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Show • .. THE JORDAN JOURNAL, MIDVALE, UTAH Thf" ICAN IT6ION !J I amascus, FOR. }iEURITIS (Copy tor Thfo Department SUpplied 1>7 tbe Atnertcan Le-eton Newa Service.) Soldiers Now In "The Street That Is EDUCATIONAL PLAN BACKED BY LEGION Called Stra ~ hi7 By DEWITT J. MASON ~--~AMASCUS, one of the oldest cities of the world, and at one time the wealthiest and busiest market of the Orient, ls now partially deserted. Automobile trains, native carts, ~ and other available vehicles, pressed ~ into service, removed many of the Inhabitants, including merchants, fleeing with their families ft·om the ancient city of historical and mytblcal story as thQugh from pestilence. Many of the famous bazaars, whet~ merchants t>nce &at cross-legged and displayed their wares, are closed. Hotels are empty. The streets are deserted except for loungers in the Merdje Central square (where revolutionaries were recently hanged by the hundreds) and the beggars In "the street which Is called Stralght."-and troops. Soldiers are everywhere. Black, yellow, white, these soldier squads move through the narrow streets constantly, arresting revolutionary suspects. Three vernacular dally newspapers and two tomlc weeklies have been suppressed by the French authorities. Meantime revolutionary organizations, called the "Iron Hands," "Watchful Eyes," and the "Moslem Stalwarts," are circulating secretly printed Inflammatory proclamations telllng of supposed French disasters. The vendors of these proclamations are arrested by l!ecret service agents the moment they are discovered. Promptly at 6 o'clock each evening the curfew sounds. A gt·avellke sllence descends, broken only by the heavy rumbl!ng of tanks, the clatterIng of armored cars, the sound of galloping hoofs as cavalry moves through the streets. Then, from time to time, comes the distant crack of a French "seventy-five." You know it Is bombarding rebel groups hidden away outside the city. Then there comes a wa!Ilng chant and from high up in the minarets a voice calls the faithful t~ prayer. This is the Damascus of rebellion; the ancient city after revolt against French control and subsequent bombardment. Rebel activity In the south has been supp~ssed, but bands of marauders and revolutionaries are roaming the country. The French are cutting down groves and destroying the gardens in the suburbs of Damascus. It was In the groves and the gardens that the revolutionaries concealed themselves. The city is also being encircled with a cordon of barbed wire, whlle every mllitary pollee post Is guarded by sandbags and machine guns. Sentries keep constant watch from the roofs of buildings, while the batteries of Fort Gouraud are trained directly upon those sections of the city that are regarded as most dangerous. D "TilE world began at Damascus and w!ll end there," says an eastern proverb. And there - Is a story about Mohammed-"a tale which a visitor in Damascus Is bound to hear many Urnes." The prophet Is said to have ridden to a hill overlooking Damascus, "where he was met by a delegation of Damascenes." With great ceremony, the story proceeds, they Invited him to enter the city. The prophet gazed down on Damascus, in the center of its green gardens, and said : "When I die, I shall go to heaven; so why should I now go to Damascus?" And that handsome compll. ment to the city where the Apostle Paul, after his miraculous conversion, found shelter In a house In the street called Straight, is explained • by a reference to the Koran, "which pictures para-;Il~e as an ore hard, traversed by strenms of fiowffig waters, where grow the most delicious fruits."' This Ideal, explains W11llam Jourdan Rapp in the New York Times, appt>ared to the natives of that sterile region to be realized at Damascus. The city and Its surroundings are lavishly extolled by Arabian poets, he reminds us. Sketching the eventft1l story of that archaic paradise"the oldest city in h!story"-so recently dev ~ tated anew In a ferocious clash between the occupying French and the recalcitrant Druses, l\Ir. Rapp remarks that Damascus, although "besieged, p1IIaged and burned at recurring lntervj.l "'since the <l ys of Abraham," has always been rebuilt, until it Is easy to believe the eastern sayIng that the world will end there, In its legendary cradle. And he continues: "!