The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1931-12-17
Sights Along a
Palestine Road
Fifty Years Ago
Congressman Cox Writes Story
of Holy Land Christmas
for Gazette in 1881

The Christmas issue of The Ga.
zette SO years ago yields this letter
written from Palestine by Congress
man S. S. Cox during his tour
through the Holy Land in the holi-
day season. A traveller in that Sec
ton today would find conditions far
more like they were in 1881 than
Minnesota appears after so years.
The old maritime plain Of the Phil
astines (Which is another name for
Palestine) lay along this coast, from
GAIA northward, and it was consid-
cred land worth struggles. This
Joshua found. But in vain do we
look for the "roses of Sharon and the
lilies that grow" in this land so re-
nowned once for roseate beauty.
Still, we are told that during the
Christmas season, it is carpeted like
a Texas prairie with flowers of vari-
Gus hues and loneliness.
Along the dusty afternoon road we
pass innumerable caravans of camels,
led by Arabs on donkeys. The Arab
generally sits on the remote point Of
the escocygis Of the animal, and
without stirrups. He swings his bare
brown feet and legs, while the little
beast, like julius, alongside of his
father, trots "inequo pede." Plenty
of women, with faces here apparent,
and in long, blue, cheap cotton man.
tiles and sometimes with head crown
ed with burdens Of fruit, pitchers,
straw or wood, are met on the way.
Turkish Guards
Some ruins, mostly of churches,
here and there appear, while square,
ywindowless, Turkish guardhouses are
zseen at intervals. At their doors are
the white-dressed, fez-capped Turkish
soldier with guns and cigarettes.
These are the police who are suppos-
sd to guard the road; but to our OBJ
:servation no guard is needed, except
in the dark mountain passes and
there Turkish engineering has been
careful to have as few guardhouses
las possible.
There is not much to see along the
road except a few beggars who are
struggling along the road showing
the lack of Christmas spirit which
prevailed in the other people. Some
old relics as crusading reminders
are here, and one very conspicuous
object. The latter is a square tower
and winding staircase. 1t is off the
road and has fine view of the sur
rounding country. 1t is over 1000
years old and has many moslem asso-
Citations. Ramleh had been the scene
of much contest.
Every little spot here in Judea is
full of memories, from the time
Israel came down from the Moab
Mountains into the Jordan Valley.
The road is not to be mentioned for
it convenience and perfection, only
for it's historic, religious and aesthe-
tic interest. 1t was built in 1869, by
forced labor, and it's stony incomplete
ness looks like anything but the re-
suit of cheerful work. 1t is support
ed by tolls, so much per head on
every animal on the road.
Built for Empress
TOne should not complain of the
road when it is remembered that be-
fore 1869 there was not a bridlepath
to Jerusalem. 1t is said that the Sui
tan promised the Empress Eugene
10 build a road to Jerusalem If she
would come that way, and this royal
courtesy is the origin Of the road.
1t is truly beautiful sight to be
liable to be in Jerusalem at this time
.sof the year. Not beautiful for ma
lures sight to the traveller, but the
devotion and the Christlike spirit
shat is shown by the peasants and
1he rich.