The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-07-26

terest of the place, running back almost
to the daybreak OF civilization, and in.
yolving movements of widespread and
remarkable effect. To talk of Alexandria
is to recall scenes and characters not easily
matchable in the annals of any other
city. 1t is all humiliation of toppled
splendors now, to be sure, and only
dreams and name are left OF the ancient
and true Egyptian capital; the modern city
does not even occupy the site ofthe old one,
but is built on what was once the dixie con-
nection with the island Pharos. OF all the
former and renown treasurers Of art only
few pathetic ruins, u solitary column-the
Pompey's Pillar of the school-books-some
cisterns, and here and there tomb in the
sand now remain; and where was once
city Of 5000 people, with 1900 palaces, H.
600 gardens, and plentiful schools OF phi
losophy and religion is now but chase and
silence.
1t must not be inferred, however, that
the modern Alexandria is without points
of attractiveness and Importance. The
site of the city il picturesque, and the APP
proach to it from the sea affords vision
which cannot easily be forgotten. Indeed
there are hints of resemblance between the
present city and the old one that might
persuade one to believe, did he not know
better, that the reality and the dream
were identical There are palaces now
as there were then, with vernacular
domes and minarets; there is q wall, with
palms leaving over it l.; the home of the
pasha, facing the sea, with q staircase of
Carrara marble, suggests Scraps throned
on its pyramid Of hundred steps-and
near by towers the harem, shut against the
light and yet Glsringly significant and char.
acteristic. The, gardens are there, too, and
the fountains, though not pentifully the
halls OF learning will be pointed out to
you, though they teach Platonism there
no longer You will meet the same faces,
the same style of costume, almost, that
Diocletia saw when he sacked the former
and greater Alexandria; and above IL all ia
that same old bland and coaxing sky which
has been there from the beginning,
! The present Alexandria has q population
OF about 100000, having increased to
that number from 5000 during the last
hundred years. In the newer portions II
is well built, and the business houses are
fashioned much like those of European
cities, and the streets are reasonably wide
and convenient. The grand square, or
Place Mehemet Ali, where the recent mas.
sacre mainly took place, is the center of
are conspicuously elegant and costly. Most
OF the business is transacted by Europeans,
The natives are constitutionally fatigued,
and lacking. in spirit and enterprise, as well
as in the ability to manage extensive un.
dertaAngs, to say nothing of
their limitations In the matter
of capital, Their mode of life is essentially
careless, slow, and not too honest. at Is
always afternoon with them, not only ms
regards climate, but in respect to disposi.
ton and commercial methods; and as n
natural result, the foreigners have prac.
tically monopoliSed the trade of the city
which, by the way, is the source Of large
amount Of the popular discomfort which
the fellow Arabiis utilizing for military
purposes.
The strategic importance of Alexandria.
both In a commercial and military sense
y obvious and well understood. II Is in a
literal as well rs u poetic aspect 'the gate.
way to the east, and the central factor In
every possible problem concerning the Nile
country. That stupendous and command.
ing enterprise, the Sues canal, Is practi.
cally. under Its control, or at least
largely dependent upon II, No other