>'rom Its early days the history of Damascus · has been stormy. The origin of the city Is unknown, and there Is much to confirm the popular ,.pelief that It Is the oldest continuous city in the world. It is mentioned a number of times In Genesis. Abraham's steward Is called 'Eliezer of Damascus.' David made a successful expedition against the city for the aid it gave his enemy Hadadezer, king of Zonb. Throughout the reign of Solomon, Rezon, who established a dynasty in Damascus, seems to have been In con:.tant confilet with the kingdom of Israel. "In all its long life the history of Damascus may be divided into a few great chapters. In 333 B. C., after the battle of Issus, in which Alexander the Great destroyed the Persian armies of Darius, Damascus was delivered by treachery into the hands of Parmenlo, a general of Alexander, and the harem and treasury of Darius, which had been lodged In the city, were surrendered to the conquering Greeks. "In the New Testament Damascus is spoken of In connection with the miraculous conversion of Paul; the episode that pictures his being lowered In a basket over the wall to escape Aretas, the governor, and Paul'a return to the city from Arabia." the first centuries after Christ, Syria D URING was a Roman province, and In 150 A. D. Trajan made Damascus a provincial capital. Later the city was an outpost of the Byzantine empire. In the wars between Byzance and Persia It suffered greatly and was finally captured by Khal!d-ibn-Walid In 635. The seat of the caliphate was tra.snferred from Mecca to Damascus, whi_c h became the center of the great empire of the Ommay:yads, whose rule extended from India to the Atlnn tlc. The Ommayyads were replaced after ninety years by the Abbasids, who removed the seat of their empire to Bagdad. Damascus then passed through a period of unrest in which it was cap· tured and ravaged In turn by the Egyptians, the Carmat!Jlans and the Seljnks. Crusaders attacked Damascus In 1126, but never succeeded In keeping a firm hold on the city, even during their brief domination of Syria. Throughout his fierce Rtruggle with the Franks Saladin made his headquarters In Damascus. His tomb is now one of the sights of the town . In 189!) Kaiser 'Vilhelm of Germany, on his visit to Damascus, laid a bronze wreath on the tomb. It bore the Inscription: "From one great emperor to another.'' The wreath was removed by the English when General Allenby captured tlle city from the 'l'urks In 1!)18. In the centuries following the Ct·usades Damascus was plundered by the Mongols and the l\Iamelukes of Egypt. In 1399 It purchased irumunity from destruction at the hands of the Tatar conqueror, Tamerlane, of whom we read: "Tamerlane, on this occasion, captured all the famous armorers of Damascus ond carried them to Samat·kand and Khorasan, where ther introduced the art of manufacturing namu~cus blarles. Today this art still exists in these cities of Tur kestan, wh!le at Damascus it has completely disappeared. ''Damascus fell Into the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1516 when Sultan Sellm conquered Syria. It remained part of the Ottoman empire until the British conquest of Palestine and Syria in 1918. "In 1860 Damascus was the scene of a terrible massacre of the Christl ans. More than 0,000 were killed by the Moslems, whose minds had been greatly excited by the Indian mutiny. A French army corps of 10,000 men finally brought calm to the city ancl the surrounding country after the Turks had failed to re-establish order. Today the French claim to the mandate of Syria Is largely baRed on France's traditional position as protector of Christian minorities. "Then comes Hte laflt chapter. At Damascus the Arabs prodalm~d Emir Feisel king of Syria in J<'ebruary, 1!)~0. 'l'o this the French objected, and in August of the !lame year they occupied the city, driving Felsel out. However, Damns<'ns, even under the French, has remained the center of Arab self-termination. If the dre&.m of a great Arabittn state, lncludin!l' all the Arab lands from the Persian gulf to the Mediterranean and from Turkey to Aden, Is ever realized, Damascus will probably be its capital. "The most Important building in Damascus Is the Great Mosque of the Ommayyads. Its minarets dominate the whole city. The site of the mosque wus originally oecupled by a Roman temple. This was converted into a Christian church by the Emperor Theodosus In 375, and named the Church of St. John, because it was supposed to contain a casket with the head of John the Baptist. To this day Damascenes swear by the head of St. John. greatest sufferers In the present turmoil, the T HE writer remarks, are the 15,000 Armenians who had built a model refugee village on the outskirts of the city. Of these unfortunates we are told: "After many years of hard struggle, and with a little aid from the Near East Relief, they had become self-supporting. Dispatches report that these Armenians have had to abandon their village and flee to Beirut, where, under the guns of French warships In the harbor, there is some protection. In peaceful times, 1\Iay is the best season in which to pay Damascus a visit, for then the plain of the Barada river, In whose midst the city stands, Is coven~d with a brllllant carpet of wild flowers. w·alnut, apricot, lemon and orange trees in the gardens surrounding the city are in full follage. This brilliant oasis, with minarets rising from hundreds of mosques, Bedouins of the desert regard as the next thing to paradise. "Damascus has a population of about 300,000 souls, four-fifths being Moslems. The other fifth Is made up of Christians and .Tews. Among the Christians, members of the Greek Orthodox church predominate; but