The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-10

tive HdklXHSs ana mas gone so Idr as 10 dlS-
cuss the institution of hospitals in KapuI
Already he has familiarized the inhabitants
OF the capital, as my last letter VIII have
pursuit of many forms of mechanical indus
try. He now contemplates some more big
workshops at Jellalabad.
MODERN CIvILIZERS
The Mo1ammedan prejudice against rail-
ways is being shattered by the spectacle
of the little pioneer railroad of Kabul. If
the devils wagon can be utilized to bring
down stone and marble to build new Ka-
bull, why should it not some day transport
that equally hard-g-ained commodity, the
Kabuli citizen? Horticulture and arboricul-
ture are additional objects of the Ameer's
enlightened concern, while by the iTnporta-
ton of English stations and rams he is
doing much to improve the native breed OF
horses and sheep. / do not say that the
adoption of any or even all these measures
by an autocrat whose intellect may be gen.
eratons in advance of that of his people,
and whose lightest whim is law, is synony-
nous with. national resuscitation, or will
straightway convert Afghanistan, which is
now a weak country, into a strong one
But do say that they are all steps in the
right direction; that they will tend to break
down the barrier which character, history
and religion have combined to erect between
the Afghans and civilization, and that by
making them happier, moree comfortable,
more resourceful, and. above all. less igno-
rant, their present ruler will if he lives to
carry out his plans have done much toward
infusing his subjects with that solidarity IN
which they are at present so painfully lack
ing
sOnal aspect and attributes of the Amer.
man of great stature, of colossal personal
strength and of corresponding stoutness OF
frame when in his prime, he is now much
altered by sickness from the appearance
presented, for instance. by the photographs
taken at the Rawul Pindi durbar in 1886
a IA, l.
add that he has profited greatly by the
change. a large, but in no wise unwielsd1y
figure, sitting upright upon Silken quits
outspread over low charpoy, or bedstead,
the limbs incased in close-fitting lambs
wool garments, fur-lined pelisse hanging
over the shoulders. and a spotless white
silk turban wound round the conical Afghan
eomn cap low 0 GoWn OF to th 6
broad and massive countenance, with regu-
lar features, but complexion visibly saiioW
from recent illness brows that contract
somewhat as the speaker is ponderlng or
arguing; luminous black eyes that look out
very straightly and fixedly Without the the
moustache, close clipped upon the upper lip
and carefully trimmed black beard, neither
so long nor so luxuriant as OF yore, fram-
ing mouth that responds to every express
sion, and which, when it opens las not IN
frequently happens to ioaa {h f Mi1g ne
of teeth in both jaws; a voice resonant
but not harsh and an articulation OF sur o1
prising emphasis and clearness; above all
a manner of interchangeable dignity and
command-this was the outward guise and
bearing of the kingly host with whom
enjoyed many hours or delgntIui con-
versation while at Kabul-
I may add that for stating his own case
in an argument or controversy the Amer
would not easily find match on the front
benches in the House of Commons, whilst il
If he be induced. as can without olIn-
Guilty be done, to talk Of his own expert
ences and to relate stories of his adven,
lures in warfare exile, the organized
mnuteness and delibe1 alton with which each
stage of the narrative in due order pro-
ceeds is only equaled by the triumphant
crash of the climax, and only exceeded by
the roar of laughter which the denouement
almost invariably provokeS from the audi
ence and in which the author as heartily
ioinS Like most men trained IN the FER
guage of the upper classes in Afghanistan,
the Ameer is a constant quOter or saws ana
wise sayings from that inexhauStlDle we'll
Of sapient philosophy, the lranian rope; lne
as the Indian government knows well, sur
fer from any dearth of a hyperbole, Wnlcn,
if sometimes forid, is always artistic. ana
which, though commonly crus.eu Win w .le
sionally but half concealing the barDed
shaft of sarcasm
No one who converses with the Amer or
who hears him state his own views can fail
to carry away the impression that he. has
been in contact with an intellectual force
of no mean order, and has met most re-
markable man. 1t should be adoed mat TINS
more reasonably feared by those VINO nave
crossed his path or are his enemies than
any other living potentate, and who, like
ssscolIrge of Cod to his adversaries APP
pears to possess the faculty of enlistfng the
devotion of those with whom he is brought
into most intimate contact. In TINS inner
those who like him love him; those VINO
are his servants become his slaves