Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-11-29
Money from the MidDcay.

Milk and honey will flow. and there
will be feasting and rejoicing in many
lands of the Orient this winter. The
people of the MIDWAY, says the Chicago
Tribune, are going home, and they are
taking with them an amount which, adj
ded 10 what they have already sent, is
estimated to approximate sl,00O,OOO.-
If any man doubts it, let him 90 into
the banks and tourists agencies which
deal in foreign exchange and money
They have been besieged the last two
days by Egyptians, Copts, Franks, Arabs,
Turks. Hindoos, Singalese, Nubians,
Japs and Syrians with wads. bundles aud
bags of money, to be changed into coin
that passes current in their far away
homes.
1t was a curious sight to see them come
in. The first arrival Tuesday was dom
key boy from Cairo street: From some
remote corner of his flowing robes he pro-
duced tattered cloth, and unrolled it,
and dumped 500 in silver on the coun-
ter.
LET me have French francs for II, y
he said through the Interpreter. A
cameIdriver followed who wanted 81 900
changed. Along in quick succession
came an Arab who brought draft for
81 800 on Beirout, Turk, who had
$4,000 to transfer. Persian dancer with
fortuneof 81 800 in American silver, and
Nubian soldier, who unrolled $500 in
bills. All day Tuesday and Wednesday
they came with money in every imagin-
able receptacle. The elderly Egyptian
who sold piasters worth four cents for
coins of 300 B. G. for 81 each planked
down several hundred dollars in bills and
asked for French NapoIeons. Devout
Turks, who had spared the time from
their devotons to sell something, had
Jumps of bills to turn into gold.
1t was spectacle that inspired Major
Hutchison to remark that the glory OF
the Orient had returned. What he
meant was this: In Egypt an income ol
twenty francs a month is deemed suffi.
cient to keep family and allow mar
gin for saving. The unmarried man
with an annual income of s25 is consid-
cred great catch.
"When that donkey boy from Cair'
street arrives home with his 800 what
will he do Buy palace ?" was asked
Major Hutchison.
"He will be marked man among his
people. He may not buy palace be-
cause he is as like as not to have half a
dozen wives. The money he takes home
will keep them a long. long time. The
praise of Chicago will be sung in many
lands this winter, because hundreds oi
families in The Orient will be in plenty
with what their fathers have earned ia
trade and received in backsheesh. W.
have been sending people home for
month. Forty destined for Turkey, Egyp
and Arabia leave in lie Breiagne mex
Saturday. Those who remained unit
the last take home the most money. i
has been accumulated by them all sum
mer. We seee it now for the first time.
The Orien!als who are going home arr
leaving a little of their money behind
Some of the Syrians have bought first
class guns and pistols. When they gal
lop over the deserts on their fiery charg
ers they will shoot Remingions and Colt
in the air, instead of the rusty flint-locl
muskets with which their friends wh'
stayed away from the fair are armed
Half dozen of those Egyptian donkey
boys, who are taking home independen
fortunes, are going in style befilting lhel
changed conditions. They have purchas
ed American clothes literally Of Soutl
Clark street secondhand dealers. Th'
Nubians have invested in scented hair
oil and mirrors. The Turks have bougb
jewelry.
They will be bowling swells amoul
their people," said Major Hutchison,-
They have been treated here with re
speci they were italy unused to. ex
pect to hear of trouble on the Nile wheI
the donkey boys get back and find iha
with Europeans familiar with Egypt they
are simply donkey boys. Why some 0
them were taken riding 10 carriages tbi
summer.
Young americans Afoaf, or Cruising q
the Orient.