The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-12-14
Arab Pasha,s Home Life,

ATdDl I dSud uOu6 hlI0s
had already seen and spoken with
Arab, writes Lady Gregory, but it was
not until the end of February that ]
went with Lady Anne Blunt to see his
wife. They had moved some little time
before to a new house, large and dilapi-
dated looking, and which Arab was
represented as having fitted up in a
luxurious style; in fact, at that time the
crime most frequently alleged against
him was that he had bought carpets to
the amount of E120. There were some
pieces of new and not beautiful Europe
an carpets in the chief rooms, but if
Arab paid E120 for them he got very
bad bargain, l have heard very lately,
from one who has taken trouble to in
vestigate the truth of the stories of his
avaricc, that he has the same small
amount of money to his credit now that
he had before he was either Pasha or
Minister, and that the foundation of the
story of his having become alarge land
ed proprietor is his having become trus-
tee for the child of an old friend who
bad been kind to him.
The sole furniture of the reception
room of Arabi's wife consisted of small,
hard divans covered with brown linen
and tiny table with a crochet antima-
CAESAR over it. On the whitewashed
walls the only ornaments were photo
graphs of him in black wooden frames,
and one larger photograph of the Sacred
Stone at Mecca. In the room where
Arab himself sat and received were a
similar hard divan, two or three chairs,
a table and an inkstand covered with
stains.
His wife was ready to receive us, hav-
ing heard an hour or two earlier of our
intended visit. She greeted us warmly,
speaking in Arabic, which Lady Anne
Interpreted for me. She has pleasant,
intelligent expression; but, having five
children living out of fourteen that have
been born to her, looked rather over
come with the cares of maternity, her
beauty dimmed since the time when the
tall. grave soldier she had seen passing
under her window every day looked up
at last and saw and loved her. She
wore long dress of green silk. my
husband hates this long train" she told
us afterwards; ''he would like to take a
knife and cut it off, but l say must
have a fashionable dress to wear when
/ visit the Khedive's wife and other Ia
dies" think there are English hus-
bands, who, in this grievance at least,
will sympathize with Arab.
A day or two before we left | went
again to see his wife. She looked lit
tie sadder, little more anxious, than
when l had last seen her, but was on
hospitable cares intent, and soon went
out of the room to see to the prepara-
ton of dinner. | had an Italian lady
with me as interpreter, vino spokeFrench
and Arabic very well. They had ex-
pected me this time, and made more
preparations; and when the meal was
ready and | saw dish after dish coming
in, was in despair until found that
one of the children, my bri right-eyed
friend Hassan, was quite ready to sit by
me and be fed from my plate, and so 1
disposed of my share to his great salts
faction. Il like this better than having
to wait down stairs till dinner is over"
he said. Then they forget me and eat
up all the good things"
By the time dessert arrived he said he
liked me, but hated other ladies, and
would like to come and see me in Eng
land, but did not know how he would
manage it, as his papa wanted the car
riage every day. advised him to learn
English, and his mother said she would
like to send him to one of the Christian
schools in Cairo. but how can l send
him where he would hear his father
spoken i'll of?'' She seemed troubled,
poor woman, because the Khedive's
wife, who used to be good and kind to
her, now says: ''How can we be friends
man?''
The old mother sat in the corner at
tending to the children and counting ov-
er her beads. said, care you not
proud now your son is saPashap' NO."
she said, 1--WE were happier in the old
days when we had him with us ALWAYS
and feared nothing. Now he gets up at
day break, and has only time to say his
prayers before there are people waiting
for him with petitions, and he has to
attend to them and then 60 to his bus
iness, and often he is not back here I'M
til after midnight, and until he comes l
cannot sleep, | cannot rest; | can do
nothing but pray for him all the time.-
There are many who wish him evil, and
they will try to destroy him. A few
days ago he came home suffering great
pain, and | was sure he had been poi
soned; but | got him hot bath and
remedies and he grew better, and since
then | keep even the water that he
drinks locked up. But, say all can,
frighten him or make him take
care of himself; he always says, God
will preserve me. '"-Londom Times