The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-25

to see the native school-a request, Of
course, instantly and gladly granted
/ introduced the Partisan people to the
class of tall Arab girls. Every pupil
over nine years old was already scrup-
ulously yelled for the occasion; they
had taken much care that the "Sp-the
learned man-should not be able tc
discern the color of their eyes, the
shape of their noses or the size Of thelr
ears. One heard them whispering tc
each other, Take care, can see lock
of their hair" or, do not pull your veil
so tight, / see the form of your chin!
What would your father say if he knew
1t? Or your bssther? Let us be pru-
dent!"
1t had not occurred to the inspector
that he would not see the girls faces,
and he was rather disconnected. How
ever, he began to question them, and
some of them gave excellent answers
in very good French. When they were
not quite sure of French word they
tried to mimic it. He heard them read
ing and counting, saw their exercise
books and seemed to be very pleased.
Then, unfortunately, he began some
more conversational questioning.
| What is PARISH" he asked. A girl
replied 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 in yours"
These were not the answers that the
"Si' had expected, and while he hest
tated, confused, they boldly tackled him
in their turn,
rs that thy wife," asked one girl.
yes" said the poor gentleman.
"Well-she Is not pretty" was the
candid rejoinder
"She is good" was the husbands gal
liant retort
Then, if thou art rich, keep her still,
but buy another.
| saw displeasure, not unnatural, ris-
ing in the woman's face; so J. broke
upon this incisive dialogue to ask if the
gentleman would not like to retire a
while, that the girls might unveil for
the women. He said he would with
draw to the garden, and write out his
notes. As soon as he was gone the
girls unveiled and began to chatter
eagerly to the young woman. They
wanted to see and touch everything
about her-her watch, her bracslets, her
shoes. She laughed at first and was
very obliging but she soon had enough
of their curiosity, and we left the class
room and went to see the kindergarten.
The inspector reioined us. Here we
were at our ease, and all were little
children. The inspector called out the
biggest of the class and asked him if
he could read.
"Of course" said the baby, land
can write, too. ] go to two schools
this one and another, where | write
with a reed on a board. have
my inkstand here pointing to it stuck
in his waistband, land when I have
covered my board with my writing
master washes it and / may write
again. But see how funny! In that
school write thus"--from right to left
but in this school l write so'--from
left to right. "Canst thou write both
ways?"
mo. I am sorry, but can write only
from left to right"
II am happy that know more than
a Isl" Dost thou get much money!
The inspector . smiled II get
enough" said he.
"Ah!" said the urchin, II hope to be
rich some day!"
He wrote pipe" creditably on the
blackboard, and was duly congratulate
ed and praised--so much so that as |
lao ha
pulled, and, turning 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 "Si' speak to
me?" he faltered.
well" I said, smoothingly, you are
but a very little boy, and you don't
know much"
But I, too, want to get rich and
have many douros gold peces). II the
ESP does not hear me my cousin will
get rich and I shall not. 7 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 q cadi Gudge), and the other
the intermediary usually employed by
the government in it's dealings with the
natives--as both had done their ut
most to further the interests of our
school and had shown much personal
kindness to me, / was anxious that, no
painful jealousies should be engendered.
SO in a whisper explained the sltua-
ton to the inspector, who kindly called
the second child, saying: well, little
man, can you count up to fifteen?"
Il can try" said the boy. He took |
up his chaplet, drew aside seven beads, |
then another seven, and finally one.
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