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Land of Promise.
(TO AND FROM )
I5v |<i , C. O’N. Martindalk.
ARTICLK XXII.
1 l' KKEV [Continued ;
J 7 |Syri.> The Anti-Lebanons and
Damascus the Aged.
The evening before we left Ha’-
albek, as two of us were walking
about in the town, we rnet groups
oi children here and there, and
very polite, too. they were as they
sought to get "backsheesh” (gifts)
from ns. And ist here let us say,
the cry most heard by the touiist
through Syria and Palestine anu
Egypt, the cry of young and old
alike, is that of "Backsheesh,” ot
as a traveller has caricatured in
rhyme the incessant begging heard
in the East:
Backsheesh, backsheesh, the ear
liest cry
That’s taught to wailing in
fancy,
Backsheesh, backseeesh, the latest
breath
Before the voice is stilled in
death.
How delightfully di’fcrent and
sweet to our ears in that far-off
land it was to have sorb of these
children, as they ran by our sides,
sing in our native tongue words
Christian missionaries have taught
them: "Jesus loves me, this 1
know, for the Bible tells me so;”
•‘What a Friend we have in Jesus;”
"Nearer my God to Thee,” et al.
The Presbyterian and Anglican
Churches have missions here, and
the missionaries teach the children
not to beg for backsheesh as it is
belittling and unbecoming. Right
here learn a lesson from earth’s
ruins: Men’s temples and palaces
and monuments may decay, but
character built on the teachings ot
the Lord Jesus Christ alone will
survive the passage and ravage
and shocks of time. Upon this
sure foundation it behooves every
one to see that his or her life anu
labor stand.
Leaving Ba’albek, wc again take
the Damacus Hamath Extension
railroad about noon, and run on
the plain ol the Beka’a southwest
ward to the unction at Reyak,
where we change cars for Datnas
etis "the Eye of the Hast” and
world-renowned capital of Syria
going first east, thmi south, then
r.outh cast, over the highest point
of the Anti-Lebanon mountains.
On the one side of the ascent, as
on Lebanon, the mountains seem
to have but little verdure and are
very nearly treeless, and vary fiom
gray to bull and red in color. As
we go on through lofty clirfs, wc
traverse an open lertile valley, anu
at Zerghaya we cross the water
shed at 4498 feet above sea-level,
and descend at a fairly rapid rate,
entering a richly cultivated dis
trict id the center of which is Ze-
bedam with its noted apples and
quinces, and a thousand feet up
may be seen Bludan, the main
health-resort ol the English resi
dents of Damascus. While very
near in front beyond us lie* Mount
Jlermon, in the southwest corner
ot the plain before us at the foot
of the hills is the fountain-head of
the Barada river |the famous
Abana of the Bible Joined by
other fountains, flowing through
meadowland, making a steep de
scent \'V cascades ana waterfalls,
sweeping the ancient rains of
Alula—: .c capital ol the Abiiene
district G s 3 'A with Latin in
seription at snieoi a rock at ru.v:.
on down to the rger ' varce of
the Bura ia. Am 1- :g-.;r, the stream
bursts on: art .-. f ul.-det „'0u river
of tbt v c -.il-A w.uei. Here a
modem ie <n *:.e - • * -he
ancient Temple to Pan m'ars the
picturesqueness of the site. From
hence on down to the great city
below us we quickly travel, catch
ing glimpses of the river ever and
anon, have several sharp carvings, j
and suddenly we move out on to a
very fertile and open plain with j
Damascus to our left front, and j
are soon at the railway station, j
making the trip in about five)
hours.
