The record-union., 1899-06-25
ings; glass with 4 plain surface il much
to be preferred
AN ALGERIAN SCHOOL.
How the Pupils Behave Before
Visitors.

Il OuCS W aS tO1O lIkxAt o1I FlIl<kycCtOI ~
1 French schools. ! a very distinguished
man in his profession, WHO was travel
j ing with his wife and daughter, pro-
posed to visit our1establishmert When
/ they came I found the elder woman
highly bred and highly cultured, but
rather plain in appearance; the daugh-
ter was charming, bright young wom-
an of IS.
The inspector asked that these women
might be allowed to accompany him to
see the native school-a request. OF
course, instantly and gladly granted.
I introduced the Par;sian people to the
class of tall Arab girls. Every pupil
over 9 years old was already scrupu-
lously yelled for the occasion; they had
taken much care that the "Si''-the
learned man-should not be able to
discern the color of their eyes, the
|sihape Of their noses or the size of their
ears. Take care, can see a lock Of
your hair or DO not pull your veil;
[so tight, I see the form of your chin!
What would your father say if he knew
it? Or your brother? Let us be pru-
dent!''
1t had not occurred to the Inspector
that he would not see the girls faces,
W
er, 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 work they tried
to mimic It. :. He heard them reading
and counting, saw their exercise books
and seemed to be very pleased. Then.
unfortunately, he began some more
conversational questioning.
| ssWhat siss PaniS2's he a clyod A rirl
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 Pro0het will build s<ne for US.
but more beautiful, supplying what
ever he sees wanting in yours"
/ There were not the answers that the
''si' had expected, and while he hesi-
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 gall
liant retort. -
ssThen, If thou art rich, keep her still.
but buy another"
I saw displeasure, not unnatural, ris-
ing in the woman's face; SO I broke
upon this inc.sive dialogue to ask if the
gentleman would not like/to retire
while. that the girls might unven 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 bracelets, her shoes
She laughed at first and was very oblig-
ing, but she soon had enough of their
curiosity, and we left the, classroom and
went to see the kindergarten.
The Inspector rejoined US. Here
we We're at our ease. anS all were lit
tie children. The Inspector called out
the biggest of the class and asked him
if he could read.
.Of course said the baby, "and
can write, tco. / go to two schools
this one and another, where I write
with a reed on board..I have my
kinkstand here, pointing to it stuck
in his waistband, land when I have
covered my board with my writing my
master washes it and I may write
again. But see how funny! In that
school 1 write thus'-from right to left
but in this school 1 write so''-fronl
left to right. "Canst thou write both
ways?"
mo, I am sorry, but 1 can write only
from left to right
81 am happy that know more than
ST. Dost thou get much money!"
| Tvl- TIA 11ertf
said he.
"Ah!'' said the urchin, II hope to be
rich some day!'
He wrote pipe" creditably on the
blackboard, and was duly congratu-
lated and praised-so much so that as
I was leaving the room l felt my dress
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 1.
why does not the 'Si speak to me?"
he. faltered.
"Well," said I, soothingly, you are
but very little boy, and you don't
know much"
4 But I, too, want to get rich and
have many douros (gold pieces). If the
'Si does not hear me my cousin will
get rich and shall not. I want to get
douros."
/ Now,as both these children belonged
| to family intimately connected with
our French official life-the father of
one being a Cadi (Judge), and the
other the intermediary usually em-
ployed by the Government in it's deal
ings with the natives-ass 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 jealousies should be en-
gendered. So in a whisper ex-
planned the situation to the Inspector,
who kindly called the second child,
saying: We'll, little man, can you
count up to fifteen?"
IT can try" said the boy He took
up his chaplet, 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,
counted his beads again, and saying,
that is ten and that is five" he wrote
10, 5.
1T is not quite so," said the In
spector.
''Then how is it?" asked the puzzled
| child .sSee here are ten beads