The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-02-11

| prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety. Washington. d. CD
iHE rumor that the kingdom OF
italy may be turned into an en-
L pire directs attention to Tripo-
litania in northern Africa, one
of the first fruits of Italian expansion.
The city Of TripoA, capital of the
| province, is the seat of Italian infiu-
ence in the new territory.
AS the traveller approaches from
the sea, the tall, slender minarets of
the city's numerous mosques, rising
high above the fiat-roofed houses of
the native town and the new buildings
of the European quarter, and It's set
ting of white sand dunes and green
GASES Of the palm groves and gardens
give it a more truly African aspect
than its sister cities OF Tunis and AL
giers.
Yet, when the steamer rounds the
Dor, the stone-embanSed esplanade,
with ornamental balustrade and tall
electric-light standards, and the large,
modern buildings beginning to fringe
the broad promenade have nothing
that is not European, except the
Moorish style of architecture of the
new and imposing Grsnd hotel. Even
the stored old castle IN the center of
the esplanade is not eastern although
for centuries Arab beys and Turkish
yiceroys, having turned the Knights
of Malta out of it. lived there in
state.
In 1911 the italian flag replaced the
crescent and star, and Rome of today
took back the city that, from the fall
of Carthage to the coming of the
Vandals, had acknowledged the rule
of Rome of yesterday.
But only the sea in front and the
first two streets behind it are modern.
The remainder of Tripoli looks much
as it did before its latest conQuerors
landed.
Old and New MinsIe.
Even in the principal street, lined
with cafes. banks, the post office, gov
ernor's palace, shops, and offices,
strings of camels lounge disdainfully
past automobiles. Arabs and negroes,
wrapped in the universal dingy white
wooden shroud called varricano-the
burnous is seldom worn-shuffle by
groups Of smart Italian officers in
khaki and silver and Fascist in black
shirts and caps. Arab and negro wom-
en-, with only one eye peering from
beneath Sn all-enveloping cloak, use
that eve to stare at the short skirt
and silk stockings of European ladies'.
Thus East and West meet.
The main street continues beyond
the massive stone bulk Of the castle,
whose exceedingly high walls tower
above all other buildings in the town,
old and new, a reminder that in times
past its lord held his subjects in the
hollow OF his hand-and in the fear
of his guns
The castle suffered in the lombard
ment by the Italians in 1911, but its
new masters have restored it. It is
no longer citadel, but relic, and
now contains the Office of the gov
ernor. the headquarters of the police,
and some other public departments,
lodged high above the city, in quaint
arcaded courts. But it's gates are held
by soldiers, white, black, or brown,
according as an Italian regiment, a
negro battalion from Eritrea, or an
Arab corps recruited In Tripolitania
furnishes the guard for the day.
Away from the main street, one
plunges into the Arabian Nights. Here
an arched entrance leads to narrow,
rooted alley. with apertures in the
top for light. On either side of it are
dark, cavern-like openings, in each of
which sits a native at a hand loom,
weaving scarfs or long pieces Of silk
striped in bright colors.
Near by is similar arcade, in
which each case is filled with oriental
carpets, rugs, and round leather cush-
ions with gay designs. Only one of the
sellers is modern enough to invite a
passing European to inspect his stock
others recline silently at their ease.
waiting, like true fasteners. for Gus
TONER'S 10 cOuie TO tuem
cIImpses Of Marrow Streets.
Out Of the darkness of these arcades
one passes into the brilliant sunshine
of a narrow lane of dull, two-storied
white-washed houses. Only the door
and one or two tiny, barred windows
break the Darkness Of their walls.
One half-open door gives glimpse of
a square courtyard inside, with pill
Jared arches supporting gallery on
which all the rooms open. well lighted
by windows looking On the sunny
court From the outside one would
never suspect the brightness Of the
interior Of these Arab houses.
Along the narrow alley lurches a
ent-footed camel. laden with bulky
-