Evening star., 1916-12-17
ON THE BORDER OF THE ORIENT

prisoner 10 H1mSeI as ne met tnem
near the walls of Jerusalem descend
ing toward the valley of Jehoshaphat.
Poor and miserable. they were only SO
to those who contemplated them as
they dreamed of the glorious past of
their ancestors. of which they know in
the storied traditions OF their race. For
the rest. their thoughts are rare. their
words are few. they suffer from famine
sun of the desert they affront: they are
the sons of patience and know no
complaints
The author journeys to Damascus and
speaks OF the route. shaded the entire
way, skirted by a
On the Road to pa stream. whose
D waters constitute tho
Oamascus. riches of the country.
The Arab. who figures Paradise as
La green garden where run living
waters. where the fruits are gathered
by extending the hand at all times.
considers Damascus as the place of tho
terrestrial paradise. Water. indeed. runs
here in abundance. splashing with much
sound as it dashes against the trees in
passing-the almond trees. the ponce
granate trees. the apricot trees. all are
in foliage. The walnut trees also are
spreading out their large leaves and
the vines run from one tree to another.
Duboscq enters the beautiful habitation
of an Arab friend. to whom he is led by
an old Arab servant through the gar
den of flowers and thence TO great
salon where here and there amid the
scanty furniture Of the Arab house he
spies some souvenirs OF the occident.
On the walls tableauX of battles and
then large painting. poorly executed
but imposing. the portrait OF Abd-el-
I lad tOh h
French in Algeria during fifteen years.
was taken prisoner in 1S4i. lnterned at
Pau and then at Amboise and finally
liberated in 1852. He died and was
buried at Damascus in 1888 Duboscq
is in the house of the son of Abd-el-
Kader. the Emir Omar.
E,mir Omar--it is with reason the au-
thor enters into these details--enters the
salon. saiutes his visitor with grace ana
effusion. Omar is tall and dressed a
/ E,uropeanne. all except the fez. and he
appears thus even taller than in his
Arab costume: his resemblance to ms
| illustrious father is striking: above All
| the expression is almost startling. The
emr spoke at much length Of French
influence in Syria and hoped that one
day France would be at home there.
Numerous gerians had come to syria.
hoping that one day they would he un-
der the protection of France. Duboscq
follows the emir to the terrace. and
thence ne is conducted to his route
That night the emir left his card at
the hotel. Below his name was writ
ten. Son of the Emir Abd-el-Kader"
This was in April. 1913. Later. in 1916.
the Emir Omar was hung by the Turks
because of his sentiments for France.
Thus died the son of Abd-el-kader.
Now Duboscq has wandered to that
veritable garden of Allah. El Mise. or
Cairo. He visits Cheikh
A Visit to said Ali foussouf, one of
the lights of Islam, since
SeiAo' deceased. director of the
journal Ell Monaiyad. Duboscq 1" con-
Quoted to the Arab journalist house by
an Egyptian friend who will serve him
as interpreter.
| Cheikh said. dressed in a large black
J silk robe and white turban, receives
his visitor with stately courtesy. and.
with wen measured. cautious phrases.
discusses men and things concerning
| Islam. His opinions rather tend to
| sympathy for Germany. The cheikh at
that time sought to establish his inf1u-
ence over Arabia by grouping their in
| terests in that country. DuboscQ makes
no mention of the present emir of
Mecca, Cherif Ell Hussein, who has sue
cessfuily accomplished what was with
in the circle of Cheik Said All Yous-
souf's aspirations.
Cherif Hussein, when he has been
duly recognized as Sultan of Arabia.
will doubtless cause his khitab to write
of the Vaccinations employed to do
his work in Germany's interest. There
is something in the confession of
Cheikh said. which, without alluslon
to Cherif Hussein, nevertheless touches
the Arabian revolt. 1t is obscure and
perhaps intended to mystify his inter
locutor. Said Alf said:
I'VE consolidate an edihce there
(Arabia1 which has been shaken. and
we unite the materials in case the
edifice falls, when il Will be necessary
to replace it; but we intend to main
tain the actual caliphate unless the
infant play at Constantinople does not
continue. in which case the changes
that will follow will fall on the head
of the responsible
The expression is ambiguous. I'VE
intend to maintain the actual caliphate
means manitestiy the power main
tanned by tine committee OF union ana
prosress." 1t is cIear that M Duboscq
docs not know how to interpret this
declaration. which, | repeat. Is am
piGuous, and it is the future sultan
Hussem only who may complete
Cheikh Said Alis story.
Vi. Duboscq nevertheless refers to the
Arab revolt in the Yemen. the Nedtid.
Bagdad and Syria, which prior to 1914
never dreamed" he says ''of conquest OF
Arab supremacy" Yet Cherif Hussein IN
his proclanations refers to 1903 as the
year of his initiative movement.
And NJ Duboscq continues: THE Turks
showed monstrous audacity in calling
the Arabs to the "dJehad.'
Coll to tha For aside from the lack OF
cohesion among the Arabs
OJeA1o. the latter have profound
hostility toward the Turk. The Arab
recalls that from the aurora of the power