New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-30

metricaI rows Of houses visible at land
,np give way 10 narrow streets. where
the dead walls Of Mussulman dwellings,
perfectly plain, dreary ana even mean
looking-surround a courtyard exquisite
In its decorations, its marbles lts foun-
tain. We Join him IN regretting that the
ancient fortress of the Deys should have
been turned into barrack That' py
the way, has long been the short slghted
habit of the French in dealing with their
own relics of the past-witness the
chateau at Blois. the papal palace at
Avignon, TO name only two builolngs
wherein troops destroyed interiors the
most precious TO lovers Of art and his
tory.
But we may ignore or almost forgive
such destruction in our appreciation Oh
the enlightened way in which they have
dealt with Thamagudi, or Timgad, the
old Roman city whose story Is told ana
whose present aspect Is described In this
volume. Unlike so many of the ancient
cities of the desert, these ruins nave
been left untouched since its destruction
in the seventh century; no alien race
has quarried its marbles for their DWELL
ings. Now, whatever could be done 10
reconstitute it's magnifcence has been
done by skilful hands; good road ieaos
to it, and the visitor can linger on It's
movements and ponder among its stately
columns without hindrance. TraJan
built 1t, and his Triumphal Arch is, OF all
its ruins, the best preserved. The author
translates an inscription in the Forum,
showing, as he says, that even in this
frontier city existence was not wholly
strenuous. Hunting. bathing, play ana
laughter" il reads; such is life Inc
uncovering Of the great public library or
Timgad, the gift Of a wealthy citizen TO
his birthplace, reveals many fascinating
details binding the past to the present.
Constantine IS another North African
city which the traveller must visit.
Built upon precipices, II has wlthstooo
since the days OF its first rulers, the
Numidian kings, no fewer than eighty
sieges. Most of its Roman remains have
been destroyed by the French, but It's
busy streets filled with cosmopolitan
crowd, are full of entertainment. IL Is
said that once it was possible TO walk
round the city underground, the preci-
pices on which ii stands having been
pierced throughout by nature with caves
and subterranean passages.
! The author, of course. provides chap
ter on the oasis town of Biskra, which Is
he says, in fair way TO rechristen Itself
| Hichenstown. He tells us that the nov
elist and his story pervade the place,
and while he dislikes the book he pays
| tribute to the truth Of its descriptions
! There is not much to do in Biskra or to
see, save its beauty Of the desert sand
and sun and sky. its palms and tho
Counts garden. But the guide Is AL
ways to the fore:
You will probably not have been in the
town many hours, perhaps not many MN,
utes, before d guide will accost YOU ana
/ produce with much dignity visiting cara
! of Mr.. Iichens, on which something Is
written. II you express neither interest nor
emotion he viii regard you with mixture ud',
, here for but 10 worship at the shrine OF
the Marabout Hichens? Hichens has made
| or married Biska and Biskra Is not un-
! mindful There Is little or nothing 10 guide
YOU to I'm Bishra, wherefore is 1t fun OF
| guides. They are an ever present nuisance.
! . The authorities have endedVored 70
| mitigate the nuisance by licensing certain
men TO act as guides, but they have not
altogether suppressed the unauthorized, ana
The licensed merely give themselves airs;
silly sentimental visitors haV" aggravated
matters and have moreover turned MAN. OF
the boys and girls into impudent beggarS.
Books have actually been written embody-
! ing the views OF life and religion or theSe
nefted sIriplings: their remarkable in
| accuracios i'm serious matters suggest that
/ the youth Of Biskra IS not averse from
! pulling the legs of It's amiable patrons.
! Il IS ali rather sal. But the debasing effect
J of the nconsderate tourist Is not peculiar