The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-02-08
BRIGAND TRANSFORMED
TO MEMBER OF oIVILIzA-
 TION
Gabriel Bar Alexander Renounces Old
 Religion and Becomes B Christian

Formerly brigant and engaged in tribal warfare, an expert with the dreaded Kurdish knife and rife, Cab riel Bar Alexander is to-day the guest of well-known New Workers, and ire quently the guest of honor at after noon teas. Next week he sails for where he expects to Jay aside his frock coat and silk hat and to up his old life among his people
 A man of attractive personality and marked ability, and educated at Yale and Colgate Universities, the young Kurd has at last decided to give up his present mode of living, severing the ties of friendship, and return to his tribe where he will devote the rest of his life to heightening their ideals and introduce the more gentle ways of civilization into their midst.
 MT. Alexander's uncle is now the chieftain of one of the largest tribs in Kurdistan. As a young man he was on- engaged in actual warfare.
 He was also an expert stone thrower, this being one of the most popular forms of carrying on warfare at a dis tance, and could bring down an enemy with his rifle at several hundred yards while riding horseback at furious rate. He still owns his rifle, which he purchased for twenty gold pieces, or about $1OO gold pieces, ofHGGPJ IS G about $1OO in American money
 The tribe to which MT. Alexander will return is about evenly divided as to it's pursuits. Some are brigands some are namads, some merchants, and others agriculturists. All of them are polygamists, the men having from twelve to fifteen wives As the girls marry very young to old men, it is hard for the poor young man to get a young girl as his wife, so they often plot and murder an old man with young wives and then marry them The language of the Kurds has never been reduced to writing.
 This is the condition of affairs which will face the young college man when he returns to his tribe, but on account of his family being influential, he hopes they will listen to his teachings anc give up their habits of brigandage. Ht says he has many interesting things to tell them. His people never heard of a telephone or even wireless tele' graphy, and never saw locomotive ol trolley car. He intends to take pho tographs along with him, showing lift in New York. The bridge crush, tht elevated trains, the automobile, will bt explained to the nomads.
 He also exepcts to engage actively il missionary work, having been recently ordained into the missionary. Hi conversion to Christianity dates back tt his landing in this country, when { woman missionary met him at Ellis Island. Then began his remarkable rise. He was baptized by Dr. Rober Macarthur int the Calvary Bapti Church on West Fffty-seventh street and very shortly afterward entered Yale Divinity School Last June he wal graduated from Colgate University His address when he arrives in Kurdi stan will be Van, Julamero, Turkey II Asia.
 LIFE LIKE A STORY BOOK. The young Kurd's life reads like l; story book. He was born in a tent II the ruins of ancient Nineveh as hi tribe goes down from the mountains during the winter to live on the plain of the Tirgris and Eunphrates. As tn, Kurdistan keeps no record of dates, h. doesn't know his age exactly. His olt grandmother says she thinks he wa born in May, the month of flowers, bu she does not know what year. Both hi parents are dead.
 A sister and brother anxiously a wait his arrival. His sisters name i Shaclay, and his brother Is callet Shiman. Just what effect his clothes all made by fashionable tailors, vii have upon them, is hard to tell, The. never saw a silk hat. But he intend to put on the native costume as sool as he has shown the tribe the dress O civilization, and ex plained to then the difficulty of putting on a colla button and many other little detail connected with mems attire.
 RENOUNCES OLD CUSTOMS.
 Since I became civilized" MT. Alex ander said to-day, my people loo down on me, for I have renounced a their customs and habits. But the love and will obey me They are no like the American people in that res pect. My blood relatives will do any | thing for me- even risk certain deatf They will listen to me, because l sha be novelty in my western clothes.
 am anxious to return and lift them ou of their present condition. M 1 friends here in the United States hay done muck for use. can never repa them for their kindness. My peopl will see what Christianity has done fc me, and I trust to open up new worl for them-a world of gentleness, peace and good will"
 The Kurds are descendants of tn
 Medes and Parthians. Their religio
 is that of the Mohammedans. The
 They pray in the Arabic languag
 which they do not understand, an
 even say a prayer before they leay
 home for the purpose of robbery. The are exceedingly superstitious and ignt
 rant
 Girls are sold by their parents aC
 cording to their looks. A pretty gi
 costs $25O and a homely girl brings or ly SIP The price is not paid by tt
 bridegroom in money but usual
 clothing, a rifle, or a mule are accepte
 instead.
 The young missionary hopes to es