Laura E. Richards, Maud Howe, Florence Howe Hall, Julia Ward Howe, 1819-1910, in two volumes, with portraits and other illustrations: volume 1

“ [42] of her scholars, a youth of unusual intelligence, finding himself clean, observes himself to be in strong contrast with his mother's hovel, in which filth is just kept clear of fever point. ‘Why this dirt?’ quoth he; ‘that which has made me clean will cleanse this also.’ So without more ado, the process of scrubbing is applied to the floor, without regard to the danger of so great a novelty. This simple fact has its own significance, for if the innovation of soap and water can find its way to a Jaffa hut, where can the ancient, respectable, conservative dirt-devil feel himself secure?”

Apropos of mission work (in which she was a firm believer), she loved to tell how one day in Jerusalem she was surrounded by a mob of beggars, unwashed and unsavory, clamoring for money, till she was wellnigh bewildered. Suddenly there appeared a beautiful youth in spotless white, who scattered the mob, took her horse's bridle, and in good English offered to lead her to her hotel. It was as if an angel had stepped into the narrow street.

“Who are you, dear youth?” she cried.

“I am a Christian!” was the reply.

In parting she says, “Farewell, Holy Land! Thank God that I have seen and felt it! All good come to it!”

From Palestine the way led to Cyprus ( “the town very muddy and bare of all interest” ) and Smyrna, thence to Constantinople. Here she visited Robert College with great delight. Returning, she saw the “Sultan going to Friday's prayers. A melancholy, ”