The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-08
Cairo's Charms
In the Winter
Special to The Globe.

Special to The Globe.
CAIRO, March Talk as they will
of the charms of the Riviera and 9TH
er hallowed haunts of the European
who enjoys winter travel in warmer
ATTITUDES, l think we all admit Cairo to
be the most attractive spot for a So.
journ whilst old Boreas remains SUI
preme at home.
For those who are in the swim moth
Ing can be gayer-even a dull season
In Cairo would be gay anywhere else.
Travellers naturally throng to the no.
tells, houses being difficult to get and
rents very high. Occasionally it is
possible to obtain a fiat through the
good services of q friend, but even
then there is apt to be trouble with the
native servants and that is something
not to be lightly considered.
Society Is extremely cosmopolitan
here. 1t includes chiefly French, Greek
and Levantine merchants and finan-
cterS who make up the very rich fac
ton. AT all important functions Turks
and Arabs are present and there is a
very large contingent of English and
Americans. Many distinguished Rus
slams also have taken a liking to Cairo.
The winter season opens with the
giving of the first state ball at the
Ahdin palace by the khedive. 1t is an
extremely gorgeous function and the
khediVe opens it in person, dancing the
first quadrille with the wife of the
agent general, Lord Cromer.
There was a time, when Tewfik was
khediVe, that almost any tourist could
obtain admission and some of these
balls were very tawdry affairs, but
that has all been changed. Since the
present regime has existed, however,
there has been considerable decorum
attached to the ceremonial and now the
balls are as smart and exclusive as
those Of any other court. 1t has be-
come almost impossible for the chance
visitor to secure an invitation, unless
1t may be that he or she is of such
rank or position In England as to en-
list the interest of the agent general.
During the winter there are held one
or two presentation drawing rooms
and three or four additional court re-
ceptions, unless it may happen that the
vicereine is absent.
The center and meeting place of the
fashionable world Is the Ghezireh, the
great sporting club, the grounds of
which occupy fifty acres of grass. They
are delightfully."- laid out and delicious
with the scent of orange and lemon
trees. Visitors may become temporary
members of the club on presenting a
proper Introduction and payment of a
fee of $40. Polo, cricket, golf. lawn
tennis and pigeon shooting are some
of the main attractions at the Che
zireh. There is a course for riding
and jumping and during each winter
there are race meetings of two days
each and six or seven gymkanas. Al
most every afternoon the band plays
there and tea is served at the little
tables in the club house.
The GheZireh, in fact, is the social
hub Of Cairo. it is the place where
every one who passes socially makes
a point of putting in an appearance.
During the morning hours all the
resident men are in offices or barracks
or on duty of some sort. Visitors shop
and do sightseeing. 1t is only in the
morning that anyone, ladies especially,
can walk in Cairo-to do so Is to be
conspicuous-bu the scene in any OF
the streets Of the Europeans quarters