Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-05-05
The ottoman Representatives at the
Centennial Grounds.

CuRiosrrY- Y-sEEKERs on the grounds
have their attention divided mainly among
three objects: The japanese dwelling, the
Japanese bazar, and the Turkish car
penters. There are five of the latter en-
gagged near Fountain avenue, north of Ma
chinery hall, in erecting a structure 14xS
feet in size, the general appearance of
which will be that of the Oriental shops
in Jerusalem.
They will sell here, during the exhibi-
ton, chess. boards, paper-weights, napkin
rings and innumerable other fancy aTti-
cles manufactured in Jerusalem of wood
from the Valley of Hebron, Mount Olivet,
Nazareth, the banks of Lake Tiberias, and
other places sacred in the regards of
Christians. The "boss" Is David Jamel,
whb speaks excellent English, having
been educated in Bishop Samuel Gobats
Episcopalan school on Mount Zion. The
Bishops mission is the conversion of
Jews and Mahometans, and both his
church and school are well patronized-
so Mr.. Jamel says. The latter's compan-
ions are Greek Christians, but can twist
their tongues around little but Arabic
The man who walks up to the party de-
tcrmined to have some fun at their eX-
pense turns away disappointed, for they
are intelligent, agreeable and sagacious.
Several of them were at the Vienna EX-
hibition, and Mr.. Jamel asserts that that
affair wasn't continental" TO what the
Centennial is and will evidently be.
"Why didn't you decide to exhibit in the
Turkish building going up here. beside
you, Mr.. Jamel?'' 30, you see, the
Turkish Commission wanted to skin us
by taxing us forty or fifty per cent, on the
profits, and so Mr.. Smith" John
Smith, presumeT "No, Mr.. Richard
Smith, of McKellar, Smith & Jordan, this
city, whom l met in Jerusalem and guild
ed to the sacred spots thereabout, acted
exceedingly kind toward us, and was the
means of securing us this pretty little
grass plot from your commission"
They are all in native Syrian costume.
The trousers are of wooden or cotton
cloth, and LOOK like potato bag with two
round holes cut in the bottom for the feet
to pass through, the mouth icing fastened
around the waist with a many-colOred
woolen sash. A waistcoat decked with
large round buttons covered with black
cloth, an overcoat of Occidental style, a
red skull cap (the fez), with large black
tassel hanging from the center of the
crown, and shoes and stockings of the
same familiar make as that of the over
coat, comprise the remainder of their fan
tastic costume, which attracts such a
crowd about the wearers that, were they
not so lazy, their work would be greatly
delayed. Mr.. Jamel's person derives an
air of majesty from an additional garment
covering it cap-a-pie. 1t is a yellowish
woolen cloak, with remnants of gold EN-
broidery about the shoulders, and might
pass for resurrected robe of Nebuchad-
nezzar. Beneath the fez-cap is worn a
second skull.cap of white linen. This is
kept on when the outer one is taken off
for the sake of comfort or pOliteness. 1t
would, doubtless, require a longer time
for these Syrians to erect the main build
| ing than for so many Yankees to do it.
The "boss" does nothing but smoke a
short wooden pipe and act as a cicerone to
the curious gazers standing around. AS
\ to the four others, while two of them are
lOunging in a little tent near by, erected
| for shelter against the April breeze, anOth-
er squats on his launches at the foot of the
| planning bench, smoking cigar and look
ing dreamily into the clouds which he
putfs forth, and the fourth, after making
three or four feeble shoves of his plane,
pulls out bag of Turkish tobacco with a
packet of rice-paper, and proceeds to
manufacture cigarette. 1t is safe to say
that for every half.dozen movements each
Turk gives his tool he smokes a cigarette,
a cigar, or a pipe of tobacco.-PhiladeI-
! phid Times