Syria from the saddle . a little hill just above a brook, andpitched our luncheon tent under a clump of trees. Thisluncheon tent was smaller than the regular tents of ourcamp, and the Cairene embroidery of its walls wasvaried by having two American flags worked into each flag was a motto beginning with Bismil-lah. I do not remember the rest, as I only knowenough Arabic to make myself thoroughly misunder-stood in that language. The meaning of the motto,however, was, In the name of God let us enjoy life — a gem of advice worth following. Mottoes and flagswere Davids own idea. When trave
Syria from the saddle . a little hill just above a brook, andpitched our luncheon tent under a clump of trees. Thisluncheon tent was smaller than the regular tents of ourcamp, and the Cairene embroidery of its walls wasvaried by having two American flags worked into each flag was a motto beginning with Bismil-lah. I do not remember the rest, as I only knowenough Arabic to make myself thoroughly misunder-stood in that language. The meaning of the motto,however, was, In the name of God let us enjoy life — a gem of advice worth following. Mottoes and flagswere Davids own idea. When traveling in Europe one becomes heartily tiredof seeing fellow-Americans make the eagle scream onall occasions, and of hearing them prove the manifest 86 SYEIA FROM THE SADDLE. inferiority of Versailles and Venice, to Jackson Parkand the Worlds Fair lagoon. From Americans of thisclass no doubt sprang the immortal Chicagoan who, vis-iting the Worlds Fair, asked an attendant where thelagoons slept at night and who fed them ?. After Luncheon. Here in the East, the sight of the old flag waslike a message from home. I have heard other Ameri-cans speak of this, and I believe the reason we love tosee our flag in far lands is not because the sight stirsup our patriotism or our pride in our country, as acountry, but because it brings to us thoughts of home,home and nation being two decidedly different things. Luncheon consisted of cold chicken, potted meats, sar- SYRIA FROM THE SADDLE. 87 dines, a bottle of Stora wine, bread, butter, and jam, withnuts, figs, and raisins for dessert. David, in setting thetable, turned to me and said in a sorrow-laden voice : — Im very sorry, sir, but Im afraid Imbarak forgotthe wine to-day. The wine of the country, I may say here, must notbe confounded with the beverages that go by that namein America. It is, in fact, little stronger than vinegarand water, and often quite as sour. The use of it ismade necessary by the wretched state of the tanks andcister
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