Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-07-05

in order 20 let donkeys. mules and
horses. with their spreading burdens,
pass by.
Camels have 10 be unloaded on the
"soko." or market-plaee. outside the
walls. Things too heavy 10 be car
rled by a single animal must be trans
ported by men. and il is no unusual
sight 10 see great stones FIVE and six
feet long slung ON poles and borne by
a dozen or more half-naked Arabs.
In these narrow streets the little box
Ike shops. waist high, give the proper
oriental setting TO the whole. In them
we see the owner reclining and sedate-
Iy reading. seemingly oblivious 10 the
stirring scenes around him, until he Is
disturbed" by a purchaser for his
goods. all OF which are within arms
reach.
Fez Once a Paradise.
Inland Fez Is, Of course. different
from Tangier. The golden days Of
Fez began in the Ninth century and
continued till about the Thirteenth. IL
was then celebrated as a paradise.
Around the city we're splendid gardens
Of rarcst fruits. The soil, watered by
thousand streams, was OF eNtraor-
binary fertility. Its numerous schools
and libraries and its famous univer-
slty attracted students even from Eu-
rope. The climate. its fruits and iiow-
ers. its fountains and wells. its YER
dure and beauty. caused the city 10
enjoy reputation unique in Islam. It's
clories have departed, but 1t still
boasts OF one Of the most sacred
mosques Of the Mohammedan world
that OF Mulai Idress, ''the Younger"
the founder OF the kingdom.
The sights Of Fee are its. teeming
streets. bazars and markets. Weeks
can be spent in this interesting city,
and yet new and strange scenes be
met with at almost any moment
Snake-charmers. medicine-men, story
teIlers. with their gaping crowds. ar
tisans and tradesmen OF every descrp-
ton. costumes from the four quarters
Of Morocco and beyond interest the
traveller M every turn. But all Is not
poefry in Fee. Revolving are the hor-
rihle diseases TO be seen on every
hand.
The residence portion OF the city Is
StrIkingly unattractive. one can scarce
IL believe thar he is being taken TO call
on enc Of the wealthiest MOors OF the
city. when he stops In a narrow street.
barely five feet wide. inclosed by high'
nriSon-llke windowless walls. These
walls are the houses themselves. A mas
slve. reconstructed door viii be opened.
and in semi-darkness one will be con-
Quoted along a toftuous. dingy pas
sage. through several doors. 10 suddenly
emerge into one OF those inner courts
which are the masterpieces OF oriental
architecture. with its mosaics, tiles
fountains. colonnades or light Sara
cenic arches supporting a second gal
lery above. all covered with profu-
sion az colored and gilded arabesques
and pendentives.
Almost rivaling these inner courts
IN popularity. especially with the Won
On. the fat roofs OF the houses must
be mentioned. Here during certain
hours the men are never expected 10
appear. for they are then sacred 20
the women Of the families. who resort
10 them unveiled to enjoy the cooling
breezes from the Atlas mountains.
The city Of Meklnez might be called
the monument OF Mouley Ismael, the
great contemporary Of Louis NV, who
even dared sue for the hand OF
daughter OF the great French king.
his mania for building Is everywhere
in evidence. For miles along the road
leading 10 the Quarries 70 the north
great blocks Of stone can stlll be seen
living. Just rs they fen from the hands
~ the slaves when they heard that
their tyrant sovereign Was dead. But
a melancholy interest Il attached TO
these grear buildings. for Il must be
remembered that hundreds Of Chris
fian slaves tos.es and died on these
| gloomy walls.