The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-07-03


In the coming stormy night"
Lest before tomorrow's sun
We. too. mournfully departing
Shall have left our work undone."
1t is exceedingly gratifying 10 read
the testimony Of many explorers and
travellers. as to the productive powers
of the Holy Land They all agree as a
result of diiigent personal investigation.
that the remarkable productiveness Of
the Paiestinlan soil is even now-when
making due allowance for its idleness
during many centuries-the same as Of
yore. with but slight and almost imma-
terisl deterioration
The Holy Land in the opinion Of
scientific explorers. combines under the
same sky. the climates Of all countries.
the climates of the tropical. temperate
and frigid zones. As a consequence Of
all this. fruits proper to all regions
grow there in abundance.
This variety of climate, which distin-
guishes Palestine. is responsible for the
growth Of all conceivable fruits Of the
world Thus. the production of the SOIL
In the ice-bound parts of Russia. the de-
lightful and luxurlant center Of italy,
he salubrious spots Of Greece. and the
wealthy tracts of France-in brief. the
united capabilities Of all countries are
reflected in the yielding powers Of the
terra sancta.
The consequence Of this variety Of
climate is that the plains of Palestine
are covered with plants native TO all
countries. The Heaths of Lapland are
found growing on the SUBMITS OF
Lebanon: the productions of the tropi-
cal countries flourish In the low valley
Of the Jordan. while the s1c-A bracing
air of the mountains in the interior OF
the country IS equally favorable. whe-h-
er for pasturage or for grain or for
olive.
And to its houndless fertility we must
add its unrivaled advantages Of position.
In the one respect it IS the center: in
the other II Is. or might soon again be-
come the diadem of the earth. 1t IS. IN
truth. TO quote a Scriptural phrase the
perfection Of beauty. the JOY of the
whole earth" (Lament, CHI H. Y. 80
To continue, Palestine grows magnif-
cent palms. the olive and fig trees, and
vine. which flourished shundantly in
the ancient soil Of Judea. and which are
found at this day growing Wild on some
part Of the mountains.
The cotton plant is cultivated every
where. Great parts of Lebanon are
planted with the mulberry tree from
which a beautiful silk is obtained
Near the ancient Beth Shan adjoining
the Jordan. the indigo plant grows wild.
and the sugar cane Is cultivated around
Beyrout and Sidon with great success.
The gardens Of Jafa cor Joppo) produce
lemons. enormous citrons and water
melons.
The produce of the celebrated gardens.
in the latter article. - not equaled any
where IN the world. except perhaps IN
Damiettae ia town in Lower Egypt.
The hills Of Palestine were clothed with
olive, or planted with vines and tg
trees. while melons. gourds. cucumbers
and grain of all kinds were cultivated
on her plains. Her woods were much
( esteemed. both on account of their use
and beauty. The trees known as the
shitta. the box and the myrtle. were
planted in the wilderness: the sycamore
grew by the wayside. to shade the
I traveller from the heat The gardens of
Egendi. and the vale of Jericho. were
abundantly stocked with palms and baf-
( sans The oak fourished in Bashan.
and the lofty cedar in Lebanon.
/ Three times a year did the husband
man come to the fig tree. and three
times did he gather its fruits.
( Every season the mower was twice
/ seen upon the fields Of Palestine. and
twice did the bounteous earth yield her
I harvest.
/ feel It IS impossible to dwell too
4 lengthily upon its granduer, the fertili-
y and inexhaustible powers Of the soil
/ of Palestine as described by numerous
Christian travellers and explorers. Were
I to attempt TO do so. It would exhaust
! me, but not the subject
Sufficient, however. has been said TO
kindle in US emotions of pride at the in
alienable relationship we bear to the
sacred land. the country par excellence.
This being so. it behooves US to perse-
we're with vigor in the noble task we
set before US. We must save our sub
merged brethren IN faith from physical
disability and from social and civic de-
cation. FOR human failings and morbid
passions assert themselves IN private
life. on the international board. and in
the high councils Of state. even in these
polished times, Just as they did in the
dark ages.
The eminent poet, Byron. IN his He
brew melodies. accurately voices our ag-
onies He thus addresses JUDAH
Tribes OF wandering foot and weary
breast,
The wild dove hath her nest. the fox his