New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-18
BOSTON.
LITERARY NOTES.


"OLD AND NEW" FOR DECEMBER-NEED FOR A
SENTIMENTAL CENsUs-TARER.
PROM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TnIBUSE.l
Boston, Nov. 49," Artists and Arabs" by
Henry Blackburn, Is to be the next addition to the
"sauntering Series" OF J. OsRood Co. As 10 Nor
mandy Picturesque" Mr.. Blackburn sets out with
clear conviction OF that instinct in the English mind
that makes the Engishman Gy south with the swallow
In the Autumn. They a sketching party, ne ana
h two three conreres and toward the end OF octo
Der, 1t literally tossup where they should CO. Tue
lot fell on Algeria and tho next morning they were on
their way. AT Marsees they think every Englishnan
must be going either TO India or to Italy ana 10 get Ino
luggage fairly started for Northern Africa requires some
strength of mind. The voyage from Marseies 10 Aers
averages fory-eight hourstoo long for pleasure lp
and too short for fairly to settle down to IT, rs IN
crossing the Atlantic Bat you paid for all the as
comforts OF the way by the sight OF gers with It's
clusters OF white houses in bright green hills the
range OF the lesser Atlas forming background Oh pur
pie waves rising one above the other until they are lost
In cloud
1t good beginning of orentalism to have stately
barefoOted Arab shoulder b baggage from tho port
and how nobly he bears his load. how beautifully
balanced his 1.-THE figure, and with what grace ana
case he stalks along. His dignity almost cmbarraSses
YOU as you pay him his small tariff" Of three francs
once established in Agiers there is plenty tn see Here'
close tho waters edge Is the great Mosque Win
plain, white, shining walls, nearly destitute OF exterior
ornament; but the most perfect example Of beauty aod
strength fitness and grace, that you can find IN any
building OF this type 1t is thoroughly Moorish In style,
though the legends say was built by Christian archi-
tect. The old Moors took him captive and promised
MIN his liberty II he would build them this Mosque.
True his creed, he deXterousy introduced INTO
ground plan the form OF cross, and when all was
done they gave him his liberty indeed but IT was out
OF the mouth of a cannon through window looking
ri n ch,
may enter and hear the Koran read, and pray. with
Moors and Arabs for ncghbors There are plenty or
Roman Catholic churches in Agiers, but the buildings
that strike the eye first mofques rather than
churches; the sounds that become more familiar TO the
ear than peals Of bells the Muezzins morning and
evening sauation from the tower OF mosque, calling
all true believers to come to prayers.
In the and shops, however, there is an extra
ordinary prepOnderance OF French influence Most OF
the streets French with arcades Ike the Rue
de Rvo In Paris. Many Of the houses lofty, and
as you pass through the French quarter with Its new,
wide streets and squares, and the inevitable boueyards,
the number Of shops for fancy goods and Partisan
wares especially Of hairdressers ana modises.
seems rather extraordinary, remembering that the
tire European population OF Algeria, agricultural as
well urban, is not more than 10000 Nearly all the
upper Is Moorish, aud Is approached by narrow
streets lanes, steep, slippery, and tortuous.
Tho ordinary visitor, OF month or two, TO Algers,
hotel life; and even he stays for the entire Winter, he
will probably hnd it most convenient and amusing to
take his meals in French fashion, at the hotels; ringing
the changes between three four OF the BEST and one
or two wel-knOwn cafes. Everything Is neatly ana
quietly served; the is varied enough with good
dishes. and game in abundance To the stranger
there seems 10 bo little going :" but you find
out a round of simple amusements; thero are con-
cors, balls, theater, and, best Of ALL lovely moon
lighted walks beside the II the traveller be any
thing OF an artist life here will be full Of delights for
| him.
He will pass through streets and between mys
erousOoking old houses that meet overhead and shut
our the sky he will josie often. in these narrow ways
plump objects IN white Eauze, whose eyes ana ankles
5nc inc nc %nch the wonderGi dexteriy with Which
young Arab girl balances 0an OF irut upGn hr heau
fI be finally carried down himself by an avalanche OF
donkoys-driyen by negro samn who st' on she tail
Of tie last.threadng their way nOseessiv ana swiftly,
and carrying everything before Them and he I'll prob
ably take refuge under the ruined arch OF some old
mosque whose graceful lines ana rlch decoration are
sail visible here and there and he VIII In few D0urs be
enchanted with the place and the more so Tor the reason
that have already limited az, namey, tnat ia MIXERS
he IS let alone, that he is free TO wander and moon
about at will, without custodian or oommiSSOnareJ or
any of the tribe Of wallets dc place.
Your Moorish home will be house OF two stories with
an upper terrace from which you overlook the town On
TINS upper you sit and sketch Ia this perfect
| climate even in December or January. You have tue
perfection OF light there and. work. you have the
nexpressble satisfaction Of plying yoar artist friends,
struggling in foggy London paint Italian scenes by
tho lt OF a gas sun-burner." How foolish they
All Of thcm not to out TO Asiers! There is one
difficulty here however, for the arustEat OF finding
satisfactory models. You can set one at last and here
| is he portrait.
Her costume, when she throws Off her hank land with
II tradition OF the Mohammedan atn that torhlds her
70 show her lace to unbeheyeTl is rich loose Grim
son racket embroidered with gold. thin white BODICE
loose silk trousers reaching 10 the knee and fastened
|
red slippers, probation OF rugs on her ie
nees aud bracelets ana anElets OF gold hagrre work.
Through her waving black hdlr arc tWhei stllhk OF
coins aud the folds of SIX handkerchief the mar I
| inc al the back in plaits below the waist.
She IL beautiful she u scarcely interesting IN ex-
preston, and she 10 decidedly unsteady she segns 20
have no power OF Keeping herself IN one position OF
OF remaining IN one part OF the ROOM or even OF being
quiet, than humming.op Ihe wheLe thlng Is an ui
uterlbe bore 30 her, for she does not even reap the re-
ward-her father or husband or male attendant always
She peil constitutlonay pheematlc, and fat
her parents can manage TO make her; she bhs small
hands aud ieet large rolling eyes-the latter made To
appear artrciay large by the Application OF henna or
atimonv black; her attitudes are not uhgraceiui put
there is want OF character about her, aud an inter
aDsndonmeut TO the situation peculiar 10 an ~r T,ce
In short, her movements are more suggestive Oh NIUE
Gagged animal that had better be petted ana caressod or
kept safe distance, according TO ner hunor. she
does one thing-sne smokes necessarily and makes
cigarettes with skill and rapidy which are wonderful
Her age IS Is, aud she has Deen mareh SIX months ht
ideas appear 20 be limited TO three or FOUR and her
ad sarcey ever eft her fathers house. and had
| spoken to man until her marriage.
| There seems TO be III the Moorish nature wonderful
sense o the harmony and contrasts OF color Two ORR
entails will hardly walk down street side by side unless
the coors OF their costume harmonic. You find
eress seng,oranG citrons an Arab boy with red
fez and white tuyban carrying purple fruit in basket
Of eayesalways the right Juxaposition OF coOrs The
sky furnishes them a superb background OF deep blue
and the repoSe OF these solemn Orentas, who sit here
like bronze statues, that they smoke necessarily,
inspires you with curious respect. They are men who
believe in fatewhat need that they should make haste
Artists and Arabs" IS charming book in its way. 1t
Ia ike succession OF pictures by Theodore Frere-where
| the skes glow with brooding warmth; where and