From the bare and lofty hill to
the northwest of Damascus (Jebel
Kasiun), the Moslems have a tra
dition much revered, that Abra
ham, “the lather of the faithful,”
on his way from "Uhr of the
Chaldees,” received the divine
revelation of the Unity of the
Godhead;” and in honor and mem
ory of this event, Muhammad
made a p.lgrimage thereto, and
therefrom got his first and only
view ol the city and plain of Da
mascus, his wonder and delight at
the vision cf beauty and splendour
outspread .bnfore him being such |
that with a sigh he turned away, 1
declining to go any nearer to Da
mascus, "for,” said he, "if 1 once-
set niv foot on such an earthly
paradise, 1 shall have no desire
left for the paradise of the hereaf
ter, and man can only enter into
paradise once.” In shape like an
oval, though elongated toward the
south by the straight street of the
Meidan, it has been called from its
picturesqucness, "The Pearl set in
Emeralds,’ (more of the shape of a
hand mirror or a tennis-racko*
really) the city in its houses and
roofing presents a pearl gray color
and is belted with a glorious en
closure of green. The presence
of the Abana | the modern Barada]
and the Pharpar |thc modem
’Away | are the cause of the con
tinuckis life and prosperity of this
great city, though the latter river
is really 7 miles south and its wa
ters acqueducted. No wonder
that Naaman the Syrian proudly
and justly boasted of them |2 Kgs
5:121 And as we descended lrom
snow-capped peaks into an increas
ingly warm region through culti
vated fields and entered the region
of tall silver poplars, sycamores,
apricots, walnuts, plums, rigs,
grapes, olives, mulberries, pome
granates, and other fruit bearing
trees of great variety all along the
route of the Abana, we understood
as never before the full signifi
cance of being "like a tree planted
by the rivers of water.” The soul
that is watered by grace lrom
heaven can flourish anywhere un
der heaven, though it be in a des
eit land. Naan.an might truly say
to the servant, "Are not the rivers
of Damascus better than the wa
ter*- of Israeli 1 ” but bet ore his
healing comes about he must be
taught that "God is no respector
of persons,” and what He says
man must do is always best for
man to do, il man would but grasp
it. •
With a population of about iSo,-
ooc in the city |of which 20,000
are Christians, Hooo Jews, and the
rest Muhammadans | and no less
than 106 villages in the suburbs
and on a plain of about 12" square
miles |probably “as fruitful, luxur
iant, and well wooded as any area
of its size in the whole world’’]
stands the political capital of Eas
tern Syria "Until comparatively
1 lately the district governed by the
j Wali [called Wilayeh| embraced
rhe who'e ot Syria as far north as
Aleppo but the country is now
Idi'.idei nto throe wilayets. viz.,
LBeyro 1:. Damascus, and Jerusa
lem. Damascus is the hea .quar
ters ot the Army of Syria, and the
cor.:■ let in chief is called the
It is worthy of note
is is also some times
■umortal City, and its
claim that it is the
:? he World. Whilst
■
Se: aSs'e'
that
v ■
in) - ta
O erf 6 ;t
hardly presuming to make qutie j
such a sweeping assertion as that,
we are nevertheless prepared to
assert that Damascus is, undoubt- j
edly, the oldest city of renown i
which has maintained unimpaired
its continuity of existence, beauty,
and prosperity from the days of its
first foundation, in the earliest
ages of human history, down to
the present time Rome proudly
arrogates to herself the title of ‘the ;
Eternal City,’ but Damascua is;
more justly entitled to the claim. [
Long ages before Rome was born,
Damascus was just as populous,
thriving and beautiful as she is at
the present day.” The plain it
self is 2,250 feet above the sea, and
the winter is often cold and the
spring late, much to one’s surprise
"Damascus, the European form
of Dimeshk esh-Sham, its full Ori
ental name, is generally known by
the natives simply as Esh-Sham,
the country ot Syria and Palestine
being called after it, Belad esh-
Sham. The city has always borne
and justly so, a reputation for its
activity in commerce, tiade, ami
every branch of industry. Its silk
looms have for ages been famous
for the excellence of their produc
tions, its swords were of so pre
eminent a quality that the ’Da
mascene blades’ were household
words amongst all nations of an
tiquity (though the manufacture of
these special weapons was re,
moved by Timur the Tartar to
Samarkand at the commencement
of the 13th century A. D.); its
fame for the manufacture of the
finest linen is still preserved in tht
‘damask’ tablecloth, whilst its
equal proficiency in the production
of heavier fabrics is perpetuated in
the name of ‘damask’ curtains; its
exquisitely beautiful and intricate
furniture of cedarwood, ini ltd with
ivory, mother-of-pearl, and tortoise
shell, was eagerly sought after
even in the days of David, Solo
mon, and Ahab; the skill of its
artisans in all sorts of metal work,
gold, silver, wrought-iron and
brass, is immemorial; whilst, as wt
have already intimated, the fertil
ity of its orchards and flower gar
dens finds expression in the very
name of the ’damson’ plum and the
‘damask’ rose. Even at the pres
ent time, when the inventions of
modem science have so completely
revolutionized and improved the
arts of European and American
industries, Damascus, conserving
as it does the traditions ol the
past, is easily able in its particulai
branches to hoid its own, as any
intelligent visitor to its bazaars i>
able from experience to testify.”
