The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-10-24
THE ART OF SKETCHING
A Short but Instructive Paper Free-hand Drawing
Read Before the Pierian Chautauqua Circle
By C. II. s.

a mistake without jeopardizing the
other thousand, writes Basanta
Koomar Roy in Asia. The stakes
are laid on the personality of one
individual-the Amir of Afghanis-
tan. He is astute, ambitious, con-
scious of the balance of power he
holds, and not unlearned in the art
of watching the turn of world
events.
Next to Turkey, Afghanistan is
the strongest country in the Mo-
hammedan world. It is, like
Switzerland, mountain fastness,
and this has given it's indepen-
dence as a buffer state. Its peo-
pie are fierce fighters, quality the
British Raj had occasion to test in
the two Afghan wars of 1904
and 1878-79. The dangerous ma
ture of the country's topography
was also discovered at this time.
Afghanistan has an area of $50, 900
square miles, inside which both
Germany and Bulgaria could easily
be placed.
The population is 100000, or
as large as that of Holland. The
Aimaks, Ghilzais, Hazars, Kafrs,
Pathans, Tojiks and the Uzbegs
are the principal races of the popu-
lation. The great majority of the
Afghans are Mohammedans of the
Sunni sect, but there is no such
bitter animosity between the Shias
and Sunnis as between these sects
in India. The Afghan chronicles
call the people Benz -Israil, and the
people claim descent from Saul,
who they call Talmut. Nine years
after the proclamation of the mis-
sion of Mohammed, the Afghans
sent deputation under Kais to
Medina. The members of the depu-
tation were converted to Moham-
mechanism. On their return home,
the Afghans embraced the new
faith, and even today high-cast
Afghans feel proud to claim de-
scent from Kais.
The Afghan is of a remarkable
race. With long beard and flowing
hair, he walks with majestic step.
He is kind, hospitable and CRATE
full. He will do anything for a
benefactor, but is correspondingly
severe with the treacherous, or
avowed enemies. He is handsome,
hard-working, and capable of en-
during long privations. He has
the desperate fearlessness of the
Gurkah-a terrible fighter-and
the strong, sinewy and stalwart
physique of the Sikh. He is q
born horseman, an excellent shot,
and uncompromisingly fatalistic.
He is exceedingly patriotic and
guards the honor of his wife or
wives. as the case may be. His
fearlessness, fatalism, physical
strength and patriotic fervor make
him a splendid soldier.
Agriculture is the main occupa-
ton of the people. They have q
remarkable system of irrigation,
and every acre of fertile land is
under cultivation. The products
of the farms include wheat, barley,
rice, lentils, tobacco, millet, sugar
cane, lumber, cotton. grapes, cas-
tor-oil seeds. berries. Industry is
undeveloped, yet the country is
rich in mineral resources, particu-
larly Iron and coal; gold, silver,
copper and lead; antimony. sui
phur. The industries include the
making of carpets, felts, silks and
articles from goats and camels'
hair. Afghanistan imports every
year from India a total of So, 791,-
600 worth of goods; her imports
from Bokhara alone reach So, ,OOO,-
1000. Exports to India amount to
l$4, ,035, 900.
The government of Afghanistan
is an absolute, but a paternal,
monarchy. The Amir is the exec
utive and the judicial head of the