Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-02-23
MR.. LAUMASTER'S
TALK ON ALGIERS

Mr.. Laumaster delivered the fifth
OF series of addresses on his trip to
the Holy Land IN the Y. NC. A
Hall yesterday afternoon, before a
large audience. After briefly outlin-
ing previous addresses he took up the
afternoon topic Experiences at
Algiers.
MIR. Laumaster opened the address
with an account Of the method adopt
ed by the tourists agent to enable the
party to make the best use of their
time on shore. Slips wera issued to
the tourists containing information
relative to the places about to be Wis
tied, and suggestions for the sight
seers.
The speaker first described the en-
trance to the city of Algiers He
spoke of the beautiful Earbor an1 bay
where their ship anchored. As is
customary in places of this kind, mer-
chants soon thronged around the boat
trying TO sell their wares to the tour
lists. The party was taken TO shore
early in the morning and began their
day of sight seeing They visited
many points OF interest in the quaint
old city. being carried from place TO
place in carriages, which method
afforded an excellent opportunity TO
see tae entire city between stopping
places.
Among the places of interest visited
was the great wall or break water,
which was built by Christian slaves,
over 80 900 being engaged three years
In the work of building it, Other
places visited were the citadel and
the palace of the governor, the public
library and museum, the famous resi-
dence portion of the city, known as
Mustapha Superieur, number of the
mosques, the public gardens and
squares and many of the public build
ings.
The view of Algiers from the bay
is most beautiful. the city being on a
range of hills rising in amphitheatre
form around an artificial harbor. The
buildings are principally white, and
it is common to speak of the city as
a Diamond enclosed in an emerald"
on account of its beautiful setting
of green hills and trees The city is
divided into two parts. French Alglers
and Arab Algiers. The French portion
OF the city is as gay as modern Paris.
It Is fronted by the Boulevard de la
Repu ublique which is 3700 feet long
and cost sl5 O00, 600. Oo Here are
the finest stores, hotels and public
buildings. In Arab Algiers the streets
are narrow, houses windowless and no
vehicles Some of the streets are a
success 3ion of steps, it being necessary
to mount as many as 500 on some OF
these Inclined highways.
It was in the Arab quarter of the !
city that the party got their iirst real /
glimpse of Oriental lite. The popula-
ton here is mixture of Moors, Arabs. |
Bedouins, Turks. Romans and Jews.
The costumes of the inhabitants are |
most striking, there being many veil |
ed women, and others whose garb |
showed that the party were in the |
midst of Oriental life. This Arab |
quarter is rapidly disappearing, how
ever, 300 of the old houses having
ban destroyed in one year. 1t is ex-
pected that Algiers will soon be a
modern French city. The populati on
of the city of Algiers is 1873, 000
The climate is equable throughout |
the entire year, and at all times Is most |
delightful. 1t is a very popular health |
resort for many. A goodly number |
of the people are engaged in gardening |
and artisan employmentS. There are |
vineyards, palm trees. beautiful pri- !
vate gardens and everywhere the veg
citation is most luxuriant. The city |
has a system of electric cars, and also |
has a steam railway that rams into |
the interior There are good roads, |
schools and churches The prevailing |
style of architecture is Moorish with |
many modern buildings.
In conclusion Mr.. Laumaster said |
that he hoped that the series of ad
dresses would result in awakening a
deeper interest in missionary work.