The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-07
Alexandria. Egypt, Dec. /. 1909.

one may we'll spend several days
here. | arrived from Smyrna on a
beautiful clear morning. entering the
harbor just as the sun was beginning
To peep above the skyline to the left,
family Illuminating the city and
touching the slender minarets and
hugh white domes of the mosques
with its golden beams Soon the
city resolved Itself into sea oil gilt
tering white houses. while here and
there lofty palm trees. punctuated the
horizon looking like towering feather
busters. Far In the distance the
famous Pompeis Pillar could be made
out with Cleopatras tower in the
more immediate foreground
On the Soil Of Egypt
1t was. indeed. hard to realize that
! was about to actually set foot up
on the soil of Egypt. that mysterious
land of ancient civilization, beside
whose antiquities those of Greece and
Rome arc but as OF yesterday, From
this same point of view, the great
conQuering Alexander obtained his
first view of the site upon which he
aftorward founded the city and
through this same channel in later
times, rode the proud ship OF Cleo
patra, Queen OF the Mediterranean
Whips Used on Men.
Suddenly these fights of fancy were
rudely interrupted by the roar of
loosened anchor chains, followed by
the most hidcous din and clamor that
has ever reached my ears. Hardly
had | hurried to the other side of the
boat when the clamor was changed
to shouts and curses. the snarp re-
ports OF whips and responding cries
OF pain-the native porters had brok-
en- through the dock gates In their
cagerness to reach the steamer and
were being driven back by the ESyp-
tan police Here and there n red fez
would be spinning through the air,
turbnns were lost and many native
gown ripped from top to bottom.
have seen a squad OF Chicago po-
lice charge into a mob of striking
teamsters and use their heavy night
sticks with little mercy, but this was
my first sight Of men being beaten
with whips. thought 1t was bar
barous and unnecessary. The next
minute l was wishing for bull-whlp
of my own and room IN which TO
WELD IT..
The landing steps were suddenly
lowered and permission given TO land
at the same instant that the porterS
were released at the barriers. Like
a horde of yelling devils-black. yel-
low and brown-they came Chamber
ing, fighting their way up the sides.
over the rails and then charged down
ha of N o.
ers standing helpless at the gangway,
II was disconcertihg, but no escape
presenting itself we were oyerwhelm'
ed In a moment
Got Away With His Grip.
Fifty strong hands gripped my
baggage and | was swept of my feet,
fairly carried away by their enthu"
siasm, the center OF more excitement
10 the square inch than l ever en-
countered before. | iloundered about
on the sea of tumult until a strappinG
big Bedouin with a white turban tore
into the pack. bumped a few skulls
together and selling my grips made
of up the deck. | followed In his
wake and we were soon on shore,
through the customs. into a cab and
bu buI way W Il uONtl. wy ltoIuNl
modestly charged 40 piasters for Ave
minutes work, but as he had saved
my life about six times In that brief
interval. / was grateful and prompt
Alexandria a Surprise.
Alexandria Is surprisingly modern
IN Its commercial center. with broad
paved streets, up-to-date shops, fine
central square and other evidences
OF civilized development. In the cen
ter of the square rises a bronze equ
estrian statute of Mohamed All.
founder OF the beginning dynasty;
at one end Is the stock exchange and
on one side. facing several large
hotels. is a fine new Episcopal
church
All this can be said OF the modern
scenes are less asthetic though de-
cidedly more interesting TO the visit
or. The Arab quarter Is the most
wretched part OF Alexandria, with
It's narrow, filthy streets lined with
open shops and crowded with an In
discriminate throng OF black, brown
and white residents, fruit windows,
mule drivers, begGars. crlpples, ped
olers. snake charmers, yelled women.
goats, csmols and half-naked children.
Over all floats the acrid, lndescribable
'odor OF the East. repelllnc and sick
ening to all who nre not immune.
One seems to encounter here every
costume of Europe, Asia and Africa,
and not even In Constantlnople is the
stranger bewildered with so kaleido-
scopic a variety Of brilliant and fan
taStic COlOTinC Eierco-loOkinr AIban-
ians. picturesque BedoulnS. green-tur
baned Shereefs, sharp-featured Leyan-
tines, blue-gowned Fellahs. grinning.
ebony-faced Soudanese. solemn-look-
ing Turks, pettlcoated Greeks. Egyp-
tan ladies with their white silk wells.
pretty JewesSes In gorgeous raiment,
and last but not least the ever present
tourist, with red Baedeker In one
hand and his purse in the other
Advertised Sights.
The advertised sights" of Alexan-
dria include the various mosques. |
cemeteries. Egyptian tombs. Pompey's |
Pillar with its interesting sphinx and |
adjacent, and the really |
Egyptian museum.
The latter is particularly rich In an !
tIque jewelry OF gold and precious I
stones, pottery. statuary, sarcophagi |
and Egyptian and Roman mummIes.
Some of the later Roman mummies |
found in Egypt are marvellous specI-
mems of handlwork the intricate
far excelling those | have
seen OF Egyptian origin.
Artistic Mummes.
Several of these are unique in hav-