The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-22

Egypt to it. This church has mis on stations scattered throughout the Nile valley, and it has sch ools, not only in lower and upper Egypt, but also in the Soudan, and even on the borders of Abyssinia. There are something like l5.o00 boys now being taught in it's va rious institutions. It is surprising that a large part of the money which this mission is spending upon education comes from the natives themselves. Last year more than $100000 was spent, and of this almost $S0,000 was sub scribed by the Egyptians. Of the 15.O0O now in the sch ools, more than l3,OO0 are paying tuition so that the insti- tutions are largely self supporting. The Egyptians of today have learned the value of modern school training and they are anxious to have their sons go to college. They want them taught English and are all willing 10 pay something in ordep that they may get d modern education.
 In an Egyptian Cottage.
 l went through the Asslout Training college with it's president the Rev John Alexander, D. D., who has been in charge Of the institution for almost a genera ton, and to whom it is largely due that 1t is the most successful institution of It's kind in northern Africa. pr. Alexander is by birth an Ohioan. He was educated at Wooster university and it was shortly after he left there that he came out to Egypt. He has lived in Egypt ever since and he knows the people and their wants as well as any man in it. He tells me that the Egyptians are thoroughly aroused as to the advantages of modern education and that they could use more schools and better facilities than either the government or the mission can now supply. He tells me that he has to re- fuse many applications for entrance to the tarining school for lack of room, and that the institution stands ready to erect new buildings as soon as it can raise the money. It has already bought twenty acres of land at the junction of the Nile and the great irrigating canal which runs from here to the Fayoum, and it now needs only an appropriation for additional college buildings. My careful examina- ton shows me that the college Is ably and economically managed, and know of no place where any one of our rich men can, better invest his surplus and have it pay big dividends in a charitable way than right here.
 Forced to Play Football.
 This college is on the dormitory plan. The most of it's seven hundred students live in the buildings, and they are con- tinually under the eyes of their prores- sors. The training partakes somewhat of a military order. The boys must not only go to the class rooms, but they have to attend the chapel, the weekly prayer meeting and the Sunday school. They are also compelled to take part in college ath- leties. Twice a week they have to en- gage in football and tennis, and everv effort is made to develop them along the lines of our civilization. l am told that they study well and that they are doing good work on track and football field.
 I wish I could show you these Egyptian boys I saw them today There were seven hundred and thirty of them in the campus when l went through. They were bright-eyed. dark-faced young fellows ranging in age from 10 to 20 years and coming from every class of Egyptian life Some were Mohammedans the fatalistie. somber followers of the prophet; and , others were Copts having the bronze i faces, the high cheek bones and black eyes which make them as the descend7 ants of those who oppressed the Israelites when Pharaoh ruled. All the students wear red fez caps which extend about | eight inches above their heads, and they and chapel. They wear long gowns wnsch l look much more dignified than the col- | lege boy of America.
 Education at $35 Per Year.
 The students of all classes and eondi- | tions. Many of them are working their way through school and there are three different grades of expense, graduated ac- oording to the tables at which the boys eat. There is one class which has special table, where all have knives and | works, and where the food furnished Is