New Britain herald., 1928-03-30
TANGIER SEEN AS
 GAMBLERS MECCA
Ny Yet Become the Rival of
 Monte Carlo

Washington. D. C.. March 3o.-I European promoters hope to make ancient Tangier modern resort.
 In the shadow Of venerable mos ques and minarets and keyhold-like Moosish archways. they plan to build modern hotels. bath houses and casinos that will rival the Riviera and vie with Monte Carlo.
 Although Tangier is but few hours ferry ride from Gibraltar. the city has maintained its ancient charm." says a bulletin from the Washington. D. C. headquarters of the National Geogra phic society.
 Streets Mere l'assageways
 For many centuries it has oc- cupied q reserved seat on the Atri- can side Of the strait Of Gibraltar. in full view Of the parade of con- merce 10 and from Mediterranean ports. but today it's unimproved harbor does not permit docking of larger ocean, going vessels.
 From the anchorage. Tangier re- sembles a white sheet spread from the seashore up the African slopes. The spotless white walls. glistenins in the sunlight, suggest that clean up, paint-up week is perpetually ob served there and that the city fath CTS will allow nothing but white paint or whitewash to be used. As one hears the shore, however. dashes Of yellow, green and red mark the encroachment of modern builders.
 Once inside The city walls the traveller Is bewildered by the maze 6! lanes which the Tangieians call their streets. So narrow are they that wheeled vehicles have never rumbied over the cobbles and pc 1estrians are compelled to jump into doorways to avoid being side-swiped or trampled upon by huge, moth eaten camels and donkeys, whose bulging loads spread nearly from wall to wall.
 Gardens and Farmyards
 'In the business section coffee houses offer the principal Tangier recreation. Patrons sit in groups on the floor. playing with odd marked cards, or lean against the walls slipping a beverage. smoking their pipes. and sometimes singing 10 the tune of a native orchestra. Next door an unkempt shopkeeper. seemingly more interested in keep ing hts long stemmed pipe lighted than in making sale, presides over | cupboardlike shop displaying pot tery, brassware and trinketA
 "Beggars are more importunate. They beg for aims and often fol- low . prospects until he yields a coin. Shouts of camel men and street vendors and chatter of pe- destrians make a monotonouS din. broken occasionally by the weird posed of dervishes who parade about the streets with Moslem banners, begging contributions for the mos ques
 "An Americans description of | Tangier residential district would be fuUTS udTIU" '" AhiCc in by high white walls The walls are blank except for doorways lead- ing into courts. A peep through an open door reveals some of the city's garden spots-hower beds surround ing fountains. shaded by lofty palms. Some courts are also used as minia- ture farmyards where cattle and fowl are fattened for the market
 Market Place Side shows
 Most travellers agree that visit to the large market, lying just out side Of the city wall. is we'll worth trip to Tangier. There city folk mingle with the rural folk from the fertile regions in the vicinity. Men, women and children. camels, horses. donkeys. dogs and fowl. all are hud- ded together in the dust amid piles of oranges. baskets of eggs, casks of olives and imrrovised stands for nuts. dates. candies. kitchen utensils and home- shoes. The country women wear broad -brimmed straw hats. The Moslems wear kerchiefs, half covering their faces.
 
 Around the edge of the market place letter writers and fortune tell CTS ply their professions: black, port ly Sudaness negroes in tatters dance 70 the tune of metal cymbals and discx dangling about their bodies, and the fire-eater and snake eharmer amaze throngs with their clever tricks.
 "of all the side shows the snake ciarmer. perhaps, is strangcst. AS his assistant beats a doleful tom tom, he draws q hissing reptile from q sack. allows ii 10 bite his tongue and wipes away the blood with a hand ful Of shavings. After convincing his audience that he is really wounded. he rolls the wet shavings into pei let which he places in dry shavings. Then he blows on the mass until r smokes and later bursts into flames Your native guide will say he is ! very holy man."