West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-08-15
A School In Morocco.

While walking about In almost any
:ity IN Morocco one Is almost sure to
hear at some point of his rambles con-
fused babel of sound, very like that of
mass OF children reciting in unison a
lesson or composition of some sort, is
SUING from, usually, mean, dilapidat-
ed building, situated in an obscure, dark
corner OF the street. Upon nearer np-
proach; and, if the surroundings are IA
Yorable, closer inspection, one sees in
small dirty promulgated only by a
little window and the open door, having
for its furniture, liz any at ALL only a
low desk, such as the Moors use, of the
meanest description, together with
few bits OF ragged mating stretched
along the walls, and some pieces of rugs
in an equally ragged condition, covering
The floor behind the desk-sittinC cross
legged, man. rod in hand, and in front
o. him, ranged in a circle, sit cross
leggeu, .also,a number of children, who
while chanting in unison produce the
sounds which attracted your attention,
accompanying the whole with n
rhythmic swaying of the body back and
forward. 1t is school, as has been
probably surmised ERE this The old
man in the ragged jelaba is the school
master, while the almost naked children
are the pupils, who are being taught
the beginning and the end of a Mussul-
mans life, the Koran, which is their
sole education, the State defraving all
expenses of the same, which cannot
be. very heavy, as the teachers
only receive about fifteen cents
month salary, the scholars sup
plying them with food. The schools
are free, and every city, town aud viii
lage has sufficient number of them TO
attend to the education of its children,
their attendance being compulsory.
Here 1T is in these dark, miserable, dirty
rooms that the young minds of the chill
dren are dwarfed and the wall built
around them that bars their progress
hereafter beyond certain point this
point was reached over five hundred
years ago; from this point since then
they have not moved, nor will they un-
less compelled to. Here it is also that
thQ seeds of that blind fanaticism which
rules Morocco and other Mohammedan
countries are sown, and the degrading
precepts of the Koran taught, the effects
of which are only too easily to be traced
all over the Mohammedan world. keep
ing back as it has its civilization, and
reducing those who believe in and fol-
low its doctrines into depraved, sensual
beasts, having no aims or motives in life
whatsoever. Northumberland has had
its day; has served its purpose
partially civilized race of people
that were, up to the time of the pro-
mitigation of that religion, beyond tho
reach of Christian influence Here its
mission of working good to, and pro-
noting the welfare of, the world ceased.
Since then it has been as clock with
loosened hands; the machinery has run
but the hands ceased TO advance-point-
ing always to the same time. Ii is n
religion uniting men for the duties OF
life, and one which must have fallen ere
this on account of its own rottenness
had it not been upheld, directly and in
directly, by the Powers of Europe, who,
through jealousy of one another, have
built under il at various times the props
which are now supporting its existence
as n power, and which the indomitable
energy of Christians and the healthy
truths of their religions are constantly
pnderpinning, causing the grave diplo-
matic questions" which are always arts
ing in the European Cabinets concern
ing this race of people to remain in q
chronic state of soreness Cor. CinciTs-
ndtt Commercial Gdzette.