Much ot the spirit of activity
ol Damascus is due to the position
it occupies on the verge of the
desert and on the great highway
between the heart of Asia and the
Phoenician ports on the Mediter
ranean We cannot tarry upon its
history at length, for that on^
must have more room than is here
available or necessary to the pur
pose in hand, and only a few allu
sions are requisite, other than al
ready given, to make this vicinity
as it really is pass before the
reader as we saw it in our travels.
In another piace we have told of
the great massacre of Christians
by Moslems that occurred here in
i860, the greatest blot on the fame
of Damascus.
The city is divided thus: The
Christian quarter, on the north
i side ot the eastern end of the
! Derb el-Mustakim, or "Street
| which is called Straight” | Acts
cj:i 1 |, in which section stand the
British Syrian Schools, the Mis-
J sion H> me 01 the Society for the
! Conversion of the Jews, the Lazar-
i ist and Latin Convents, the Greek
Church, and the so-called House
ot Ananias [an old c.tve fitted up
I like a chapel, a s te whose tradi-
’ tlon is v' ite' v unfounded). The
Jewish quarter, on the southern
side of the Straight Street, con
tains the Armenian Convent, the
Greek Catholic Church, and the
Syrian Church. The remainder
of the city is Muhammadan. Here
as elsewhere Islam, the most com
mon name applied to Muhamma
danism, is tantamount to entire
submission and abject humiliation.
The Street caiied Straight is even
now a notable characteristic cf Da
mascus, and extends directly east
and west nearly the whole length
of the city and the broadest and
main thoroughfare in if, *and yet
only a fraction of what it was in
Paul’s time, guaged by the remains
of the Three Arches forming the
eastern gateway. Though some
what picturesque, most of the
streets here are narrow, and dark,
dirty and foul smelling to an
American. It may look like a
paradise at a distance, but it is
anything but paradisiacal at dose
range. Roadways, however, are
better than formerly, and carriages
may be used in many directions
without much discomfort. Every
street and bazaar has its fountain
more or less clean or unclean.
The Bazaars form a very laby
rinth or intricate network of lanes
and alleys, united by dark pas
sages and too narrow for two per
sons to easily pass one another.
The irregular houses, that look so
unattractive and mean from the
outside, often on the inside have
marble paved courts and fountains,
flower and fruit trees, and other
Oriental comforts and charms,
some times ornamented with a
wealth beyond the casual passer
by’s conception. The chief ba
zaars are the saddle market, the
coppersmiths and silversmiths and
goldsmiths and turners and the
swordmakers’ sections, the Crok-
er’s bazaar, the silk bazaar, the
Greek bazaar with the best kinds
of Oriental wares for sale; besides
which are others of various sorts.
The bakers’ shops are very inter
esting indeed, as alsn the spice
market.
On our arrival in Damascus we
were driven in Victorias to the
tented camp ot our "Damascus
Overland Party” beside the Bar-
nada [or Abana) River a short way
from the "Grand Hotel Victoria,”
and after a light lunch were driven
to the Moslem Cemetery | without
the walls of course | containing the
Tomb of Fatima, Muhammad’s
daughter j from whose union with
Ali, the fourth Khalif.have sprung
the prophet's numerous lineal
descendants), and tombs of some
of the great warriors in Muham-
>mad’s armies and his immediate
successors, and on the way thither
we visited a brass-worker s’ estab
lishment and got a memento foi
the home-going. Thence we went
to "the House of Ananias” already
alluded to, said to have been the
abode of the disciple of that name
divinely commissioned to go
Legal Advertisements.
