The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-10-29
THE NEAR EAST

I, 1--WE Americans are spending
annually millions of dollars for
| foreign travel said DR.. Albertus
Perry, field vice-president of Wash
ington College, on his return here
this week from three months tour
of Europe and the Near East. This
year at least 100000 more Ameri-
cans than last year have seen some
I of the marvels of the old world. OF
this great horde of over 100000
perhaps not over 10000 have ven
tured into the Near East. When
we say the Near East we have in
mind Egypt. the Holy Land, Turkey
and Greese.
these countries have remote
past; an attractive present and.
/ perhaps with the exception of
Greece, a most promising future.
Greece cannot have much of a future
with every city, village and hamlet
in the United States fed in part by
these sons of Hellas. How they all
get over here remains mystery.
Surely the underground railroad of
the 'fifties' has nothing on the
apparent immigrating maneuvers of
some Greeks.
In the countries mentioned some
sections cling only to the past
They have no present and no future.
In this class are Baalbeck, Memphis,
Samaria and Palmyra. Some have
past and present but no future,
such as Sidon Schechem, Nazareth,
Tiberius and Joppa. Tiberius, on
the west side of the Sea of Gali1ee,
may not belong to this group. I
was surprised to see, this summer,
quite real estate boom in that city.
Others have past, present and
future. In this class are Damas-
Gus, Alexandria, Cairo, Jerusalem,
Symrna and Constantinople. Mem
phis will never be disturbed from
her eternal slumbers, but Cairo has
no limitations. Here the ancient
and modern meet.
1.-THE Near East has always
thought in terms of war. That is
| relic of barbarism. Anticipating
conflicts, tribal and national, in the
building of their cities they looked
for natural barriers. Jerusalem,
| beautiful to behold, has natural
fortress on three sides. The only
level space is to the north. Damas-
Gus chose an oasis and Sahara has
none more beautiful. Baalbeck hid
| !, hnfr ho oh nd hn
Anti-Lebanon Mountains. Joppa, al
though choosing sea-coast, chose
one very difficult of approach from
the sea. The enemy raiding Constan-
tinople would need to do great
deal of maneuvering to reach that
city on the Golden Horn.
"But now all has changed. We
have heard the aeroplane go thun-
dering over the Holy City. Within
10 miles of Baalbeck is the central
aeroplane of the French in Syria.
A passenger bus service has just
been inaugurated between Athens
aud Cairo. For some time we have
had regular service between Con-
stantinople and Paris. And, too,
the automobile has no speed limit.
1.-THE nation that would prosper
must forget war. Greece will have
to do lot of forgetting. She
seems to have very retentive
memory. Turkey is trying to forget
Greece lags and fights. Turkey
booms, but not with cannons. AL
though he does not get the credit
yet the Prince Of Peace. now has His
rightful way in His own country"
The final observation on Near
Eastern conditions, made by the
Eastern Shore college official. since
since his return to America, will
appear next week. 1t will be the.
last of series of articles written by
DR.. Perry.