THE WEST SHORE.
101
THE TEMPLE OP BAALBEC.
IjlHE ruins of the ancient City of Baalbec, situated on
-L the plain, forty-three miles corthwest of Damascus,
are the wonder of modern architects. The massive walls
of the temple are thus described by Dr. H. M. Field in a
letter to the Evangelist: Everything is colossal. The
area is larger than that of the temple at Jerusalem. We
may begin with the walls, which are half a mile around,
and of such height and depth as are rarely attained in
the most tremendous fortress. When from within I
climbed to the top it made me giddy to lxk over the
perilous edge to the depth below, and when from without
the walls I looked up at them they rose high in air.
Some of the stones seem as if they must have been reared
in place, not by Titans, but by the gods. There are nine
stones thirty feet long and ten feet thick, which is largor
than the foundation stones of the temple at Jerusalem,
dating from the time of Solomon, or any blocks in the
great pyramid. But even these are pigmies compared
with the three giants of the western wall sixty-two,
sixty-three and a half and sixty-four feet long! Those
are said to be the largest stones ever usod in any con
struction. They weigh hundreds of tons, and instead of
being merely hewn out of a quarry which might have
been on the site, and left to lie where they were before,
they have been lifted nineteen feet from the ground and
there imbedded in the wall! Never was there such
cyclopean architecture. How 'such enormous masses
co'uld be moved is a problem with modern engineers.
Sir Charles Wilson, whom I met in Jerusalem, is at this
moment in Baalbec. Standing in the grounds of the
temple, he tells me that in the British Museum there is
an ancient tablet which reveals the way in which such
stones were moved. The mechanics were very simple.
Rollers were put under them, and they wore drawn up
inclined planes by sheer human muscle the united
strength of great numbers of men. In the rude design
on the tablet the whole scene is pictured to the eye.
There are the battalions of men, hundreds to a single
roller, with the taskmasters standing over them, lash in
hand, which was freely applied to make them pull to
gether, and the king sitting on high to give the signal for
this putting forth of human strength en mime, as if an
army were moving to battle. A battle it was in the waste
of human life which it caused. These temples of Baalbec
must have been a whole generation in building, and have
consumed the population of a provinoe and the wealth of
an empire.
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CANE AND PARASOL RACK.
rnHESE pretty, convenient racks are intondl for either
JL the dressing room or hall, and should be hung upon
the wall as a receptacle for canes and sun umbrellas or
parasols. The foundation is made of thin board, which
ran be cut by a carpenter. It is to be shaed with throe
large scallops at the top, gradually tapering the sides
toward the bottom, where it is finished with three smaller
scallops. The piece of board should thou be covered
smoothly with black leather and fastened with small
tacks all mnnd th vljw of th wvl. It rill h r.rprs.
sary to slightly slash the edges of the leather, to make it
fit smoothly over the wood. Two pockets of the same
black leather aro then tacked on, the edges finished with
a very narrow gimp, held in place with small sized tacks.
Before fastening tho ixckots to the back, tlio Mtom
pieces should bo Bowed in, first binding tho edges of
these Bomi-eirolos and the lowor edges of tho jMH-kotH.
Then overhand the odgos of the ixx-kets ami semi-circles
together and tack to tho back, as directed. Finish with
gimp round tho outside edges, also through tho division
in tho jHwkots. The tops of tho pockets should also bo
bound with gimp. At tho top of tho rack, in what may
be termed the comers of tho scallops at each side, two
small Bcrow rings should bo securely fastened, by which
to hang it against tho wall Tho rack is now ready for
its decorations. Golden rod and purplo asters form n
pretty design, which can bo easily painted, and contrast
well with the dark leather.
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WATER FROM EUCALYPTUS ROOTS.
IN many parts of Australia, where water is scarco, tho
na'tivos formerly procured it from tho root of tho
eucalyptus and a few other trees. Tho troo most pro
forred throws out numerous lateral roots, which lie at a
depth of from Ax to twelve inches below tho surface.
The native, having ascertained by moans of prodding
with a pointed stick or spear tho position of some of the
roots, removes the suporincumbent soil witli his wooden
shovel for twenty or thirty feet, and cutting the root off
at each end lifts it out of tho trench and cuts it up into
lengths of alxiut eighteen inches or two feet, knocks off
the bark, and stands the several jxirtions on end in soma
rocoptaclo to contain tho water. As soon as thuso pieces
aro placed on end the water commences to drip, and when
the whole of tho root or roots aro cut up and placed on
end, the native, beginning at tho first placed, puts tho
end in his mouth, and by a vigorous pulT oxMila tho re
maining water. Tho water is beautifully clear, cool and
free from any unpleasant taste or smell.
COUNTRY AND CITY LITE.
IF the boys who aro brought up in tho country under
stood their advantages surely they would not throng
to the city. Tho chances for wealth are as great, prac
tically, in the country as in the city, and tho exposes of
living and the risks of disaster much less. The compel!
tions of city life and the struggles to get hold of business
and salaried work are fearful. No man should come to
the city unless ho knows what ho is going to do, or has
money enough in his hands to bike care of himself until
ho gets a living position or becomes satisfied that ho can
not get oue. Even to-day, with ths evidences of renewed
prosMrity all around us, there aro probably tn applirn.
tions on file for every desirable place, and no iituii living
here could help a friend to a placa unless ho could create
ono. Ami as far as social advantages aro iu,eriied,
what M Micro in tho city that can eoiujiMisatn for tlui pur
pleasures of country scenery and country life?