BIsMISSlON.
GEORGIA—Coweta County.
Mr*. Alice V. Sowell. Guardian Essie P. and
Alvan Freeman Sowell, haviug applied to the ‘
Court ol Ordinary of said County lor iotter*
! of Dismission. all persons eonoerntid are re
quired to show cause in said Court by the urs*
ilondav in February next.it any they can. why
said application should not be granted. This
' .Tan. 2, 1905. L. A. PURDUE,
Prs. fee ts. Ordinary.
DISMISSION.
j Georgia. Coweta County.
V. A. Ham. Guardian of Emmie Cleone Ham
end Mery Lueile Ham. minors, having applied
1 to the Court of Ordinary of said County for
letters ot dismission from his said trust, all
persons concerned are required to show
! cause in -aid Court by tile tirst MornlBy in
February next, if any they can, why said ap
plication should not be granted.
This .Tan. 2,1901. L. A. Perdue,
. Prs. fee *n Ordinary.
LEAVE TO SELL.
1 Georgi a, Coweta County. , „ ,
Mrs.Rosa E. Lester, administratrix or Estate
1 of L. L Lester, deceased, having applied to the
Court of Ordinary of said county for leave to
sell the lands of said deceased, all persons con
turned «re roquirnd to nhow causfl in said court
1 iv the tirst Monday in February-next, if any
; they can, why said application should not be
granted. This Jan. 2, 1905.
L. A. Perdue,
1 l’rs. fee |3. . Ordinary
NOTICE TO DEBTORS AND CREDITORS
LI BEL FOR DIVORCE.
Etta O. Bingham / Coweta Superior Court,
vs March Term,
] .lake R. Bingham ' 1995.
’ To Jake R. Bingham, the defendant in the
above statisicase:
You are hereby commanded to be and ap
i p, hi ai the next term of said Superior Court.
to be held in and for “aid County of Coweta.
! on the first ;M<mdny in March. 1905, then ami
i there to answer the plaintiff in a libel for total
I divorce, as in default of such appearance the
I Court will proceed thereon as to justice may
appertain. Witness the Honorable R. n .
Freeman .Lulge of -aid Court, this Bee. 81,
1WM. L TURNER, Clerk.
LIBEL FOR DIVORCE.
Pat iyoe Hunter Drake , In Coweta Superior
vs Court, March
Charles S. Drake 1 Term, 1906.
To Charles S. Brake, the defendant in the
above stated case:
Yon are hereby commanded to be and ap
pear at the next term of said Superior Court,
to be held in and for said County of Coweta,
on the first Monday in March, 1905, then and
there to answer the plaintiff In a libel for
total divorce, as in default of sueli appearance
the Court will proceed thereon mm to justice
may appertain. Witness the Honorable It. W.
Freeman, Judge of said Court, this Dec. 31,
1904. L. TURNER. Clerk.
COMPLAINT FOR LAND.
Mrs. MHry Floyd l In Coweta Superior
vs ; Court. Sept. Term
William B.Swearingsr ) 1995.
To William B. Swearinger, defendant in the
above stated caseYou arc hereby command
ed to be and appear at the next term of the said
Superior Court, to be held" in and for said
County, on the first Monday in March, 1900,
then and there to answer the plaintiff's com
plaint. In default, the Court will pro
ceed thereon as to justice may appertain.
Witness the Hon. R. W. Freeman, Judge of
said Court, this 4thday of Jany. 190.').
L. TURNER. Clerk.
DISMISSION.
Georgia. Coweta County.
Lilia IL’ Bridges, administratrix of estate of
K. W. Bridges, deceased, having applied to the
i ourt of Ordinary of said Countv for letters of
dismission from her said trust, all per sons con
cerned are required to show cause in said
Court by the first Monday In February next, it
any they can. why said application should not
be grant'-1. This yao. 11th, 1995.
L. A. Perduk.
Ordinary.
DISMISSION.
Georgia. Coweta County.
