Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-21
UNIVERSITY OF CAIRO
For Centuries One ofthe Most
Famous Institutions.
OVER 10000 STUDENTS
ANYBODY AT LIBERTY TO GIVE
INSTRUCTION THERE
He Seats Himself at the Foot of
Pillar and Addresses Those Who
Will Listen to Him.
OVER 10000 STUDENTS
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.


is called, for centuries has been one of the
most famous in the world, and wherever
you go in Mohammedan countries you will
hear 1t spoken Of as a great institution,
one Of the greatest, oldest and most inf1u-
entail in all the universe, with faculty
or wise, learned and progressive men. It
is the only institution for higher educa-
ton under the care Of Islam, and young
Mohammedans of wealth and future re-
sponsibiltties are sent there from every
land in which faith in the prophet is pro-
claimed. 1t is perhaps the oldest Of all
universities. being the outgrowth of the
Serapeum, which was established at Alex
andria by Ptolemy Sotel 800 B. c.. as I
wrote you few days ago. in connection
with the great library Saladin, however,
was the actual founder of the present in
stitution, about ITO. He gave 1t it's PRES
ent home, which it has occupied ever since
and there Is not the slightest doubt that
at one time it did exercise powerful in
huence throughout the civilized portion Of
the world.
1t is not what we would consider a uni
versity. At least, 1t is not arranged or
conducted upon the plan we are accus-
students from all parts of Turkey, Syria,
Algiers India, Bokhara, Turkestan, At
ghan1stan and the other Mohammedan
countries. Most Of them. however, are
surrounding 1t.
The faculty numbers about $50 moulahs,
or priests, many Of whom are absolutely
ignorant Of every branch of learning ex-
cept the theology of the Koran, which they
teach after the Interpretation Of the sect
to which they belong. Several Of the pro-
fessors have a wide reputation for schol-
arsh1p, and perhaps there is more profound
knowledge of the oriental languages and
literature among them than elsewhere.
Not long ago one of them accepted call
to a chair in an American college, and car
ries with him an ability and knowledge of
Sanscrit and the ancient and modern
tongues Of the east that is, perhaps, I'M
eQualed by any other living scholar.
Methods Of Instructions.
There is no regular organization of the
university. All student has to do is to
sign his name and address in a book at
headquarters in the MOSQUE of Ell Azhar,
select the professor whose instruction he
desires and learn what hours that particu-
lar professor lectures Then he will go to
the great building, covering several acres
of ground. There are no. chairs or desks
or rooms-only a roof supported by nearly
thousand pillars opening upon the court
on four sides. His professor will be squat
ting the floor at the base of a particu-
lar pillar, where he goes every day. and
will be surrounded by his students. to whom
he will talk in a familiar way for an hour
or two every morning or every afternoon.
as the case may be- with or without notes.
A student may make memoranda of the
words of the professor. but It is not Gus
tomary. All the eastern races have ex-
times furnishes those who require a list
Of books pertaining to the subject he has
under discussion. but that is not usual or
record Of the number of pupils who at
tend his lecture. 1t Is not necessary for
him to do SO. They pay him no fees; there
are no examinations; no marks OF merit
hQu fol mi
the name of the student and the date Of his
coming He stays as long as he pleases.
and there Is no record of his departure. 1t
is a go-as-you-please institution all around.
The professors expect no fixed pay. They
have no salaries whatever, and the stu
dents are not required to give them any
thing; but most Of them receive certain
number Of loaves Of bread twice week.
which they can eat or sell or dispose Of
In any way they like, and that covers their
compensation. This bread IL purchased
houses, money and other valuables In past
years several of the khedivss have en-
dowed the institution generously, and rich
men In Egypt and other Mohammedan
countries have bequeathed considerable
sums from time 10 time, but there Is no
arrangement for the founding Of chairs or
the endowment Of departments, as we are
accustomed to. Professors who win friends
for themselves and fame for the university
are often recipients Of large gifts also.
Some of them are very well OF and can
afford to teach for nothing; others act as
tutors for the sons Of rich men who do
not care to nningle with the crowd at the
university and are we'll paid while still
more practice law or hold clerkships or
are attached to different mosques through
out the city where they draw salaries.
Anybody May Teach.
The professors are not elected or chosen
or appointed by any authority. Anybody can
teach in the university provided he does not
make himself offensive to the other profess
sors and can attract students. As one gem
tleman explained to me;
ANY crank with ideas can go there any
day, find an unocoupied place and discourse
according to his own pleasure on any SUBJ
ject that may occur to him. He needs no
license, and 1t is not necessary for him to
ask permission of anybody. Half the men
who are teaching there now were originally
volunteers and this freedom OF discussion
has been the cause Of many herettcal fac
lions in the Mohammedan Church. A priest
who thinks he has discovered new inter-
probation of some passage In the Koran or
some new theological doctrine can go to Ell
AZhar, and II he is fortunate enough to find
a place vacant on the mating under the
pillars he can explain his ideas day after
day as long as anybody will listen to him"
Three-fourths of thu students are studying
theology, but there also are professors OF
philosophy, astronomy geography and all
the oiogies; but very little practical science.
Some of the teachers nave ciaSSos In roaQlnS
and writing. When We went out there the
other day kak dozen had groups OF twen-
ty or thirty youngsters under ten years of
age circled around them. whom they were
teaching to read and write. Several classes,
q little older, were studying geography and
arithmetic and noticed that all OF them
were using for states tin from the cans Of
the Standard OIL Company. They would
write their lessons or their exercises with q
pen whitfield down from reed and ordinary
India Ink, and at the close Of the class
would wash theis TIN 4lates clean again
These were volunteer classes, Just like the
rest, and the men who taught them saved
the rent OF school room by coming to the
university building To- do their teaching.
also noticed several Glasses Of compare
lively old men, who turned out to be priests
and other ecolesiasttcs OF the Mohammedan
Chasch, who we're having the Koran ex-
pounded to them by eminent theoaogians.
But tho larger number of the students were
young men with earnest and intelligent
1aces whose attention was not diverted by
the lnsrusion Of q party Of Yankees, who
stared shout with curiosity.
The Uuiversfty Hall.
Imagine an enormous hall Of several
acres without partitions. and with a low
oali,re, ,,ot mora than 0iRhtAAn fsr Huan&y