The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-12-15

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington, ID. c.
When France obtained the mandate
for Syria after the World war, she
fell heir to what is reputed to be the
oldest Giving city in the world
Damascus. Nearly 1000 years ago the
writer of Genesis mentioned this old
city, and spoke Of it as place Of
note 1t existed when the PharaOhs
ruled over Egypt; it probably saw
Babylon rise, and certainly it saw that
proud city fall. And it has lived as
other worldfamous places about it
have passed into oblivion or lost their
glory: Memphis, Thebes, Nineveh,
Sards, Tyre, Sidon, Jerusalem, SuSa,
Enhesus-a long procession Of mighty
cities.
Situated at the head Of Arabia, near
the east end Of the Mediterranean and
cE the land route between Egypt and
the rest Of Africa on one hand, and
Asia and Europe on the other Damas-
gus occupied a position in which it
gould not avoid Importance. With the
establishment Of Mohammedanlsm, it
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 a fertile plain
through which flows an abundance Of
water, its early consequence, its vlril-
fly and it's long life can easily be I'M
derstoOd. 1t is set In the oasis CT
cases, a grove more than so miles in
circuit Of nut and fruit trees in
tersperscd with gardens Of vegetables.
No wonder the EedOuins from the
sandy stretches OF Arabia and Syria
called 1t ''the pearl of the desert"
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 SIC. BIT
Damascus l."Hiv traditions will long
give it frs. place in the hearts Of
sfe East
Fascination Of Its Streets.
Damascus is the rendezvous of peO-
pies from I'll parts of the Mol~.n-
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 svarthy.
sun-burnt son CT the desert without
even word of scorn or anger; the
Mohammedan shoulders the Jew as if
they were brothers In the faith; the
spotless visitor from the Occdent
tostles the not-a1y-too-clean peasant
from the surrounding villages, while
Persians, Moors, Afghans, Indians,
Egyptians, Sudanese, and others from
many parts of the globe hurry along,
ell intent ON something of importance
that has brought them to this me-
tropoIis 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 Gin
Damascus you cali sup or breakfast
for nothing" because of the little cost
Of food.
On she same street, within few
yards Ct each other, may be seen the
render of cuculnbers with his wares
fresh from the garden, exposed on
donkey's back (when the load was
sold in pre-war days, it brought be-
tween 20 and 80 cents); the bread
seller with his warm cakes Of bread
on a tray resting on stand ready to
supply the hungry with a good-sized
loaf for cent, and the vender OF
milk, who for another cent will give
you q large basin Of sweetened milk
in which TO soak your loaf. At differ
ent seasons you may fare we'll at
little COS: off melons, grapes, april
cots, plums, peaches, apples, oranges,
sgs, ETC., all the products of the gar
aens and orchards around the city.
Al, Dr.. to the River Barada.
Brit some will ask whence comes all
t,,is abundance. for in no other part
IF SYRIA or Palestine is there such
profusien Of f:I,i ait! vegetables at
r,,c,, u. ~ cause is the