Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1921-11-18
Roof Of the "s.raloh." street in Damascus.

(Preparsd by the National Geographic So
ciety. Warrington. d. CO.
When France obtained the mandate
for Syria after the World war, she
fell heir to what is reputed to be the
oldest ''living" city in the world
Damascus. Nearly 1000 years ago the
writer of Genesis mentioned this old
city, and spoke of 1t as place of
note. 1t existed when the Pharaohs
ruled over Egypt; 1t probably saw
Babylon rise, and certainly it saw that
proud city fall. And it has lived as
other world-fsmous places about 1t
have passed into oblivion or lost their
glory: Memphis, Thebes, Nineveh,
Sardis, Tyre, Sidon, Jerusalem. Susa,
Ephesus-a long procession Of mighty
cities.
Situated at the head of Arabia, near
the east end of the Mediterranean and
on the land route between Egypt and
the rest of Africa on one hand, and
Asia and Europe ON the other, Damas-
Gus occupied position in which 1t
could not avoid Importance. With the
establishment Of Mohammedanism 1t
took on increased Importance as the
assembling point for the final long
crossing of the desert sands to holy
Mecca. And when it Is added that the
city Is encompassed by fertile plain
through which flows an abundance of
water, its early consequence, its viril-
ity and it's long life can easily be I'm
derstood. 1t is set in the oasis Of
GASES, grove more than so miles in
circuit of nut and fruit trees in
terspersed with gardens of vegetables.
No wonder the Bedouins from the
sandy stretches of Arabia and Syria
called 1t 1.-THE pearl of the desertw
In recent times Damascus was the
second city in Turkey. being surpassed
In size and Importance only by Con-
stantinople. Now Aleppo,. also In old
/ Turkish territory, and since the war, a
part, too, Of French Syria, has about
overtaken Damascus in size. But
Damascus hoary traditions will long
give 1t first place in the hearts Of
the East.
Fascination Of Its Streets.
Damascus is the rendezvous Of peo-
pies from all parts of the Moham-
medan world. One cannot be long on
its streets without being interested
In the motley crowd Of humanity that
swarm through them, and, in spite
of creed and nationality, manage to
keep sweet tempered. The urban Da-
mascene rubs against the swarthy,
sun-burnt son of the desert without
even a word Of scOrn or anger; the
! Mohammedan shoulders the Jew as If
they were brothers in the faith; the
spotless visitor from the Occident
jostles the not-any-too-clean peasant
from the surrounding villages, while
Persians, Moors, Afghans, Indians,
EgyptianG, Sudanese, and others from
many parts Of the globe hurry along,
all intent on something of Importance
4 that has brought them to this me-
tropolls Of the Orient.
On the streets, are to be seen ven
ders of almost everything under the
sun, especially in the way of eatables
and. to those who are familiar with
the value of the goods offered for sale
the words of the native visitor are
plain when he informs you that Iii
Damascus you can sup or, breakfast
for nothing" because Of the little cos
Of food.
On the same street, within a few
yards of each other, may be seen thu
yender Of cucunbers with his ware,
fresh from the garden, exposed on ,
donkey's back (when the load wa
sold in pre-war days, it brought be
tween 20 and 80 cents); the brea'
, seller with his warm cakes Of brea'
on a tray resting on stand ready t
supply the hungry with good-size'
loaf for q cent, and the vender 0
|. milk. who for another cent will Civ
you a large basin Of sweetened mil
. in which to soak your loaf. At diffel
emit seasons you may fare well Q
. little cost Off melons, grapes. apr
cots, piums, peaches, apples, orange
|, figs, ETC., all the products Of the gal
dens and orchards around the city.
All Due to the River 6arada.
. But some will ask whence comes q
: this abundance. for in no other pal
OF Syria or Palestine IL there such
: PROPULSION Of fruit and vegetables |
such low prices. The cause y q