The Crittenden press., 1921-12-16

Rrsssrsd ~ ths Nsiisnsi Gsafnphie o..
sisiy, wsshinstoa . CO
when France obtained the mandate
fof syria after the world war. She
fell heir 10 what l. repuied io be- the
eldest "llvlug" city Ia the world
Damascus. Nearly iOoO years ago the
writer u Genesis mentioned this Old
city. and spoke of Il as place VI
sote. Il existed when the rharaohs
ruled over Egypt. ii probably saw
Babylon rise. and certainly u saw that
proud city fall. And u has lived as
other world.famous places about it
have passed into oblivion or lest their
Glory; Memphis Thebe., Nineyeh.
sardis. Tyr. Sidou. Jerusalem. Susa.
kphesus-a long prooesslon ~ mighty
citiea
Situated at the head of Arabia. near
the east end of the Mediterranean aud
% the land route between Egypt aud
the rest of Africa on one hand. and
Asia and Europe on ihf other, pamas.
Gus occupied q position ln which Il
could not avoid Importance VIA the
establishment u Mohammeianlsm. q
took on increased Importance a. the
assembling point for the dnal long
crossing ~ the desert sands 10 holy
hecoa. And when Il l. added that the
eity 4 encvmpassed BY a fertile plain
through which flows an abundance %
water. its early consequence. ita viril.
lty and ~ long NE can easily hr un.
dsrstood u s sef In ths oasis Of
cases. q grove more than ~ miles IN
circuit % nui and fruit trees In.
terspersed with gardens of Vegetables
No wonder the neduulns from the
sandy stretches Of Arahla aud syria
called Il "ths pearl of the dessrti-
Ia recent times Damascus was the
sscOud cliy In Turkey. belng surpassed
IN aire and impofianoe only by Goa
siantlnople. Nov Alspfo. also in Old
Turkish Territory. and since the war.
part. too. " French syria. has about
0vsrtaken Damascus iu sire but
Damascus hoary traditions viii long
awe Il nrsi place iu the hearts Of
the last
Fssslnstion 81 lu strsstL
Damascus d ihs rendezvous ~ pc0-
plrs fr0m ell parts of ths Mnham.
medan world One cannot b. long on
its streets without being Interested
ln the motley crowd " humanity that
swarm through them. and ln spite
of creed and Nationality. manage 70
keep sweet tempered The urban Ia.
nascene rubs aEainsi The sNarihy.
sun.burnl sou 10 the desert without
even . word of scurn or anErr. the
hohammsdsn shoulders The Jew as n
lhsy we're broihen in the faith he
spotlsss visitor from the occldeni
lostlss the noi.auy.too clean peasant
from the surrounding slllaEvs while
Psrsians. Muurs. Afghuns Indians
Eryptlans. Sudaursc. and others from
many parts OF the globe hufry along
al intent on soneihlng VI lmpofiance
that has brought them o. this be-.
tropolla " the urient
On the strrrts arr 10 b. seen ven.
dsn of almost even yihIuE under the
nn. especially IN the way uf eaiablcs
and. % thoss Who arc familiar with
ne value u the Eoods offered f0l sale.
ths words of ths native visitor arr
slain whsu be Informs you that ia
Damascus you Can sup ur hrralfasf
for nothing hsoauss ~ ihs uiile Cusi
e food.
On the same street within Zee
gards of each other. may be- seeu the
rendef OF cucumbers With DIS Narrs
fresh from the garden. exposed on "a
donkey's bach twhen the load was
sold IN pre.waf days. q brought be-
tween 20 and 30 cenisl the bread
seller with hls warm cakes of brad
on = tray resting on q stand rradl To
supply the hungry with a good sized
loaf for . cent. and the yeuder of
milk. Who for smother cent Win give
900 . large basin of sweeisncd milk
10 which 10 soak your loaf A. dlnef'
cot seasons you may fare well al
little cost on melons grupes spri.
eois plums. peaches. apples. oranges
ass. etc. all the products u the gar.
fsus and orchards around the city.
Az Due 10 the River asrada
But sems will asa whence ccmes an
lhis sbundance. Cor ln no other part
sf syria Or Palestine = there such
profusion VI fruit aud vegetables 81
zach l0~ prices The cause l. u