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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. ■