The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-20
ARABI AND HIS FAMILY.
A Visit to the Wife of the Exiled Egyptian
Rebel

Lady Gregory ia London Times.
1t was not until the end Of February that
! went, with Lady Anne Blunt, to sec Arabiss
wife. They had moved some little time be-
fore to a new house, large and dilapidated-
looking, and which Arab was represented
as having fitted up in luxurious style
in fact at that time the crime most
frequently alleged against him was
that he had bought carpets to the amount
of f120. l must confess that there were some
pieces of new and not beautiful European
carpets in the chief rooms, but must add
that if Arab paid f120 pounds for them he
made very bad bargain. The sole furni-
ture of the reception-room of Arabis wife
consisted of small, hard divans covered with
brown linen, and tiny table with crochet
antimacassar thrown over it, On the white
washed walls the only ornaments were pho
tographs of him in black wooden frames,
and one larger photograph of the Sacred
Stone of Mecca. In the room where Arab
himself sat and received were q similar hard
divan, two or three chairs, a table and an ink
stand covered with stains. His wife was ready
to receive us, having heard an hour or two
earlier OF our INTENDED visit. She greeted us
warmly, speaking in Arabic which Lady
Anne interpreted to me. She has a pleasant
intelligent expression, but having five chill
dren living out of fourteen that have been
born to her, looked rather overcome with the
cares of maternity. She wore long dress of
green silk. my husband hates this long
train" she told me afterward. "He would
like to take a knife and cut it off, but say
I must have fashionable dress to wear when
I visit the Khedive's wife and other ladies'"
An old woman with white hair, dressed in
the common country fashion-a wooden petit
coat and blue cotton jacket-came into the
room and occupied herself with the children
Presently we found that she was Arabi's
mother, She spoke with great energy and
son with much affection and pride. 81 anu
only fellah woman" she said, but am
the mother of Ahmed Arab" She took me
twice into another room to see an oleogranh
of which she was very proud, representing
him in glaring colors A day or two before
we left went again to see his wife. She looked
a little sadder little more anxious, than
when 1 had last seen her. She seemed
troubled, poor woman, because the Khe-
dives wife. WHO used to be kind and good to
her now says How can we be friends
when your husband is such a bad man?
The old mother sat in the corner attending
to the children and counting over her
beads. | said, Are you not proud that your
son is pacha?' mo" she said; 1--WE were
happier in the old days when we had him
with us always and feared nothing. Now he
gets Ip at daybreak and has only time to say
his prayers before there are people waiting
for him with petitions, and he has to attend
10 tleIn ana tneu go 10 MS business, ana
often he is not back here until after mid
night and Until he comes | 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 10 destroy him.
few days ago he came home suffering great
pain. and was sure then he had been pois-
ened but got him hot bath and he grew
better, and since then keep even the water
that he drinks locked up. But, say all can,
[ cannot frighten him or make him take care
OF himself he always says, God will pre-
serve me-"