Mrs. Sarah A. Crimes, administratrix of
estate of Fred Grimes, deceased, having ap
plied to tie Court of Ordinary of said County
for letters of dismission from her said trust,
all persons concerned are required to show
cause in “aid Court by the tirst Monday in Feb
ruary next, if any they cun, why said appliea.
Hon should not be granted. This .Ian. 5th, 1905,
L. A Perdue.
Ordinary.
CITATION.
Georgia. Coweta County.
The estate of E. C. Rucker, late of said Coun
ty. deceased being luir'-presoiited and not
like] v to be represented: all persons concerned
are required to show cause in the Court oj
Ordinary ot said County, on the first Mondav
in Feli..‘lMt\ next, w.y sneli administration
should not be vested in ‘ the County Adminis
trator. This Jan. tlth, 19o5.
L. A. Perdue,
Ordinary.
APPLICATION
FOR AMENDMENT
CHARTER.
TO
GEORG 1A—Cow et a County.
To tin- Honorable Secretary of state of (in.:
The petition of The Coweta Bank respect
fully shows,
]. That it is a corporation duly incorpor
ated by the Legislature of the State of Geor
gia, that-it- principal oif.ee and place of busi
ness is at Newnan. Georgia.
•>. Thar the character of the business of
said corporation islhat of general banking
business.
, , , • , i ■ i i li. That the original charter was granted by
to and recover baul from his blind- I the Legislature .5 the State of Georgia and
approved on October 24. Ih87.
ness and to baptize him in the
name of the Lord [Acts 9:10], and
now fitted up as a Latin—Roman
ist— chapel and very ancient in
deed, yet the authenticity ^f which
is not established at all.
We passed through sonfe ot the
bazaars and out of the city again,
a short way from the eastern gate,
to a point where stands a project
ing buttress of the city walls with , e -. isa(M(rr « lodoopy „ { th ,. , n ., x dings of its
a house above it built on the wall, | mmiGdesired'.*^ 0 ^ author,zlnB tlle amt ‘ n<1
an 4 rmf fn pc orwl tall frav **' That, so amendod, »ll of their rights.
aiW poinwCU OIK 10 -n- 3.J1 p OWHrs and privileges granted by its eharter
ellers as the spot where "St. Paul ; n;„i'“ t i i ^V f hrS‘,V.-V-/ nfi, ' n ‘ ,<1 ’ a,,tl sta,!d and
; in. Petitioner-, pray that this application is
filed, and recorded in the office or tile Honor
able Seer. tar\ of Stat-- as provided by law.
4. That -aid charter lias never been amend
ed.
5. That it de-ires to amend its charter, and
its stockholders and directors have taken
proper action directing that this be done.
C. That the amendments desired are as
follows:
ia 1 That the name of this corporation be
changed from The Coweta Bank to that of
"Farmers und Traders Bank."
(bl That the said corporation be moved from
Newnan. Ca., to the City of Atlanta, Fulton
County, Gu.. wqhieh shall be the principal office
of the corporat on and residence of a majority
of its Board of Directors.
7. Thar attached hereto marked “Exhibit
A" is a certified copy of the proceedings of its
stockholder- authorizing the amendments de
sired.
That : ttaehed hereto marked "Exhibit
spot where “bt
was let down from the wall in a
basket” to escape his enemies—
Acts 9:25—the angle of the pro-
| jection here, if not identical, at
| least being such as the apostle or
another person would select for
| escape by shelter from the prying
[eyes of deadly spies. Thence we
[procedei to the Leper Hospital,
I (('ontunifid 011 Tth Pap 1
!:• -pcetfully submitted.
‘rileCoweta Bank.'
Bv W. D. M.ANI.KY. I'resident.
NOTICE TO DEBTORS AND CREDITORS
Georgia. Coweta County.
AH persons having demand? against the
late ot A. W. Hill, late of said eonn
d'-et-ased. art hereby notified to render in Hi
demands to the undersigned Recording to in
and all persons indebted to said estate, an-
quired to make immediate iiayinenr
'• This Nov S. 1904.
rat.
W . B.
A W. Hill. ■