The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-01
A SCHOOL IN ALGIeRS.
The Intellectual Training OF No""-
Arabs Is Very Limited-A Noisy set.

Arabs Is Very Liniueu-A NOISY ST.
On the other side of the central public
square is n school. small Babel of SIXTY
Lows or more. The intellectual training
of children is very limited. and causes
but little anxiety to parents, who teach
them in early childhood TO repeat, Il ties
tify that Mohammed Is Gods apostle,
and TO hate Christians The remainder
Of their education consists III the acquire
ment Of few riidimentary rules OF arith-
metic and the practice Of committing &c
memory as much of the Koran as posi-
bic Let it be understood that we are re-
ferring to the purely Arab schools, and
not to others where French influence Is
gaining ground; one Of the largest build
ines in Algiers is the Lycem, where about
500 Christians. Jews and Mohammedans
are educated together. The Old professor
Of the school on the public square has as
sistants Of different ages for the younger
bows. so that there Is continual running
stream of big and little voices. each try
ing 10 cutlery the other; higher and more
shril they veil as they take in fresh
breath and repeat what they know at
such a rate that it seems impossible that
any one should distinguish one syllable
from another.
In fact, during my stay | often asked
my Young factotum Of the day what was
being recited; his only answer was sig
nificant shrug of the shoulderS-"J saiS
pas. mossou--connaisp pas ca. mol Al
lah-Illah Allah Achhah Mohammed-
waly-g olly- Jolly holly, repeated at the
top of your voice, and at lightning speed.
a thousand times a minute If you can.
will give you. my reader, FAINT idea OF
what one of the Youngsters is saving
then multiply by the number engaged in
this noisy method of committing the 10
ran to memory. and You may get still
nearer the effect. Children are made to
recite i'm as loud a voice Is possible, I'M
order to strengthen their lungs-a re-
quirement especially necessary for q
muezzin. who calls TO PRAYER from the
ton If the minarct. Those who are 90
follow a trade are sometimes TAUGHT
writing and little Useful arithmetic
10 vary the m0n0toHy of these recita-
tons at school. the lad is occasionally
aiken across the knees Of the old teacher.
who sits tailor fashion, holds the offender
by the ankles, and administers blows
with a rod on the solcs of bis feet "a
mild form Of bastinado
The pupils stationery and books 1t
the Arab school do not cost his parents
great amount. \ slate, so called but
made Of hard wood. is the medium of
knowledge The surface hecone- as
smooth rs glass by repeated application
Of fine pipe clay, which ismoi-taucd with
water and rubbed ON with the finger,
When the lad has filed his slate ON both
sides with dictations from the Koran.
written IN ink with reed pen, and has
committed its contents 10 memory, he
washes 1t and rcuews the coating Of clay.
\ mistake Is easily corrected with Che
wet finger. The Arab boy his all tine
mischief of any other school boy. and as
he must break. chew, crack, nick and
mend something his slate ends 10y being
a kind Of one horse shay put together
again with glue. nails and bits of tina
and brass. cross beams and corners: the
marvellous clay fills up all the chinEs.
On the wall hangs "a large blackboard;
on the floor mating lie burnooses and
shoes, but no primers grammars. geog-
raphies or other ink stained accc-sorie7
which strew the benches and desks of
our schools.
Groups Of dear little black eyed boys
from to years old, other groups If
different classes. youths OF l., Is. all
wearing their red tarbouches with big blue
tasses, jackets and burnoo.cs If all
shades aud colors. enlivened by slreakg
aud spots of sunlight sifted through the
intricate designs Of the windows and
stained glass. make a charming kalcido-
scope. All around is the plain white
washed wainscotng, considerably soiled
and stained by the backs. hands and
heads that lean against il; and above are
exquisite arabe,ques in stucco-for the
interior. though somewhat dilapdated. is
untouched by the restorers hand, and re-
mains one Of the very finest examples OF
Moorish art. The building was a small
mosque. the ornamented and painted
woodon ceiling Of which. almost ia uia-.
is supported by arches and onyx columns.
F. \. Bridgman in lIarper's Monthly.