Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-22

ten steps we had all but forgotten Chi
cago or that We were in America, for We
were almost overturned by one of the little
donkeys, which turned an angle and brought
his jig trot to stop just in front Of u.s. jingling
his bells in our very faces Continually these
patient little animals are ridden up and down
their beat. which is the length Of the street, by
one or two children ut time, each donkey boy
running at the side Of his own beastie urging
him on with shouts and calls, his costume just
such as he wears at home, the colors Ginning
with the gay decorations Of his donkey and the
neutral tones OF the buildings on each SIDE
Just beyond are the rugs spread on the ground
where the came!s kneel and RISE to softly pad
along also to the end Of the street, each with
its burden OF American humanity, generally
in state OF laughter, and pursued by the
laughter OF friends At the novel situation. The
came!s always attract the largest part Of the
crowd. who apparently never tire Of seeing the
convnlsive jerks the riders get at the successive
uprising and downsitting, 80 TO speak. Of the
big animals. pitch toward the head. which
nearly dislodges one, being followed by pitch
backward equally discomforting After looking
on for while at this, and feeling no desire TO
let the crowd be amused at us a. riders, we
wandered on, keeping 10 the right OF the mar
row roadway and peering in at the different
stalls or booths lining the street.
A flower girl with black draperies. the lower
onsk Vi INC ioCc covered anu the Qua ornament
over the nose, almost between the eyes. was
here, there and everywhere with her basket Of
flowers, 80 exactly like one Of the figures we
had seen in an Egyptian picture in the art GAL
iery that her first appearance was quite start
ling.
saleswomen Speak English.
The fact Of the saleswomen being French-if
not American-and speaking English, adds to
the convenience Of shopping here. though de-
tracing somewhat from the effect one expects.
About the same wares present themselves in
each place, SO presently we fall to examining
more particularly the architecture of the build
ings and admlring the faithful represen tstion
OF old walls which look as II they might have
been standing for years under an Egyptian
sky. Projecting windows and balconies, pro-
tected jealousy by Cairene screens Of fretwork,
are ON almost every one, irregularly dptting the
sides, often perched at dizzy height
As we reached the farther end Of the street
where it widens into a small open space, as at
the beginning, a Withholding black woman
rushed from somewhere and turned into the
small open booth Of photographer; at once
every one near stopped to have nearer view Of
this savage-looking creature, while some one
explains. She is one OF the Nubians whose So
called "theater" is near. With the utmost nom
chalance she returned the curious looks bent
on her, drawing her dinRy sheet-like covering
around her, leaving one black arm and
side quite bare to her waist
while she ratified the bangles on her wrist and
seemed to be choosing a style in which to have
her beauty perpetuated in a photograph. Her
thick, long wool was in innumerable tiny
braids. which hung wildly over her head and
somewhat over her face, while rose ornament
apparently screwed into one nostril, crowned
the list Of her attractions. She chartered a few
minutes to the man In charge, who seemed to
understand her, then dashed across the street.
interviewed the cake merchant there with a
rollicking. coquettish air about her. Then of
she ran TOWARD the huts in the rear Of the thea
ter. We concluded we would see the rest Of
these Nubians after this specimen and SO fol-
which dark-hued man stood. bawling In intel
ligible English the numerous attractions to be
seen within.
rough platform in the center is the stage.
an aisle Of bare ground is left on three sides of
it, then against the wooden walls Of the struc-
ture q narrow bench IL built, where tn % Spec
tators sit.
Tho Performance.
The place filed up a few minutes after our
entrance and the performance began. A man
IN the dress Of Turk acted as rngmaster. en-
couraaing the dancers and walking around to
inspire the audience with enthusiasm. group
Of men squatting one side Of the stage made
the hideous noise which Is extracted from the
musical instruments, and at first only single
dancer appeared to accompany all the racket
Black and savage looking, the most noticeable
feature OF his costume was a deep fringe Of
shells around his waist. and his dancing con-
sisted in shaking these until they ratified like
castanets as he postured and jumped. Just as
this was getting monotOnous, out ran q baby Of
two years or SO, dressed exactly like the man,
who, amid the loud applause Of the audience,
went through similar performance, rafting
his shell girde and entering with such spirit into
his role that he was quite Irresistible. After his
part had gone on a little while his mother sp-
parently, appeared and led him down to make
the tour of the benches for nickels and dimes
and his little black baby hand was filed many
times before he finished his round; then he
danced again and more money was thrown to
him on the stage. the man dancer pretending to
run for it ALSO snd thus rousing his infant ire
After this the whole troupe came on. the woman
We had seen outside among them, evidently
''ieading lady" too, and for fifteen minutes or
of Darkest Africa" which has been transported
thither to amuse and instruct the visitors to
this great worlds fair.
The Mummies.
Near the Nubisns and at the end Of the Cairo
street looms up the temple Of "Laksor," and
here also We went in. This has the imposing
title Of Psychological exhibit. a company
graciousy authorized by H. H. the Khedive OF
Egypt" and list of its special features on the
handful presented at the door, includes the
Mummy Of Rameses II, oppressor Of Is
raelites.
Mummy Of SETH I, whose daughter found
Moses.
Mummy Of Hirhor /, father-in-law Of King
Soloman.
We we're just in time for the sacred dance Of
the ancient Egyptians, which Is interesting.
though monotohous, like all Of tho oriental
dancing. The laughing, dark-brown face of
one OF the men dancers, who wore the only
white costume among them, was at once the
center Of attraction, for every one WAS attracted
by it. and as he threw himself into the pos tur-
ing with more abandon than any OF the others
and clapped his hands more loudly be WAS at
once the favorite. After this dance, which
went on below the high stage where the three
musicians sat. two dancing girls, in turn, went
through their evolations upon the stage and
then the set program was finished and visitors
walked around the line of mummies which was
on each side Of the large room. We disregarded
| the enticing legend ''Tombs Of the Kings"
which was over the doors leading
into unknown regions at the back
OF the stage, and contented ourselves
with inspecting the hideous mummies which
arc so faithfully reproduced. One is labeled
"Clbmos l. XVIII D., 1920 B. c., who drived
away the shepheard king from Egypt" The
mummy Of "Hubor. father-in-law Of King
Solomon" seems like rather concentrating