The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1910-06-10

aids" and so II seems for near the
quay are many large brick and mar
Bile buildings of white stones, some of
which are six stories high, but far.
Their up the mountain side are many
green gardens and parks thus giving
the city beautiful background.
A Pirate nest.
| Now for the first time the most of
us gazed upon this the once hot.bed
and pirate.nest of the Mediterranean;
this robber hand was so strong that
nations were glad to make special
| treaties for their subjects for national
and personal protection; this highway
robbery regime lasted for 1000 years,
until the great General Pompey had
scooped down upon these blaCk.legged
red headed fellows and destroyed the
pirate business. Since this, the pi-
rates have become beggars, peddlers,
cab drivers and street walking takers.
Algiers has been under the rule of
Arabs, Romans, Vandals, Turks. and
since 1887 ii has been ruled by France.
There are in reality two cities, the
|
modern The streets are paved, the
buildings look substantial, and in 1t are
$4,000 inhabitants. Our guide took
us on a drive through the parks, gar
dens and villas where we saw groves
of oranges, lemons, figs, dates, palms
and everywhere the fields were fer
tile This is the dry season and there
will be no rain until October, so irri-
CATION is common now. Even our
American dandeions are here in great
quantities, just like the Dutchman's
flea. We passed the Harem of Sesini,
where this man kept his forty wives.
Iron bars over the doors and windows
keep the women inside, until the man
desires to let them out, and then they
must go with heavy wells over their
faces. On top of the hill is the kas'
bad the ancient fortress of the Deys.
We visited many stores ans shops,
a number of which were about half as
good as the Beeler Bros. and the A. l..
Killian Co. stores.
Then we visited the old city of AL
giers, which is an Arab city Here you
will find the houses square and win
dowless, the roofs are fiat, and doors
are very low; the Arabs assemble on
the roofs at night, where they gamble
fight and quarrel. The streets are
very dirty, people are poor and many
go barefooted. These Mohammedan
people flock here from all over the sur
rounding county and keep their feast
days. We visited one of their hotels
where you can get bed for two
cents, but you must sleep on stone
floor without any cover and here in a
bunch will be from fifty to 100 people
all ir one room.
A Horrible Sight.
We visited one of their second hand
markets which was a horrible sight;
no one is safe going through this Arab
town without a licensed guide. We
visited their Grande Mosque, which
was carpeted with beautiful brussels
rugs, but before we entered we had
to put on the Mohammedan sandals
but could keep our hats on, for these
people honor the feet and not the
head-iust like some Americans that
have more action in their feet than
in their heads. 1t was only a year
ago that there was an uprising in
this city among these. MOhammedans
and they threatened to Kill all the
Christians and Europeans, but were
soon suppressed by the government
: Such an uprising is apt to happen at
any time and great massacre take
place. There are many MOors here
AS in Gibraltar, they are really very
fanatical and are mostly MOhamme
, dams. We visited the palace and park
of the governor. He rules supreme
but is appointed by the French govern
ment. Years ago in the beginning OF
christianity Saint Augustine preached
in this city and had quite following
He also wrote his confessions here
In the face of what seems an impos
sibility is a Methodist church mission
with the herald of the gospel of Hope
in Christ caring for the people, and
showing them a much better way tC
live than in their doubling skepticism
and superstition. The only hope OF
ever helping these people is in the
gospel. If this fails they must live and
: die in their filthy sins. To me this
| was very interesting for it reminded
me of my trip to Africa and Egypt
three years ago, and so | fingered be
; hind while my party had gathered on
the steam launch to go back to oul
big ship, and when ] reached the piel
already the launch had left, but wher
| hallowed to the captain he steamed
back to the pier and took me, so
was almost left in Africa. How long
would have had to stay don't know
My, l am glad ! did not miss my ship.
, Algiers is a city of vast importance
= and promises to Outstrip Cairo in a
; few years. 1t is a great commercial
= center and is growing rapidly. There
are not very many Americans in Al
gers and those who do live there
, seem lonesome and hOmesiCk.
After a run of 600 miles we expect
to land in Naples Italy on May 2, two
days later than the time for arrival.
} Charles Wayne Ray.
Rome italy, Nav 7-SpeCial to The