The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-05-05

the invitation of our Dragoman to
visit with his relatives living ON one
of the foothills of Lebanon. 1t was
an opportunity to learn something of
the home-life of the higher class OF
Arab people, which ] have always
been glad that we improved. M
The outside of their houses, even
of the wealthiest Of them are not at
all inviting. Usually of one story,
sometimes two, built of mud bricks,
shaped like a dry-goods box. They
care nothing for outside appearances,
stone steps, and verandas,and French
roofs and cupolas, as We do. The
whole expense of ornamentation is
upon the inside, divans of silk and
satin, Persian rugs, silver trays, laces
and jewels, gaudy colors, rich and
barbaric finery with more display than
taste, according to our notions, but
eminently suited to their tastes and
habits of life. They ushered us up a
flight Of stairs on the outside into the
second story, which seemed to be the
parlor. We took our seats on the
silk cushions of the divan, and one
after another the family made their
appearance. The old mother in her
neat silk gown, with kind intelligent
face and a cordial smile of welcome.
"Halak Sa i'd" She said, how do you
do? Then came the daughter, blush
ing behind her, gorgeous in silk and
jewels, massive and sparkling rings on
her hand, huge pendants of pearl in
her ears. She said also softly and
with graceful dignity "Halak Sa-id?"
and we said, ''pretty well thank you,
how do you do?" Then came the
father, and the son, and one by one
the neighbors came, and last the
Turkish governor of the village, hear
ing that two distinguished Americans
were being entertained come also.
And so we were lionized, our host
was considerably set up by SO great
a distinction, and they all seemed to
be happy.
First they set before us on the floor
the famous Nargileh, the Turkish
pipe, which when you try to smoke it,
not only makes chimney of your
nose, but rushes out like house a6re
from ears and eyes and every pore Of
the body. We said, "No, thank
you!'
Next they brought in small table
and began to set it. First the table
cloth is spread on the floor, then
the table turned upside down on the
cloth, and then tray placed on the
four legs, that is the usual manner,
but this time for some reason they
left the table standing properly on its
legs, rested silver tray upon it,
placed it in front Of us, and told us
to help ourselves. There was coffee,
various kinds of pastry made from the
sugar of the grape, figs and nuts. We
ate and the rest of the roomful OF
company sat and watched US, and
talked about us and smiled and
laughed and seemed to think it was
the biggest kind Of show.
They asked what country we came
from. We told them America. One
man said, "Your governor has been
killed lately, what was his name ?"
"Garfeld.
"Did he leave a son to take his
place ?"
And then of course we had to ex-
plain to them the system of republi-
can government-that Garfield was
not king, nor the son of king but
a common citizen, that he was chosen
by the votes of the whole people to
serve as chief ruler for four years, and
then to retire and become once more
an ordinary citizen and be succeeded
by another. They listened like
to a romance Of fairy-land.
Never heard anything like that before.
"What do you mean by voting,"
they asked.
"Well," said l, Suppose that all OF
us here together in this room should
want to choose someone of our num-
L a.