New-York tribune., 1907-08-26
UNDER CHANGED SKIES.
Il Smian an Nee York Tells about
Conditions an His NatiUe Land.

Ii was a youthful native of Syria with jet black
hair, which he wore no head covering; frank,
open countenance and curling dark mustache,
with glints of red gold in it, who overlook another
rider OF a wheel on the cycle path on Sunday
morning. A casual remark about a noisy motor
cycle whizzing by led to conversation in which
the Syrian told of experiences both here and
abroad which interested his listener
Il think the interest in wheeling is coming
back, he said; "at least all the dealers tell me So
They say they have about twenty times as much
TO do this season last 1 haven't ridden before
in eight years until two weeks ago, but used to
ride a great deal in Syria. A cousin sent me over
fine nickel plated wheel, and l made sensation
in Beirut ard all through the country The people
would follow in punches to see me- We had good
carriage roads there and L found the riding easy
1t was quite contrast to view the ancient ruins
of Baalbec from a modern bicycle. BY and by
got tired Of riding alone, got friend to SEND
over for wheel. and rode together. We had
more or less trouble with tires. AT first had the
American single tread, and when 1 got a puncture
it took month more to send to America for a
new tire Finally used TO get inner tube tires
from Germany. much cheaper You know every
thing made in Germany is cheaper and we had
less trouble. for a punctlTe OF the outer tuoe o'u
not affect the inner one"
As q cavalcade on horseback passed on the
bridlepath the young Syrian remarked. I cant
ride on horseback here"
WHY not?" asked.
cant afford it." was the Iaconic response I
had fine horseback riding in Syria. but 1 gave it
up as soon as / had wheel. for liked the new
thing better. and then it made everybody stare We
had splendid Arabian horses there ana galoP
OF of them most enjoyable
''why cid you leave Syrian
II wanted a chance TO make money faster thah
we could there. ! had cousins here, and they gave
ne a chance 10 go in business with them Ny
parents died when young. and left no near
relatives there"
How long have you been here"
For four years Don't you think have got the
language well? 1t helped me much that was ecu
Gated in French school and learned that language
as we'll as my own 1 think II helped me more TO
know French than If had first learned English
and then had wanted TO learn French But as
for making money, suppose IL is largely relative
matter If makes 500 month here ne mas
spend $40 $50 of it. At least a prudent
man wouldn't do rnore-7rhIle in Syria. If one makes
$50 2 month he can get along by spending s1o and
saving the rest. Everything is much cheaper
there
Why do the people come away?
1T Is because of the terrible tax collectors II
makes any money in the course OF 'he year.
when the tax collector comes around he taxes IL
all and the poor are ground down oppressiVey.
Then. too. no Christian can get justice al the
hands Of the Mahonetans. The oppression OF the
Turkish government is not 10 he put IN WORDS. hou
know how the Jews the East Side are treated
nv ,he arrogant Well. the case of the Christians
In Syria IS much worse. Why, | had rather IvA
I'm China than in Syria Well. perhaps the oest COM
parison IS 20 be made OF the way the russians
treat the Jews Christians have really no rights
in Svria-that is. the poor Christians Whatever
4hax GET nv hard work is taken from them
farmer NAV have good and expect TO Dc aoie
70 accumulate some savings by the END OF the year
but when the tax collector comes arouno ne se's
Il all and the poor farmer is what you call lelI
That Is the reason the poor Syrians come TO ms
country Here they are free and can remain So
and they stay here and do not return TO their ma
five land II is only the people who are oppresse1
~ home who seek asylum in America ile
French do not come here. for they are well OF
il, their republic But look at the people VINO
,brorg the emigrant ships. Would they come mere
IL they were well off at home? Never
..you here in America do not get good ldea OF
the Syrians by those who come over NeaiH az
.-a ~ .ba peasant class, the downtrodden ciass
Tbara are about 10000 Syrians in America, OF
-bor, n Gao are in New York Most of them have
left their native land because unable 10 hVe sat
tsfactorily there We have the finest sort OF peo
ple there a splendid climate good SOIL plenty OF
chances in business. but with it ali the seveFest
rs the climate of Syria Ike ours? 1t is in about
the same latitude"
Much finer than It is here II IS more like that
=, california We have a dry. clear atmosphere
80 of the distressing humidity Of New York
yo,, know they say Italy, Greece and Syria nave
.ie finest skies in the world. The beautifui l'AI
ian sky' is a hackneyed phrase Our sky ls deep
rlua and mostly clear for nine months, We have
T.OS
,;,+Ie snovy At night She stars so bright that
81 is almost as light day in the spring ana au-
,,,,,y All the days bright days, and 20 1t Is
an ideal ulace for wheeling. ] have ridden DAY
after dav in summer without perspirn6 at ALL
while here can't 20 haiL IhhH "''i''"' e''iS
all in a sweat
.uo YOU intend say here?
VOC. 7 am in business with my cousins in New
VII and have married here and am living in
an outlying part of Brooklyn I married French
qirltlat is a girl of French descent, but born in
.arsca like IL here so much that IL
make a fortune / am likely to go back to
live in SYRIA although il is the finest place In the
vzorld 10 live We have fine farms there, but II Is
hard to get any one work them. Az the tax col
,sctor takes all that Is made and ones property
Sc not safe at the hands OF the Mahometans, who
look on all others dogs of inhoeis ana thelr
n,oper prey. Unless you say, There is no God
hut Allah and Mahomet is His prophet, you are
regarded as beneath the beasts that perish
I'VE have fine schools The American College in
r.eir,,t is as good as can be found anywhere, and
there are good opportunities for education ana
cultivation. The Syrian has natural bent toward
commerce. as that region was the early nome or
.,a commerce Of the world of the time. and
with any opportunities will succeed in business
But with the Turkish rule there is no chance for
successfuI business careers unless one is hand-n-
glove with the authorities. and then there Is the
opporfunity TO make by doing wrong than
by doing right But in this land of the free the
Syrian has an equal chance with any other man,
and he knows that II he does make any money u
VII, not be taken from him by unjust and op-
pressive methods. No wonder they come here and
stay here.
AMERICAN ELECTRICAL BIDS LOWEST.