The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-17
DID UNIVERSITY
 LOCATED AT CAIRO ;l-Azhar is Perhaps World Most Ancient College THERE ARE MANY TEACHERS More Than 225 Masters Direct the Education of Numerous Students and Knowledge is Supplied for
 Small Price.
From the New York Tribune.

One seldom hears of what is probably the largest and oldest-and to western eyes the oddest-university in the world, El-Azhar. the splendid" at Cairo, Egypt. While the dates of the founding of the university ot Oxford, Paris and Bologna, Tor which great antiquity Is claimed are lost in the midst of the mid ale ages, El-Azhar can read it's title clear from the year 975 A. D. Constantinople is the official head of the Mahometan re- ligion. but the summit of Mussulman learning may be secured only at FL Azhar. Thither flock from every land owning Mahomet as its religious guide those of all ages who would be proficient in the Koran and other branches of oriental learning. More than ten thous- and students according to Frederic Courtland Penfield, formerly United States diplomatic agent and consul gen eral at Cairo, who has described the un- Versity in his book, .Present-Day Egypt" published and copyrighted by the Gen. tury company) sit at the feet of the in- structors about the pillars. The oddity of the university Is nam tested at the first glimpse of the building which houses it. The restorations have been too numerous to leave any indica- ton of the original structure, but there Is no doubt of its realization to Mahomet anism, for lofty minarets of Oriental type rise here and there. Little can be seen ci the exterior, however, for it is closely surrounded by buildings Within is n court, the sky is only roof. On each slde are alcoves covered by roofs sup ported on pillars. The porticos about the enormous open court are each divided into various compartments for the separ- ate use of the students of the different nations. The Algerian students have one, the Moroccans another, tLe Nubians a ihlrd, the Turks another and the Indians stlll another, and so on. The different sections of Egypt each have a separate compartment; those who come from the resting Place of the bones of Mabomet-- Mecca-are also provided with q section and blind pupils, strangely more fanatical and turbulent than the average Mussul- man, also find special accommodation for themselves.
 Few Foreign Visitors.
 Although only drive of a few minutes rom the hotel district, comparatively few foreigners take the trouble to visit the strange educational institution. Many |, are unaware of it's interest. It Is reached by the street Of shops the Mousld and the narrow lane known as the street of booksellers Picking one's way between the conglomeration of humanity, camels, donkeys and Arab workmen sitting cross legged on the floor of their boxlike little shops, binding the curious little volumes enc reaches the entrance known as the "Barbers Gate" Passing a number of students who are having their heads shaved 50 closely that they look like a French wigmaker's shiny artificial poll che sains the interior of the building a Students and masters who are entering are removing their shoes at the threshold l m af ba of ba ,,;1Io are seated the professors" on rugs of sheepskin, discoursing to groups of stu dents squatting in a half circle about them. The pupils are listening intently. Discussions of different themes are going on. Not student turns to look at the visitor, so interested is he in the dis ctssion. The covered portions of the building are supported by 300 marble pillars and each of the instructors has his particular pillar about which to gath CT his students. The lecture finished, the students respectfully kiss the hand of the instructor and hasten away to the pillar of another instructor to become ab' sorbed in another subject.
 While all this is going on other students are performing their purifying ablutons at fountains found here and there in the inclosure. Some are prostrate in prayer, while heads turned toward a niche in the largest assembly room, which indicates the true direction of Mecca. In the great quadrangle students, singly and in groups are seated on their sheepskin rugs, toll. ing over their lessons. Some are stretched at full length, asleep. No one awakens them, masters and students alike carefully stepping around their recumbent forms. Cats without number stroll about the court, rubbing against the students or sniffing about their bowls of ientil soup. This is the cats paradise, for dogs are .'uncean" according to Koranic teaching, and are never per- mitted to enter. A few bread and water pedlers make their way between the groups of students. always careful not to disturbe the sleeping ones. few stu dents are washing some of their gar ments, drying them in the sun, or mend ing them All in all, it is a unique do- mestc scene that is spread out in the big court
 Masters Direct Students.
 The masters to the number of more than 225 direct the education of the numerous students. Their title is sheik, the head master-one selected from the faculty be- cause of his superior knowledge and great holiness-being styled Sheik El- Azhar In the eyes of the faithful he ranks only a little below the Khedive himself Few American scholars would I,a tapopted to become uemhers of the