Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-03-26

The Prisoner Of Ceyion.

Arab Boys home of exile stand
about three miles out of Colombo.
is a very squalid quarter, the house
being mere huts matched with pain
leaves. Many of them are not six fee
high, and the elders of the fmialy craw
into them like animals returning {,
their holes. They have no windows
and have not reached the skilful contri
vance of the japanese, whose slidin.
shutters drawn back leave the domicilt
easy of access. There is plain wooder
shutter that contrives double debt t.
pay, being window by day door by
night. When the Cingalese retires tc
rest this board is put up, and the
arrangements are complete. There are
plentiful chinks which admit air and
some rays of light; but neither is a
matter that seems greatly to concern
the householder.
There is no difficulty in approaching
the prisoner of Ceylon. He has neither
jailor nor guard, and Is free to do what
he pleaSes within the limits of the
island. When We drove up he was
sitting In the broad veranda which
fronts the house-a heavy stone build
ing with nothing lovable about it. 1t
stands in a garden which seems left
pretty much to its own devices. Arab
was dressed in loose, light brown
oyercoat of unmistakable British make,
with white duck trousers and waistcoat,
and the inseparable fez. He was at
work writing, with his back to the
garden and his face to the dead wall,
which might with little care bloom
with jeSsamine, with the breath of
which the garden Is sweet. He showed
US his work little latter, displaying
with childlike pride the laborously-
made English characters by which he
had spelled out ''by-and by, - "a time
will come," and other simple sentences,
which formed his English lesson. His
book had originally been
designed for accounts, and he now
filled the money column with an Arabic
phrase, translating it into English on
the border slip. As he opened the
book he disclosed a couple of cheap
New Year cards, the remembrance of
unknown admirers ia England. The
literature was execrable, but the gay
colors seemed to please the Egyptian,
and he evidently treasured them. Two
Or three men in native dress were
about the stables, which
banked one side of the house. a
gentleman whom we subsequently knew
As the interpreter advanced to receive
rs as the carriage entered the grounds.
Arab silently bowed a welcome, but
lid not seem inclined for conversation
With casual strangers. Many passers
oy call in, and he is not quite sure that
Ill are friendly. We had an introduc-
ion from trusted personal friend,
which smoothed matters, and presently
he cold, suspicious manner was alter
ID, and the silent man became quite
He has so TAR profited by
lis studies in English as to be able to
AIRY forward SIMPLE conversation. He
will soon pass by his interpreter, whose
command of English is not extensive.
he effort of translation causing him
to perspire.
Arab has no objection whatever to |
Iiscuss political affairs; but he even
stentatlously persisted in doing SO
rom the standpoint of a permanent
xiie. II will never go back to Egypt
S long as it is enslaved by Tewfik,''
Arabi says. with unwanted excess of
81 have no desire to see
Egypt while it is land of slaves.
)nce it was a country that smelt sweet
D the noStrilS; now 1t Stinks. Its wells
re covered with earth; there is no re-
reshment in ID. Why does not Eng
md make Egypt free?" Talking again
Tewfik, and contrasting him with
Ian, but rogue. Tew6k is not clever
nough to be a rogue; he Is simply
polish. L do not think he knows the
ifference between right and wrong?
If England, whose arms chased him
rom Alexandria and routed him at
Arab speaks with un-
eigned respect, and with an Affection
te regard which, if not real. is well
81 hope to see England
Dme day." he said. II am learning
,nglish fast, and write it too. Look
ere" Then he brought out his lesson
ook, and gazed with a pleased, fond
mile upon his tremendous and painful
Eats of calligraphy. He was SO en-
rossed with his scholastic pursuits that
e forthwith proceeded to give an
.nglish lady who was present lessons
l Arabic, reciting from his stock of
,nglish phrases, and putting them in
Irabic. He wrote his name for her on
ne card, setting himself resolutely
own at the table, mixing his fingers
good deal, and spending seven or
lght minutes upon the task. When
Dncluded it ran: ''Ahmed Arab, the
egyptian Colombo" with the date.
lie might almost have stormed a town
18th similar expenditure of time and
hysical labor.
Whatever discomfort may have ruffied
ne bosom Of Arab ON first taking up
is residence on the island has now
or is judiciously controll-
/. He declares himself happy and
Dntented, cut adrift from war and
Olitics and passing peaceful life,
attling only tor supremacy over
nglish verbs, and giving up his mind
, circumventing the tendency of the
Iural to creep into his exercise when
accuracy demands the
ngular.