Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-04-17
ALCIERS SKETCHES.
The Lazy, DawdIing Life One
Sees There.
NARROW AND IRREGULAR STREETS
The Arab Women are Shrouded from
Head to Foot In White Haiks and
Muslin Materials.

1t has been very pleasant sensation
to turn away from the bleak chilliness
and piercing winds of the Riviera this
winter and find one s self in the beauti-
full. bright sunshine Of Algiers. The
lazy. dawdling life pleases one, and
time passes quickly enough in strolling
among terraces and gardens, driving
over the sun-baked roads or riding
through shady lanes. The villas with
their hospitable owners are an unend.
ing pleasure. and give one an idea of
how much an American or European
OF taste can improve upon the Moorish
architecture and ideas of adornment.
The roses and violets are delicious to
look upon and SO very fragrant. And
then there are all sorts Of bewildering
odds and ends to be bought from the
Arab merchants and the native shops.
One does not need to move away from
ones hotel, however, as the merchants
are only too glad to send their sales
men with we'll packed bale of samples
for ones inspection. Only beware and
never give anything like the price de-
manded. The Arab dearly loves the
bargaining feature of sale, and seem
just as we'll satisfied If the wrangle
goes against his original demand. no
doubt being quite sure that the final
price agreed upon is in excess of the
real value Of the article.
When one speaks of a winter in
Algiers reference is generally made to
Unstapha. Superieur. Ell Biar, Bou.
zaica or some other suburb. in which
are located the principal hotels and all
the villas. The town itself is close to
the water, but the various little villages
are found back Of it, doting the hills
which rise above the town and from
which most beautiful view of the
blue Mediterranean can be had ON the
one hand. while in the other direction
are to be seen the snow-capped sum-
mits of the Atlas mountains that
sparkle and dance under the influence
of the dazzling sun. To this really
charming place fashion is more and
more directing its steps, and one need
not necessarily associate with it the
idea Of sanitarium. although invalids
who find European winter too severe
are sent here in considerable numbers.
Many are the remarkable stories told
by individuals themselves of the bene.
fetal effects Of the pure air, and how
they can only find health and strength
in this place. That they certainly
have found them both needs no further
testimony than the present appearance
of those who have been benefited.
One of the most interesting of the
visitors this season was the Empress of
Austria. for whom the entire second
story Of one of the hotels overlooking
the sea was selected. Her private
rooms were luxuriously and tastefully
furnished and looked out upon the
Mediterranean. The imperial tenant.
whose feats Of pedestrianism are re-
markable and whose suite is constantly
forced to give in to her superior powers.
was within easy reach of the piotur.
esque and solitary paths which abound
in this neighborhood and which she
frequented every suitable day. This
imperial wanderer gets up at day.
break. and after light, early breakfast
sets off on tramp from which she does
not return before 10 o'clock. Then
after a somewhat substantial lunch she
again starts with fresh relay of at
tendants and seldom returns before
nigthfall. Almost everybody recog-
nizes her. as she usually carries large
white sunshade and yellow fan of
considerable dimensions. She is tall,
upright and has perfect figure, look
ing at distance very much younger
than she really is; but closer view of
her face shows traces of profound grief.
and. in fact. although charming in her
affability, she never has recovered from
the shock caused by the death of her
son.
The streets Of the older portion of
Algiers are very narrow and irregular.
and in numerous instances the houses
are 80 close from one side of the street
to the other that it is almost a squeeze
for stout man to pass through. The
houses are nearly all painted white or
a pale blue and are scarcely TO be dis
tinguished one from another, the only
apparent distinction being the carvings
Of the street door and the more or less
carved marble or stone of
the arcade encircling the door. The
Moorish houses are airy and cool, and
all have an open. square court inside.
surrounded ON the four sides by
gallery Of arcades with pillars sup
porting the upper gallery. The pri-
vate apartments are situated on the
door above, which Is similar to the
basement, the only difference being
that the gallery is encircled by BAN
lster Of elegantly carved wood, just
high enough to allow person to lean
On. All the houses are hat.roofed and.
the tops around the central open air
court are used as terraces. especially
for the private exercise of the women.
These seldom leave the house-at least
never during the year Immediately fol-