Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-04

The Arabs q thousand Tears Ago.

We are accustomed to think that refine
men:. luxury and intelligence owe their
origin and increase to the Christian races,
and that, of all other people, the Arabs
have always been ignorant and rude: but
let US look back for moment and see
about it.
Seven hundred years before there was a
single public lamp in London. and at a
time when whoever stepped over his
threshold on rainy day went up to his
ankles in mud a man might walk through
the paved streets Of Coidova. in Spain.
for ten miles in straight line. by the
light of public lamps after sunset This
was under the rule Of the Mohammedan
Arabs, and their Khalifs were then dis
tinguished for their refinement and as
patrons OF learning, over all the princes
Of Europe.
Their palaces were magnificently dec
GRATED at time when the dwellings of the
rulers Of Germany, France and England
were scarcely better than stables, without
chmneys or windows. and with hole in
the roof for the smoke to escape, like the
wigwams of Indians.
The Arab cities of Granada, Seville.
Cordova. and others, were filled with mag
nificent residences, which stood forth
against the clear sky, or were embosomed
in groves. They had polished marble
balconies overhanging orange gardens,
courts with cascades of water, shady re-
treats for sleeping in the heat of the day,
retiring rooms vaulted with stained glass
specked with gold, over which streams OF
water were made to gush the floors and
walls we're of exquisite mosaic.
g., of ~utek 81 shot nm
in a glistening spray, the glittering parti-
ces falling with soothing sound like
fairy bells there, apartments. into which
cool air was drawn from flower gardens in
summer. by means of ventilating towers,
or warmed and perflImed in winter. The
walls were adorned with arabesques and
paintings of scenes in Paradise.
From the ceilings corniced with fretted
gold great chandeliers hung, one of
which was so large that it contained
over thousand lamps: there were
columns of marble and verde antique, in
crusted with lapis lazuli. The furniture
was of sandal and citron wood, inlaid with
mother Of pearl, ivory, silver. or relieved
with gold and precious malachite. There
were vases of rock crystal, Chinese por-
celain. and tables of exquisite mosaic.
The winter apartments were hung with
rich tapestry. the floors were covered with
embroidered Persian carpets. Elegant
pillows and couches were scattered about
the rooms. which were perfumed with
frankincense. Splendid flowers and rare
exotics ornamented the court-vards, and
even the inner chambers. Through pipes
OF metal, water, both warm and cold, ran
into baths of marble.
There were whispering galleries for
the amusement of the women, labyrinthS
and marble play-courts for the children.
and for the master himself grand libraries
The khalif Alhakem's was so large, that
the catalogue alone filled forty volumes
His hall of audience was incrusted with
gold and pearls. He had 300 attendants
in the palace. The bodv-guard of this
sovereign was composed of l2.00o horse
men. whose cimeters and belts were
studded with gold.
We owe a great deal to the Spanish
Arabs. They give us many of our mos
valuable cultivated fruits. such as the
peach. They established libraries in all
their chief towns. 10 every mosque was
attached public school in which the
children of the poor were taught to read
and write. and instructed in the precepts
of the Koran. They were the authors
and introducers of rhyme. Among them
were fine physicians and surgeons. OuI
drug stores still retain many Arabic words
such as sirup, iulep. elixir. Alchemy
admiral. alcohol. algebra. chemse
cotton. and hundreds of other words are
Arabic.
To them we owe the introduction o.
the great products. rice, sugar. cotton
etc. and fine breeds of cattle. They
made the first morocco leather and named
it. They introduced gunpowder ant
artillery, and the mariners compass