there are also Roman Catholl<'s, 1\laronltes, Gregorians (largely Armenian refugees from Cillcla) and a few Protestants. The 1\loslems subdivide into Arabs, Circasslans. Druses and Kur<ls-natlonalistlc divisions which, In the <'nse of the Druses, is heightened by a fanatical sectarianism. Much rivalry and hatred exists. I "The city has three distinct quarters-1\loslem. Christian and Jewish. It Is said that there is no other city where customs have changed so little during the ages. The Jews as nearly resemble those of the time of Paul as can be imagined. S<'arcely any other people In the world has adhered so tenaciously to the very letter of the religious code. Strolling, you find It difficult to mal{e your way among the venders of lemonade or sweetened water shouting 'Berrid ala kalbalk !' (refresh thy heart), and the selleJ"S of other refreshments crying: 'Take care of your teeth!' 'Food for the swallows!' and 'Allah Is the nourlsher, buy my bread I' "You come to the sllk bazaar, which Is especially Interesting because of the fact that It contalm; more of the produce of native Industry than may be found In any of the other bazaars. Here are shawls and mnshlaks or kimonos, or brilllantly colored silk cloth. woven with €'lahorate de-l sigJJs In silver and gold. Farther along is the cotton bazaar, dedicated to mattress makers nnd wool enrders. Then comes the spiee market where drugs and spices are displayed In Inter minable rows of hoxes and glasses. "As one walks through thef<e bazaars, which bUl a f'hort time ago were prosperous and in full nctivity-it Is Impossible to drlv~ne is depre!:lsed by the spectacle of destruction and ruin, an.J this feeling Is ac<'entuated by glimpse~ of even greater damage done up the little side-alleys l<•ading ofT them. 'l'he Saghur quarters are also badly damnged, while the Suk-el-Kharratln (Turners' Market), which runs across the south end of the street called Straight, has also suffered e:everely, house upon I1ouse and shop after shop ha,·lng the appearance of being In process of demolition. But the holes are unmistakably made by shell, and smoke curling b€'tween the ratters and firemen working on the roofs tell the tru• tale." I Plans are definitely under way to arrange through the American Legion for an Interchange of college students between the United States and each of the eight principal foreign countries with which this nation was associated In the World war. Efforts are being made to obtain at least eight scholarships In American universities and colleges to be used by students from these foreign countries, It wns said at national headquarters of the Legion. Similar arrangements are bell\g made by each of these countries. Legion officials, according to National Adjutant James F. Barton, expect to have the plan In operation by the opening of "school next fall so that the first exchange wlll be made at that time. Students to be exchanged will be chosen through an essay contest on some subject of International affairs. The contests wlll be carried on In their respective countries by veterans' organizations represented In Fldac, the interallled veterans' federation. The nine countries entering through their veterans' associations Into the arrangement are, besides the United States: Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, Italy, Yugo-Slavia, Poland and Rumania. Details of the plan have been laid before the national officers of the Legion by Lemuel Bolles, past national adjutant and vice chairman and secretary of the Legion delegation to the Fldac congress at Rome, Italy. The plan was worked out ln a definite way at that congress. The cost of a scholarship Is estimated by Mr. Bolles at approximately $1,500, plus tuition. Each student is to be obligated to give talks, upon his return from his scholarship, to the school chtldren of his country about the nation where he studied. An annual award of merit will be given to that educar!onal Institution of each ot the nine countries, accordIng to Ml". Bolles, which has included in Its currlculum a course of study which best promotes International un· derstanding. Letters are to be Interchanged among grade-school children, under another plan which Is -to be carried out. Awards will be given to those letters from each country which are deemed to promote International understanding In the most original way. Efforts are being made under Fidnc leadership to have Armistice day declared a legal holiday In each of the nlne nations. Fldac wlll suggest a uniform program for the observance of the day eacb year. Hall Million Dollars in Legion Relief Work During the past year nearly ~.alf a mllllon dollars was spent by the various units and departments of the American Legion auxiliary In assistIng the Legion in relief · work among disabled veterans of the World war and their famllles. Reports received from 32 auxlliary departments show that they had spent, including the value of clothing nHd food donated. $388,755. :Mrs. Hazel Workman, who i!'l chairman of the auxiliary's national rehabllltntion committee, estimates that the total for the entire organization will approximate ,1500,000. Nearly 200,000 visits were made during the year to sick and disabled veterans. In the departments repc rting, 3,955 fnrnllies were assisted b:y gifts of cash, clothing and food. e:ach month $500 was paid \) the L ~glon for the maintenance ot child.