The times., 1899-02-26
AN ALGERIAN SCHOOL SCENE.

AN ALGERIAN SCHOOL SCENE.
How the Pupils Behave Hcrore For
cign Visitors.
Grom TraYel.)
i Once l was told that an inspector OF
French schools, a very distinguished man
| in his profession, who was travelling with
his wife and daughter, proposed to visit
our establishment. When they came
| found the elder woman highbred and high
ly cultured but rather plain in appear
ance; the daughter was charming, bright
| young woman of eighteen.
! The inspector asked that these women
might be allowed to accompany him to see
the native school-a request, of course. in
staauy and gladly granted. | introduced
the Partisan people to the class of tall
Arab girls. Every pupil over nine years
was already scrupuously veiled for the oc-
casion; they had taken much care that the
"Si'-the learned man-should not be able
to discern the color of their eyes, the shape
of their noses or the size OF their ears
One heard them whispering to each other
Take care, can see lock of your hair, !"
or, DO not pul your veil tight. l see
the form of your chin! What would your
father say if he knew it? Or your brother?
Let Us be prudent
1t had not occurred to the inspector that
he would not see the girls faces, and he
was rather disconnected. However he began
to question them, and some of them gave
excellent answers in very good French
| When they were not quite sure of a French
word they tried to mimic it. He heard
them reading and counting saw their ex-
ercise books and seemed to be very pleased
Then, unfortunately, he began some more
| conversational questioning.
What is Paris - ne askpd. A girl ra-
piled promptly:
"a fiendish town where no proper woman
is to be found-where they all show their
faces to everybody.
Another struck in:
"A beautiful town full OF gold even as
| the prophet will build one for us. but
more beautiful, supplying whatever he sees
wanting III yours.
These were not the answers that the 'Si'
had expected. and while he hesitated. con-
fused. they boldly tackled him in turn.
rs that thy Wife," asked one girl.
Yes" said the poor gentleman.
'Well-she is not pretty" was the cam
did rejoinders
she is good" was the husbands gallant
retort.
Then, If thou art rich, keep her still,
but buy another"
| saw dlspleasure not unnatural rising
in the wonan's face; so | broke upon this
| incisiye dialogue to ask if the gentleman
would not like to retire while, that the
girls might unyeil for the women. He
said he would withdraw TO the garden and
write out his notes. AS soon as he was
gone the girls unveiled and began to chat
ter eagerly to the young woman. They
wanted to see and touch everything about
her-her watch. her bracelets. her shoes.
She laughed at first and was very oblig-
q ing, but she soon had enough of their
curiosity. ard we left the classroom and
, went to see the kindergarten.
The inspector rejoined us. Here We we're
at our ease and all were little children.
The inspector called ont the biggest of
his class and asked him if he could read.
''Of course, said the baby. and l tan
write, too. L go TO two schoo!s-this Cne
and another, where write with reed
on a board. | have my inkstand here"
pointing to it stuck in his waistband. and
when ! have covered my board with my
writing my master washes it and l may
write again. But see how funny. In that
school l write thus'-from right to left
but in this school write so''-from left
to right. ''Canst thou write both ways
NO, l am sorry, but l can write cnly
from left to right"
Il am happy that I know more than 4
81 Dost thou get much money"
The inspector smiled. 4 get enough"
said he.
All said the urchin, Il hope to be
rich some day
He wrote pipe" creditably or the black
board, and was duly congratulated and
praised-so much SC that as | was leaving
the room | felt my dress pulled. and. turn
ing back. found the cousin of the hero
standing by my side, his face working with
coming tears.
What is the matter with you?" said |.
Why does not the ST speak TO me-"
he faltcred.
Well" I said. soothingly, you are but
very little boy, and you don't know
much"
But I, too, want to get rich and have
many douros (gold pecesD. If the 81
does rot hear me my cousin will get rich
and | shall not. | want to get douros."
| Now. as both these children belonged to
a family intimately connected with our
French official life-the father OF one being
a cadi GudgeJ. ana the other the interme-
diary usually employed by the government
| in its dealings with the natlvC5-as both
| had done their utmost to further the inter
ests of our school and had shown much
personal kindness to me. | was anxious that
no painful jealouses should be engendered.
| So in "a whisper | explained the situation
to the inspector who kindly called the
second child. saying: We'll. little man.
can you count up to fifteen?"
Il can try" said the boy. He took up
his chaplct. drew aside seven beads, then
another seven. and finally one.
| That is two times seven and one, he
said.
The inspector was not used to this kind
of enumeration. Can you write fifteen on
the blackboard" he asked.
The child hesitated for a moment, count
ed his beads again, and saying. that is
ten and that is fve.' he wrote 10, 5.
1T is not quite So said the inspector.
Then how is it, asked the puzzled
child See. here are ten beads. | write
ten: and five, | mark THAT must be fif-
| teen?"
We'll. well.'' said the inspector. II am
| quite sure that by and by you will be a
| clever and honest man and acquire n for
tune"
Does that mean heaps of douros?"
Yes, both for you and your cousin -
And with that happy prophecy the inspec-
| tor and the women withdrew.
| Nnt Like. LAWYER,