Afghni,
Bushsri (Turkestani), Judao-spanish,
uindustani, Kutzo, vlachi, English, Ger
man. French, Russian, Italian, Spanish,
Rohemiap, Servian, Bulgarian. Greek,
Hebrew, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Nor
uegisn, Montenegrin, Rouma nian, Japa-
nese and Chinese.
Together with all these nationalities,
,ongues and costumes, the visitor sees all
colors OF skin from the blond OF certain
uorthern Europeans to the black OF the
Africans. The prevailing colors, however,
are the malarial yellow Of the jew and
the swarthy brown OF the Arab.
The every day life Of these diverse races
Is interesting. Many calendars are in
use, there are three holy days in the week,
various kinds OF coinage is accepted by
the traders, different prices are asked for
the same article, bargaining lie the Gus
tom. and the first and last word the WISH
tor hears is abakshish".
The people do business on the Gregorian,
or western time, the Julian, or eastern
time, the Copies, Israelites, moham-
medan, or some other time, as the partic-
ulsr persons engaged in the transactions
prescribed. II does strike the Occidental
As little odd to be doing business in the
year 1892 or 5675, rs the case may be.
The hours Of the DAY and time for OBJ
seryance OF ceremonies are very different.
The Arab day begins with the going down
Of the sun. The marriage formalities and
the funeral rites are as distinct as the
Civilizations represented by the various
religions. The holy days are Friday for
the Moslem, Saturday for the jew and
Sunday for the Christian.
The French gold invariably passes for
its full face value, and most OF the traders
prefer II to any other coinage the traveller
offers as a medium OF exchange. Speak
ing In general terms there are three prices
asked for the same article of merchandise,
the price named to the tourist, which is
many times more than the thing is worth.
II is an attempt to ''fieece the traveller.
The price asked the foreign resident,
which is exorbitant.
10 the majority of cases the would-b be
purchaser is expected to bargain until
tired, and then to pay more than the
article is worth il he takes Ii. Finally,
the charge made the native, which is
cheap enough. There are few one-price
stores, but these are owned and run, with
hardly an exception, by Europeans. The
prices in these stores, as a rule, are very
high.
The first word baby lisps, and some
times have thought the last word an old
man utters, Is "bakshish". The visitor
hear it on every side. A mother in
Bethlehem, q few miles from Jerusalem,
where Jesus was born, will thrust her
baby's hand before the visitors face while
she pleads, and the baby initiates,
"bakshish," "bakshish." In Bethany,
Just around the Mount OF Olives, the home
OF Mary, Martha and Lazarus, have seen
crowd Of small children literally tear
mans clothing, who was q little liberal
with his metslliks in their determination
to get into his pockets for more metalliks.
In Jerusalem old men, and women al
most always with babies In their arms,
and children playing about, crouch along
the walls of the buildings OF the narrow
streets. Most OF the lepers have been
taken of the streets because their presence
affects dissstrously the tourists business.
generous hearted American told me
OF his attempt to care for these beggars.
he purchased house and grounds. He
had the house furnished, hired servants,
and made ready every comfort for his ex-
pected guests. Then he went out, and
with great kindness and good promises
invited the poor creatures to what he
thought would be paradise to them, and
ne could not, either through his own per-
suasion, or the persuasions of native folks,
get one to accept his Offer.
The bell at the gate of the Thabor rang |
Violently one morning. When we threw |
II open we saw three adults running |
around the corner OF the wall with a
oaoy's clothes in their hands, while arched |
IN the gateway, as in the frame OF picture,
stood, entirely naked, as perfect black, |
iat, round and plump, African gypsy |
child, three years old, as you ever saw-s
beautiful cherub, crying "bakshish",
oakshish." Now that child was not |
hungry. The whole begging system, |
practically, is a matter of business, and |
the tourist makes it a profitable business. |
sDeggars, beggars, everywherel Arabs, |
syrians, Jews, Africans and other races. |
another interesting and ever pres |
ehl person in Jerusalem is the |