Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-01

handle them in the interest of their wives
and children. and, in short. 1t does much
the same business as our American trust
companies
The Habous has buildings all over Tunis,
and owns extensive tracts of land outside
the city. 1t possesses much property
that the French authorities are afraid of 1t;
and they would like to have a safety valve
created which shall prevent its money from
being turned to improper uses. The Habous
officers pretend that they desire nothing
so much as an investigation, but when the
French made their inquiries last year they
could learn nothing. Just now, when there
is talk about holy war throughout the
Mohammedan world, the French feel that
the Habous might become dangerous. as it's
wealth could furnish war fund for the
Arabs.
During my wanderings through Tunis 1
have seen many Of the shops owned by
this corporation, and today l went into the
building containing its offices 1t is within
a stones throw of the baZaars on the Rue
dEglise. in the very heart of the old city.
1t consists of many large rooms surround
ing a court walled with marble and it has
80 many clerks that 1t looks like a gov
eminent department.
French Tunis.
In striking contrast with the Arab parts
Of this city is the new section, in which
the French have their residences and chief
business houses. This is outside the walls
the harbor. About fifteen years ago the
ground there was aswamp, and as 1t was
thought, fit for nothing. 1t now contains
the finest buildings in Tunis and is worth
hundreds of dollars per front foot. There
are large hotels, banks and stores upon It.
1t has wide and well-paved streets. and
were it not for the Arabs, Jews and yelled
women in the crowds which parade it you
might think it part of Paris, Lyons or
Marseille
French Tunis is growing rapidly. 1t al
ready goes far out into the country, one
of its best avenues reaching to the Belve-
dere or municipal park. This is lined with
fine houses, and there are other good resi-
dence streets.
The main business thoroughfares of the
French city are the Avenue de France and
the Avenue de la Marine. They contain
the chief banks, shops and cafes. and also
the Casino and the principal hotels
The Monte Carlo Of Africa.
French Tunis prides itself on being an
up-to-date town. 1t has electric lights and
trolley lines which now go clear around
the old city and reach to some parts of its
interior as well. 1t has several large banks,
two or three department stores and a great
many restaurants and cafes. The Casino
is devoted to vaudeville shows, with gam
bling attachment; and during the winter 1t
becomes a little Monte Carlo, patronized by
rich natives and tourists This establish
ment has seats for something like two
thousand spectators. Its audience room
consists of pit and boxes, and the people
can have coffee beer or wine served while
the actors are playing. At the right of
the audience room is a large parlor, in
which several roulette tables kept 60
ing both during and between the acts, and
on the left there rooms for private gam
bling and public places for rouge ct noir
l visited the gambling rooms during the in
termissions last night and saw crowds
about the tables. The stakes at roulette
were from a franc upward, and the tables
were we'll covered with silver. The rouge
ct noir rooms were deserted, but l under
stand they are well patronZed in the win
ter, when many tourists are here.
Tunis has also summer theater at the
Belvedere Park, and the military bands
give frequent concerts in the public squares
One of the most interesting theatrical