Page 970 : JEROME, SAINT — JERUSALEM
and of other criminals. In 1905 lie was again elected district attorney, running independently, after both parties had refused to nominate him. Charged with failure to prosecute certain accused corporation-managers, he was vindicated by official investigation.
Jerome (jḗ-rōm′ or jĕr′ōm), Saint, was born at Stridon, on the borders of Dalmatia and Pannonia, sometime between 341 and 345 A. D. His parents were Christians. His early education was under the care of his father, and he afterward studied at Rome. In 386 he retired to Bethlehem, and was followed by many persons who wished to be taught by one so learned and pious as he had become during years of service in the church. Here were founded four convents, one for monks and three for nuns. Jerome himself presided over the former. It was in this sacred retreat that he completed the writings which have made him so famous. His revision of the Latin New Testament and translation of the Old Testament were wonderful achiev-ments, and originated churchly Latin. He died at Bethlehem on Sept. 30, 420. His works consist mainly of Scripture commentaries and theological treatiases. He was the supreme scholar of the ancient church. See Jerome by E. L. Cutts, in The Fathers for English Readers.
Jer′sey City, the second largest city in New Jersey and county-seat of Hudson County, is on the west bank of the Hudson opposite New York, of which, though in another state, it is an extension, and with which and with Brooklyn it is connected by steam-ferries. Its site forms the broadest part of a peninsula bounded by Hackensack River and Newark Bay, and on the southeast it extends along New York Bay. Jersey City is a busy city. It is the terminus of six great, and as many local, railroads, and is connected with Easton, Pa., by canal; and at its wharves many ocean-steamers receive and discharge their freight. It is the mart of a large trade, especially in iron, coal and agricultural produce. Its own manufactures are on a large scale, and include sugar, flour, iron and steel, zinc, boilers, machinery, locomotives, oils, chemicals, oakum, lumber, silk, watches, jewelry, lead-pencils, tobacco, pottery, soap and beer. The city has large slaughter-houses, stock-yards and grain elevators, notable for size and efficiency. Here is St. Peter’s (Roman Catholic) College, founded in 1878. The city spends on education annually about three quarters of a million dollars; the value of its public property for school purposes is $3,000,000. It also possesses a number of fine churches. The site was formerly called Paulus Hoek, but received its present name and became a city in 1838. Population 267,779, a gain of over 61,000 in the decade. In 1850 it had fewer than 7,000 inhabitants. This remarkable growth was brought about in 1871 and 1873 by consolidation with the neighboring municipalities of Hudson City, Greenville, and Bergen. This was laid out by Peter Stuyvesant in 1660, and consequently Jersey City contains the oldest school-site in the state. School 11 is the fifth building on the original site.
Jeru′salem, the “Holy City” of the Jews, stands 2,364 to 2,582 feet above the sea, on the spurs of two hills, surrounded and divided by two valleys, once deep, now partly or wholly filled with rubbish. Both hills were strong natural fortresses. The weakness of the place for defense lay in its poor supply of water. The city was known under its name Jerusalem at least 500 years before David captured it (c. 1045 B. C.). The conquest of the city by the Israelites proved incomplete; before the time of the Judges it again was the “City of the Stranger.” When at last won by David, the Lower City was joined to the fortress of the Upper Hill, and the whole surrounded by a wall.
The history of Jerusalem covers 3,500 years. Of these, 500 years lie back of reliable history. Of the other 3,000 years, less than 500 show us Jerusalem independent. For 600 years longer the city was in the hands of the Israelites, but never wholly independent. Jerusalem, the “city of peace,” sustained 17 sieges. Twice it was entirely destroyed, its buildings being torn to the ground. There is no city in the world whose soil has so often been drenched with the blood of its people. From B. C. 536 to A. D. 70 Jerusalem was torn to pieces by factions, and came into possession of Persians, Macedonians, Syrians, Egyptians and Romans, The city was besieged, taken and razed to the ground by Titus in 70 A. D.
Its after history may be divided into four periods. The first comprises early centuries when the land was covered with Christian monasteries, churches and hermitages. The Persians in 614 captured the city and destroyed the churches. Then the Moslems appeared in 637 and the gates were thrown open without a blow. The second period includes the rule of the Moslems (637–1099). The third period is that of the crusaders (1099–1244). After 87 years of continuous war Jerusalem was lost, and the crusaders never retook it. The last period is that of Turkish or Moslem rule (since 1244). The seven hundred years covered by this period have for the greater part been years of peace.
The main buildings and monuments for which the explorer has to look are the first, second and third walls of the great temple; the royal towers; the Tyropœon Bridge; Baris or Antonia; Ophel; the tombs of the kings; and certain pools. It would
Articles:
