The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-09

again, by example and legislation, the
Khedive has made a good beginning. The
prncesses of his family have been instruct
cd by foreign governesses, and have re-
ceived an education i'm all respects suited
to their station. At Kaffr-cl Nil large
girls school was founded some years ago,
and has proved 30 efficient under Euro
pcan management that 1t has lately been
duplicated in several districts. The main
obstacle to the further expansion OF these
institutions, as well MS to the radical trans
formation of the numerous boys schools
which now languish under native teachers,
has been the difficulty of deciding which
OF the European languages should supple
ment Arabic as u medium OF Instruction..
Hitherto Italian, which is the normal trad
ing speech throughout the ports of Tuns,
Tripoli, Syria, and Egypt, seemed to have
the strongest claims to recognition; hut
the events OF the last few months may
give such decisive prcdominancc to Eng
lish influence rs to recommend the English
tongue
Among the minor shortcomings which
need rcctincation is the inadeuuncy OF the
national currency, French, Italian, Rus
sian, Turkish, even East Indian money be-
ing moro common than Egyptian coins. II
would be well, too, IL the metric system
could he adopted in place of the prcpos-
ferrous native measurements to which even
grain shippcd to European markets is sub
mitted. The Arabic language, of course,
cannot be discarded so long as Egypt re-
mains Moslem but II should be practicable
to substitute Latin numerals for those
Arabic ciphers which render Coptic nc
counts insCruiablc. The Turkish method
of distributing the hours OF the day, COM
mencing ut shutdown and therefore iiuctu-
ating with the seasons, has given place to
the European system on the railways and
In other public institutions. Another i'm
portaut reform is the introduction OF the
Grcgorian Calendar, decrced last summer.
No less than Ave distinct divisions Of the
| year had previously coeXisted in Egypt.
The different Cras. too, were Il source of
confusion, the year 1876, for instance,
| rating as 1892 from the Coptic epoch of
the Martyrs, us 1898 of the lIcgira, and rs
1867 according TO Jewish reckoning. Under
| the reformed calendar the month Rama
dan, the Moslcm Lent, has of course be-
come movable fast.
While II is manifest that much has been
accomplished under the present dynasty
| for the regeneration of Egypt, some fund
amental reforms in domestic relations, and
| II more EXTENDED Dad effective system of
education for botl sexes, are the essential
conditions of further progress. As above
limited, the sentiment of nationality has
yet TO be awakened in the Nile valley.
Even the educated citizen OF Suez or Alex
audrin, If asked to define his status, de-
clares himself Moslcm, never nm Egyp-
tian. 1t would seem. however, that feel
| ing OF patriotism might be engendcred in
the younger generation by judicious
scheme OF carly instruction. A limited
acquaintance with geography and history
would demonstrate that Egypt Is n land
eminently sui Generis that its inhabitants
who now humble u corrupt Arabic once
possessed language OF their own, that
its present deni2ens are tho true of -hoots
OF the old, and that their united aim should
he to reiustate their country on the plane
Of civilization and renown where il stood
under the PHARAoHs and the PToLEMIEs.