The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-01-22
THE BLUE MOSQUE.
n Ever Color Calls, 1t Calls In the
Mosaic of lbrahim Aca.

"CSAAC OF ~ NSd
As every one who visits Rome goes
to st. Peters, 50 every one who visits
Cairo goes to the mosque OF MOhatn-
nlrd Mi in the citadel. Il gorgeous build
ing in Il magnificent situation. the in
terror IF which always makes me think
of court functions and of the ponp or
life rather than of prayer and self de-
rial. NJ Y" attractive 70 ME is the
blue mrSQue,' to which | returned
again and again. enticed almost rs by
the fascination of the living blue Of a
linmr sky.
Til, mosque. which is the mosque of
Ihrnhim AGA. but which is Familiarity
known to it's lovers as the "hlue
MOSQUE" lies to the left 0f a ram
shackle street and from the outside
does not look specially inviting. Even
whom | passed through its door and
stood ii the curt beyond at first | felt
not its charm. All looked oil and
rough, unkempt and in confusion. The
red and white stripes Of the walls and
the arches of the arcade. h mean lit
tie place for ablution-a pipe and Il row
Of brass taps-led the mind from a
NeapOlitan Ice to a second rate school,
and for a N | thought of abrupt
ly retiring and seeking more splendid
precincts. And then I looked across
the court to the arcade that lay be
yond. and | saw the exquisite love
color of the marvellous tiles that give
this mosque its name.
The huge pillars Of this arcade are
striped and ugly. but between them
shone with an ineffable luster a wall OF
purple and blue. OF purple and blue so
strong and yet so delicate that 1t held
the eyes and drew the body forward.
II evpr color calls. 1t calls in the "blue
mosque" Of Ibrahim Aga. And when |
had crossed the court. when l stood
beside the pulpit. with its delicious
wooden folding doors. and studied the
tiles Of which this wonderful wall Is
as they are lovely far on. From a dis
lance they resemble a nature effect.
are almost like a bit Of southern sea
or OF sky. a fragment OF cleaning
Mediterranean seen through the pillars
Of a loggia or Of Sicilian blue watching
over Etna in the long summer days.
When one is close to them they are
a miracle OF art. The background OF
them ia a milky white upon which IL
an elaborate pattern OF purple and
blue. generally conventional and rep
resentative Of no known object. but
occasionally showing tall trees some
what resembling Expresses. But 1t Is
impossible in words adequately to de-
scribe the effect Of these tiles and of
tomb house on the right Of the court.
They are like a cry Of ecstasy going
up In this otherwise not very beauti-
full mosque. They make 1t unforgetta-
BILE: they draw you back to it again
and yet again. On the darkest day OF
winter they set something Of summer
there. In the saddest moment they
proclaim the tact that there is Joy in
the world: that there was JOY In the
hearts OF creative artists years upon
years ago. II you are ever In Cairo
and sink into depression. go 10 the
blue mosque and see II 1t does not
have upon you an uplifting moral ef-
feet. And then, II you like. go on
from 1t to the Gamia el Movayad.
sometimes called FL Ahmar (the red).
where you will find greater glories.
though no greater fascination. for the
tiles hold their own anon all the
wonders Of Cairo.-Robert Kitchens In
Century.
Chinese and Europeans.
Europe knew next to nothing Of
China or its people prior to the con-
quests Of the famous Genghis Khan.
The commotion raised by that morster
made Europeans somewhat acquainted
with Far Cathay." as China was
then called. 1t was about the year
1900. or possibly a trife earlier. that
the first Chinese made their appear
ance in Europe. The first commercial
Intercourse between Europe and China
dates from about the year 132O.-New
York American.