Page 378 - My FlipBook

362 world's history and

a doctor to do such work for them. Recently a Jew has tried to set up as a
dentist, and the same is true of a Greek, but both are common men and crude
workmen and I presume get little patronage.
"I have always advocated the coming here of an American dentist, one
who was thoroughly master of his business and who should be married and
his wife also able to do this work; for a man could not treat the native women
very well, and especially would this not be allowed by the Mohammedan
women. Almost every place in the world and almost every class of business
is crowded, but here is a field unoccupied.
"There is in Beirut, one hundred and twenty miles from here, an English
dentist, or was, rather, as I am not certain that he is there now.
"During my former term here, 1882 to 1886, and after I returned to Amer-
ica, I tried to induce some young couple to come here and have a little patience
till they got hold of the language. After that they could build up a business
in a short time. They would have the cities of Gaza, Hebron, Jaffa, Bethle-
hem, Nablous, besides Jerusalem, to get victims from.
"This being only a half -civilized country, the people are uneducated, and
many of them very poor; but they suffer all the same from their teeth and
would, no doubt, welcome a person who could do good work of the kind in
question. A person not well trained should be discouraged from coming here.
I remain,
"Yours sincerely,
"Selah Merrill,
" United States Consul"