The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-14

IKE Meii-hfeu American gentleman lhat
the ruler Of one of the most ceremOnious anS
pompOus people Of the world.
His dress was that Of Turk Of high ranl
who has adopted European clothes. His blacl
bT0adcoth coat was buttoned close up 10 tin
neck like that Of preacher lie wore panta
looms OF light lavender and these fitted wei
down over a pair Of Gaitcr-like pumps. HI
head was covered with red foz cap, from The
crown Of which a black silk tassel fell down
almost to his neck behind.
As he seated himself his coat opened, and
could see that his shirt was Of the same whit,
as that Of any Christian gentleman, and thai
his black ribbon bow under his turnover collar
was OF ordinary silk His cuffs looked rs though
| they were washed AZ home and his only jewclry
consisted Of gold studs about as big around as
buck shots, and his modest watch chain was o.
short links OF gold.
Shortly after we had taken our seats a ser.
want clad in Turkish costume brought in coffee
and cigarets. The coffee was served in china
cups Ia holders Of gold flagree and His Majesty
/ sippe his of with loud noise The fact that
/ ID was steaminE, did not seem TO trouble him.
/ and when took my cup and attempted 10 fol-
low his example ] found the liquid 10 taste
like boiling lead. ] accepted a cigaret 10 get
rid of the coffee, and was surprised 20 see that
His Majesty did not do likewise. j asked him
IL he did not smoke. lie replied
No. l do not think man should either
smoke or drink Intoxicating liquors. ] think
we would lie better of il we could get along
without tobacco, and you know il is against the
rules Of the Koran 10 use intoxca drinks.
j believe every man should be faithful 10 the
! religion which he PROCESSES, and good Mussel-
men drink neither wine nor liquor Some Of
1 the best Of our people arc found in the smaller
villages and we have towns in which drunken
man is neyor seen and where drunkenness
would be severely punished
am a thorough MahOmetan, but for all
that j am rather liberal ia religious matters,
and j tolerate all religions and all sects
think your missionaries are doing great deal
Of good here ] do not mean in the way Of
conversion, for few Of the Muhometans are ever
converted But your missionaries have good
schools and they arc doing something 10 edu-
cate my people"
" Does Your Majesty think Mahomctanism
is grOwing2" j asked
:" Indeed do" replied the Khedive. at is
fast spreading south through Africa: we have
Mahometans in nearly every part Of the world.
There are vast numbers OF them in India, and
we have all told, between 100000 and 200-
100000 people who profess our faith. There
are many Mahometans in North China, and
our people are usually very deyout We attend
our Mosques better i am told, than you Christ
lans do your churches, and j find that Ameri-
cans are surprised that j 60 regularly TO the
Mosque"
The Consul General, here speaking Of the
Koran and the khedives knowledge Of it, Ills
Majesty told me that be knew the whole book
by heart, and that he could rpcite it from one
end 70 the other ] doubt whether any Christ
ian ruler can say the same of the Bible
instrumentation next turned to the condition
Of affairs IN Egypt, and the hhedivc spoke with
great feeling as 10 the state Of the people and
with much hope as 20 tho future lie spoke
proudly OF the reforms he had nauguTatcd, aud
especially referred 10 the improvements OF the
Court. Said he:
when ] came 10 the throne found there
was one law for the Pasha and another for the
peasant. The Folahin could not get their
rights, and they were oppressed from one end
OF Egypt TO the other Now, though the taxes
know are heavy, every Felah can tell Just
what his taxes are, and be knows that he will
not have TO pay more than his due. Now, thank
God, there is no difference IN justice. The high
and the low are the same before our courts, and
the wrong-doer is sure TO be punished whatever
be his station"
Preferred to the trials and troubles as a ruler,
and a shadow came across his face as he an
EWered me.
81 am told" said he, that my position is a
great one, and that many people envy me. They
say am young man. j am only 80, but feel
much older IL sometimes seems that have
lived a long time The people do not under
stand the troubles that surround a person in
my position. My 10 years OF reign have been
equal TO 40 years OF work and worry. Many a
time j have felt that / would be glad 10 lay
down all the honors have for rest aud peace.
] would be fool to stay here If looked upon
lille as mere matter Of pleasure ] believe,
however, that there is a higher word than
pleasure and that 10 duty. think the good
God put every man in this world for a purpose,
and believe he lad some end IN making me.
What His purpose was do not know. but do
the best can for my country aud my people,
aud feel the happiest when ] am the busiest
and when my work is the hardest"
During the talk be referred to Arab Pasha
aud the revolution, but requested me % say
nothing Of this IN my report Of his converse
ton. he referred 10 the revolution Of the
Mahdi and 10 the creditors Of Egypt, who were
then grinding the life out Of the country. He
deprecated the loss Of the SOudRn and its inn
mense trade and said that be hoped the time
would come, though be never expected 10 see
u, when Egypt might in some way get rid Of
ITS Immense debt aud tho people have a chance
TO make their struggle for existence on the
same basis as those Of the best nations Of the
world.
The whole conversation was OF this same cor
dlal and unccremoniuus character j found the
Khediye a Wcii.cducated man. lie spoke the
French and the English a. huently a. he did
The Arabic, and his talk showed that he was a
thinker aud a student. During my stay ia
Cairo i visited bis fav0rite Mosque, in the
Mausoleum OF which bis remains will rest
This Is the Alabaster Mosque, which Maho-
met Ali the Napoleon Of Egypt, built on the
citadel above Cairo. IL covers many acres, and
u has paved marble court, around which
cloistes run into which you could drop city
block. This court is rooted with the sky, and
In the midst Of IL there is great marble
fountain, where the worshipors battle their feet
And hands before they 80 TO pray. The entire