The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-05-16
Many Races And Tongues In Syrian
School Writes Former BlufftOn Woman

Evidences OF antiquity are oH
every hand in Aleppo, Syria, the
second oldest city in the world,
where Miss Marbara Joyce Hauen-
stein, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Sidney Hauenstein, Campus Drive,
has been living since last October,
according to letter received from
her this week.
Miss Hauenstein will leave in June
for Scotland where she is to be mar
ried to w. M. c. Tod, of Edinburgh,
whom she met in the Holy Land
during the war.
Her letter follows:
Dear Friends,
Since October 21, 1945, | have
been living in Aleppo, Syria, the
second oldest city in the world, only
giving way to Damascus, Syria's
capital. Aleppo is situated along
the old trade routes which ran from
Antioch on the Mediterranean to the
Tigris- s-Euphrates valley.
The surrounding rolling country is
used for sheep grazing and farmland
where wheat is planted and harvest
ed much the same as it was 200O
years ago. Feudalism is still
prevalent in Syria where one Moslen
family will own a whole village and
will take 500 of the value of the
produce, leaving the remaining 409t
to be divided among the inhabitants
The most Characteristic feature OF
these villages of northern Syria is
the beehive" type of architecture
each sun-baked house having one
large room with a vaulted roof
which gives it the appearance of e
gigantic beehive.
No Spring Or Autumn
The climate of Syria leaves much
to be desired. For in summer it is
hotter and drier than Lebanon where
the mountains offer relief and the
winters are much colder for it is toe
far removed from the Mediterranean
to have the moderating effects of the
sea. The 10-11 inches of rain come
during the three and a half winter
months, December through the mid
die of March; there is no spring mol
autumn.
AS Aleppo has neither the mount.
aims nor the sea its charm lies il
its ancient history. This city Of
100000 the largest in Syria-Lebanor
is divided into various quarters, the
most fascinating of which is the
Moslem part behind the walls OF
the old city.
The long, dark, winding SIOUX OF
bazaars of Aleppo are famous fol
leather goods, cloth, and rugs anc
are far superior to those found ir
Damascus. Minarets of mosques car
be seen sprinkled all through this
section. The homes in both Christian
and Moslem quarters are hidden be.
hind high walls and open off ar
inner court which can sometimes be
seen when the outside gate has beer
left open.
Old Fortress
Rising high above the city in its
very heart, encircled by moat is
the Citadel or Crusader fortress
which has been the site for fortifi.
cations since the earliest dawn OF
history. 1t holds an impregnable
position and could only be taken by
starving out those stationed withir
or by treachery
Aleppo is definitely old world
Both Damascus and Beirut have q
much more cosmopolitan atmosphere
On the main but very narrow tram
street which runs through the center
of the business district | have beer
forced to walk in the street to al.
low an unconeerned shepherd dressed
in the conventional attire, and his
fifteen sheep and lambs to proceed
on the sidewalk.
Many of the Bedouin women ir