The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1924-08-08

as Fyrian purple.
Tyre deserves more than a glance
from the motorist. 1t was built on
rocky island with the sea for moat
Phoenicians erected walls 100 feel
high around their stronghold and from
this port dispatched their sailors who
are said to have been the frst to steer
by the stars. More than 1900 years
before. vasce .da CANA Tyrian mari
ners circled Africa, arriving at the
Gates of Hercules" as Gibraltar was
! called. A colony Of Tyrians, fleeing
court intrigues. settled Carthage.
On to Beirut and the new East. II
has a monument to the Twentieth CEN
tury; the American college overlook
! Ing the Mediterranean. Here 100
American instructors teach Perslans,
Greeks, Syrians, Arabs, Egyptians, Ar
menians and the Turks In the same
classrooms. Their heritage of mutual
distrust is here converted to friendship
by hard knocks on the football field.
To Damascus, the paradise"
Along the shore route the blue Of
the sea contrasts with the snow OF the
Lebanons and, leaving Beirut, the auto
mobiles start for the famous peaks on
the road that ex-Kaiser Wilhelm
Travelled on his theatrical Eastern tour
not many years ago. Olive orchards
clothe the mountain side as OF old, but
the famous. cedars are few. Solomon
and his kith and kin failed to think Of
future generations when they cut TIM
Der for temples. When Mohammed
saw Damascus from the pass which
the motor cars mount In the lesser
Lebanons he cried out 81. dare not 60
In. Man can enter paradise but once,
and II I go into Damascus, this para
disc on earth, / shall not be able to
enter paradise thereafter" But the |
traveller from the OccIdent Will prob
ably exelaim, Beautiful, isn't 1t? ] |
hope they have good hotel.' and take
a snapshot.
Damascus may be compared to Mon
treal, Richmond, Virginia, or Albany, !!
New York. They are at the head OF !
water Observation-Disclosures Is the
head OF desert navigation. Travellers
,annet escape this significance as the
hree dusty cars throttle down to push
nto the traffic of "the street called
Straight" where Ananias met Paul.
The street Is practically a direct line
between the south gate and the north
,ate and is said to be the only straight
treet in Damascus. 1t is domed with
continuous semi-circular iron roof,
Ugh enough for imam on a camel
nth. spear
A riot Of sounds and smells eniven !
his corridor. Fez-capped merchants
bout the marvels of their candies;
rass workers, cross-legged work their
-ade when not exhorting. Turbaned
ons Of the desert market cucumbers / ;
lree feet long; rug merchants, ice l
ream statesmen. lemonade men, peddle
ieir wares. Everyone has heard of
lie famous. Damascus swords. Here
icy are for sale but they are MADE t
Germany" Other antiques" come II
ON Manchester.
Caravans Halt There. g
AS head Of desert navigation Da- y
ascus Is the halting place of many c
rayans. Men and camels alike re-
esli themselves in the sparkling Il
ountaln stream of the town. 1t is >
lown to BedouIns and Moslems alike
The Pearl OF the Desert" Rail !
ads run on three most important an
mt routes out OF Damascus today
d the new motor transport follows
fourth-to Bagdad. One goes north p,
Aieppo another west TO Beirut and
third TO Mecca. The latter carries
OF pilgrims each spring. T
lne of party of four women who
'ently made the trip reports only one :
the prohibition of wash
!, before lunch because of the neces-
y economy with water About thirty
es out of Damascus the cars are
ut In the heart OF the desert. The
'und is even and very hard, so that
S possible to bowl along at a rapid
e. There is no defined road. but
same track will be followed each
rney and very soon Il is expected
re viii be marked route. Barring
iys the convoy bounces along OF
cobblestones Of the city of the
abian Nights" by nocn Of the third =
from Haifa. =