RETURNING TO PALESTINE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 36, 5 October 1912, Page 2

RETURNING TO PALESTINE.

THE JEWISH POPULATION. Large numbers of Jews have emigrated to Syria during recent years. They are settled there, on farms and pasture, as were their fathers thousands of years ago. More noticeable to travellers still is the increase in the Jewish population of Jerusalem, especially beyond the walls. The ancient city is enclosed; tlie new arrivals prefer to settle in the extramural districts, and so important have they become to the general community that all gales are now left open by night. • In fact, two of the gateways have no gate's at all, and there is no thought of replacing them. At the present ratio of increase in the Jewish population of Jerusalem must soon be dominated by Jews rather than by Mahommedans. To understand that drift of things, it must bo considered that the Jews who are arriving and remaining in Jerusalem in large numbers annually come from many countries. They are people who have travelled, . who have brushed up against the world, who have been successful in trade, who have accumulated money as well as experience. It follows naturally that they are not content with existing conditions, and so it is not surprising to learn that they have introduced the American steam road roller, that a tramway company has been organised,, that Jerusalem is soon to have an electric light system. Moreover, the municipality at the present time is considering proposals for street pavements and sewers. There is little danger that the modernising iniluence will go too far. It can, at all events, go much farther than plans extend at present without disturbing in the least the features of the city that appeal to the Jewish, Christian and? Mahommedan world.