Phoenix tribune., 1923-03-03
IN THE LAND wHER CHRIST LIVED
By Mrs. Leila Walker Wilson


known to all the civilized world the Holy Land,
whole cannot be called beautiful land Every province,
and there seven has its peculiar physical form and
taken separately they interesting note but group
ed, they remind of hills and Valleys except
OF they devoid of natural signs of and cu
tlvatOn In striking such comparison do not believe
me to the picturesque scenery which America
has, but Palestine to me is like the state OF California
uphill dOwnll; but with twice as much variety of seen
cry and climate. All America though, has no such re-
markable plateaus as Palestine.
Running north and south along the shores of the
Mediterranean Seas is the Phlistine Plain some
know it. the Plain of Sharon and the Phoenician coast
Gradually rising up from them into what is almost the
middle of the country the mountain of Judah
talns OF Ephraim and Mount Carmel These mountains
are literal dividing line between East and West Paes
tine Just beyond them lies the Dead Sea- 1900 feet be-
low the level of the Mediterranean Due north of it and
about 65 mills distant is the Sea of Galee These two
land joined by the River of Jordan and it's bu
tare Beyond them and further into the interior lay the
Mountains Of Moab Mountains of Gilead and Mount Her
mon all of which slope greatly away to the Syrian Desert
The land OF Palestine comprises the province of Judea
Samarla, Gailee, Phoenicia Damascus Decaphos and
Perea which in turn comprise all the various types of
land from sandy seashoes and fertile valleys to lofty bar
mountains and burning desert lands These extreme
y varied regions coupled with the fact that they do not
exceed so miles in width and $50 miles in length help
make Palestine the most remarkable part of the world
1t has been called the leas of all the lands" and rightly
SO for had it been larger its influence might have been
less.
AS might be supposed in such land of varied condi
1Ons the inhabitants engaged in just varied pur
suits The Chief however, farming and sheep raising
There of course the merchants and traders seafarers
aborers learned men, gudes and countless pro
fesslOnal do nOthngs. But the whole the 100000
persons get along to suit their fancy without much aid
from the outside world and apparently much thought
LOT it. The most ancient methods used in tng the
soil and grinding grain In fact everywhere to be
the most obsolete methods 1t is just and then that
one gmpSeS occidental touch doing things and al
ways used by modren settlers Donkeys and cames CON
tnue to be the chief beasts of burden though the
recent and fashionable residents possess vehicles and
horses
Religion is the chief interest of the inhabitants and
why shouldn't it be? Living they do in the land where
christ lived their every is among the Holy of
Holes and silent influences exerted them that
apparently shut out the worst that is worldly Of the
igOus Mohammedanism has the largest number of fol
lowers 1t prescrbes Friday the Sabbath prohibits
the of ntoxicants and believes than wife
Faithful Mohanmedans pray five times daily and wash
their feet each time before doing Their women wear
wells which the lower part Of the face the eyes
alone being exposed Among them marriage is easy and
so divorce, word with little money being enough
cOnsumate either by desiring husband.
The real cities Of Palestine are few and present a
sight far different from cities and the may be
contrasted to the quite simple pastoral life of the small
towns and backhill settlements of that land In them
of narrow, crooked streets, always filled with brilliantly
attired peoples low stone dwellings,; row of disarranged
but well stocked shops; countless minarets and spires
piercing the skyline suggesting the numerous mosques
and churches bazaars beggars and congomeration of
everything under the Jerusalem in particular is the
home of all the sects and sms known in Christandom
and it is not much than that. Many things one
would expect to find there be SEEN There are
no parks or theatres concerts libraries clubs or
lectures Simple things like soda-water light lunches
tooth paste and shoe polish unknown shop keepers
Only the bare necessities of antquated people
ried.
Everywhere the Holy Land is spoken of in superla-
tive terms and rightly for with it's large number of
biblcaly historical points, it's singular geographical
traits its sacred Importance is the such place all
the world holy, enchanted and alluring.
MANS BODY FOUND