·en who are being cared for at the Auxiliary cottage nt Otter Lake, Mich. This cottage was opened last winter, as pnrt of the Legion's children's billet there. In €'ach ho!lpital where a number of Iowa \·eterans are hospitalized the Iowa department of the auxlllary has formed an "Iowa Club." Iowa auxll· !ary members act as "mothers" to the members of the clnbs. Kentucky and Indiana clepartments are co-operating In maintaining a hostess house at the hospital at Dawson Springs, Ky. Relatives of hosvltallzed men m·e housed here while vis!tlng them. A nursey Is maintained to care for children of visiting wives of veterans. Louisiana auxiliary members are doing a very unusual and very effective p!eee of work at the leper colony at Carville In that state. Various projects for entertainment and relief are curried on. Auxiliary members In Minnesota loaned to trainees of the United States veterans' bureau during the year $11,835. Cows and chickens purchased for agricultural trainees by the department cost more than $10,000. These are examples of the work which Is being carried on by the Legion auxiliary to assist vetecaJlll who were disabled during the war. "Every state has accomplished mnn1 splendid thingS' in rehabllltation," Becording to lira. Workman. Proved saf~ by millions and prescribed by physicians for Neuritis Neuralgia Colds Pain Headache Toothache Lumbago Rheumatism I DOES NOT AFFECT THE HEART I ~h ~ Accept only "Bayer" package S~ ~ . which contains proven directions. Hand "Bayer" boxea of 12 tablets Also Lottles of 24 and lOG-Druggists. 411PlrlD Ia the trade mark ~ D~r lllanutaeture ot Honoaeetteaelc!eoter ot SaUe7Ueadll Author• Seek Protection Cow Waa MiHed It appears that the one country In Europe that lies outside the pale of copyright is Yugo-Slavia. Not only Is the foreign author or newspaper not protected, but In the country literary or journalistic work is not recognized as property. An end is to be put to this state of things by a proposed authors' protection bill. A cow hurled Into the lake at Wlarton, Ontario, while landing from a small steamer, turned upon the boat and attacked It with such force that It punctured the hull below the water line. The boat was taken to a marine railway, where It was decided that lt would be necessary to have repairs made at a drydock. CHI LOREN CRY FOR ·M OTHER:- Fletcher's Castoria is especially prepared to relieve Infants in anns and Children all ages of Constipation, Flatulency, Wind Colic and Diarrhea; allaying Feverishness ansmg therefrom, and, by regulating the Stomach and Bowels, aids the assimilation of Food; giving healthy and natural sleep. ~ To avoid imitations, always look for the signature of Absolutely Harmless- No Opiates. Physicians everywhere recommend it. Her Work Got It Without Payment Edith-Do you think my hands "Tell your fortune, mister?" show any sign of toll? "No, my wife tells it free of charge." Marie-The one with the engagement ring on It shows that you've A good mind will always find some. been working.-Lafayette Lyre. thing to do. t~Why, Uncle jim! You look ten years younger!" ''When I saw you a couple of months ago, I ma.de up my mind you were getting old. At least you looked it." If I look any younger, Nujol gets the credit." Nujol helps Nature in Nature,s own way "Yes, Billie, and I felt old. No appetite, couldn't sleep nights- one day just like another, and none of them any good. I knew constipation was at the bottom of it, but it seemed the more laxatives I took the worse I got. Then one day I saw Nell giving Nujol to my little grandson. The doctor had prescribed it for the baby, but I found out it's just the thing for old fellows like me, too. Middle age brings on a decrease in the naturallubricating secretions in the intestine. Then you need Nujol. It supplies the deficiency of the natural lubricant. Medical authorities approve Nujol because it is gentle, safe and natural in its action. , Constipation is dangerous for an}"" body. Nujol is safe for everybody. Nujol simply aoftens the waste matter and thus permits thorough and regular elimination without overtax.ing the ii1testinal muscles. It is not a medicine. You can take Nujol for any length oftime without ill effects. It should be taken regularly in accordance with the directions on each bottle. Unlike laxatives, it does not form a habit and can be discontinued at any time. ''I tell you, Billie, it keeps me Ask your druggist for Nujol today and begin to enjoy the feeling fine all the perfect health that ia time. My appepo!!Sible only when elim· tite's back and I TH& JNTt:ltNAL \.UBitiCANT j nation is norma} and N\!J.91 sleep like a child. FOf' Constipation resuJar, |