The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-04-06

chosen for characterization. They are inva-
rably high, little, barred prison-lge. All
other architectural beauty is found in carved
doorways, among which are many magnifi-
cent specimens; III bases and capitals of
spiral stone pillars supporting arches vault
ing the streets, over which superstructures
often shut out the sky, and are in
the pure Arab style of 1000 years
ago; about the facades and fonts
Of numberless fountains set in cool
alcOveS, projecting Unexpectedly from blank
walls, or built upright from the center of
tiny squares, the only place in all this old
quarter where sunlight ever reaches the
earth; and, behind the massive walls in
interiors, whose structural grace and ex-
quislte arnamentation are an endless feast
Of artistic delight. Again one finds in these
interiors the origin of that loveiest of all
inner forms of household architecture, the
Spanish patio, or court which American
people of wealth might so happily copy at
least with the modification of glass cover
lngs; thus preserving all the enchanting
features OF wide, lofty, lightful open
spaces; the desirable opportunity for prom
enades, feteS and festivities within court
and galleries; and, above all, perfect venti-
lation and the facility for The noblest and
most classic use Of pillars, arches, halus-
trades, draperes, chandeliers or candelabra
ana songful fountains possible for the
beautIiyIng Of the home.
THE BAZAAR.
One will see stranger things within these
streets than their quaint architecture. The
shops are all merely tiny inches in the walls.
The Moorish merchant enters his black little
den through trap-d0or; lowers the shut
ter, which falls, often In steps to the street,
and sits in the center of his possessions,
which are all within reach, volceleSS and
grave the day long, like forsaken Punch
in pantOmime. Every manner of shOp
is just like his. In some wOrkmen are
embroidering the white burnons, utiliz-
ing their great toes for holding tight
the disengaged thread. In others greasy
frltterS are Tried in a solemn and stately
manner while one waits. Some display
ostrich eggs and native ornaments. Here
and there is Il seller of herbs and vegetables
Again white-robed and bearded men are
surrounded by crates OF charcoal and tiny
bundles OF tagOts. In others almost
priceless oriental draperies are packed and
punched around q merchant who smokes
and dreams as if no thought of traffic ever
entered his head. The ancient aud veneer
able letter and scroll writer has his niche
or chair al archWay side, aud waits with
that stole patience only an indian or II
MoSlem can command, TO lndite epistle or
trace sacred passage from the Koran upon
egg-shelI, or on ribbon for some devOut
ones amulet Shoemakers squat cross
legged, sewing aud hammering upon san
dals and slippers only. Bread-selers
crouch against walls and doorways. Groups
Va ohdAti4S navy Win lliGIi COpHCl
ewers are ever before the gurgling old
fountains. Yelled women wrigge and
mlnce to and from market or khouba.
Stately Arabs appear and disappear, their
flowing robes shutting out the vlstas Of the
narrow streets. Cloth vendors higgle-hag-
gle at the cracks Of massive doors barely
aiar.
FUNERALS.
Funeral corteges pass on the run-for the
dead MOslem arrives in paradise that much
boards ready for the bakeries are as fleet as
the funerals. Tiny donkeys loaded with
street-garbage fierce sou against the walls.
Other donkeys with panniers packed with
fruits, orange-blossoms and roses, fill the
shadowy ways with the affairs of sunny
Algerian valleys. The same weird, Wild
scenes Of semi barbaric life that were here
thousand years ago are here to-day, every
day, all day, and will remain. And ii you
wander these ghoStly ways at night, all is
still, shadOwful, silent. You see the white,
silent walls about you. You know that
white, silent forms whSk past you. And
away up there through infinite space you
see the white. silent stars looking down.
1t holds, fascinateS, enthrails. One is
bound with almost inseparable letters of
interest to it; but when you have put the
white dove upon the hillside" behind you,
something like a-breath of relief comes, as
1t dld to me yesterday, when | stepped foot
on Slcllian shores, even If above the white
walls and domeS of thrice-raZed Cataua
loom the dark and forbidden outlines of
hideous, fearful and eVer-destroying -Etna
"CopyTighted 1880 EDGAR L. WAKEAAN.
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