ON THE TRAIL OF THE^
AMERICAN MISSIONARY
By WILLIAM T. ELLIS
This Distinguished American Journalist is Traveling Around the World for
the Purpose of Investigating the American Foreign Missionary from
a Purely Disinterested. Seculat and Non-Sectarian Standpoint.
Illustrated with Drawings and from Photographs.
Mohammed’s Forces Center
in Cosmopolitan Cairo
k ■ ——
Cairo. Egy pt.—Japan. China, Korea
and India have all got oyi the world’s
news cables since l wrote about them
in this correspondence: the same will
be true of Egypt, or I am no reader of
plain signs. The unrest of Egypt is
hound to assert itself ere long in
ways that will command the attention
of civilization. Tht' loud tnutterings,
to be hoard in the cafes and bazars,
are not the thoughtless vaporings of
the idle; a very considerable propor
tion of the people, including the pro
gressive, educated "Young Egypt
party, are thinking definite things
concerning the overthrow of the Eng
lish power. Lord Cromer's recent de
parture was made the occasion for so
many outspoken criticisms against
the British that it was preceded, as
a precautionary measure, by the
parade of all the British forces, fully
armed, through the streets of Cairo.
Missions and Politics.
All this has a relation to the mis
sionary propaganda. This upheaval
and restlessness is cracking the hard
surface of Mohammedan exclusiveness
and intolerance. Where the news
paper and the world's spirit enter,
there religious prejudice cannot abide.
In their seemingly hopeless assault
upon Islam, the missionaries have a
powerful reenforcemeiu in the fledg- j
ling modernity of New Egypt.
On the other hand, the missionaries, |
by their schools and literature, have ]
done more than a little to awaken |
Egypt from the torpor of centuries. 1
Itritish officials and Egyptian reform
ers have alike definitely and publicly
acknowledged the influential contribu
tion to the country's higher welfare
made by the American missionary.
Old E :ypt, the land of the dead, is be
coming one of the world's new na
tions, blessed with a prosperity at- j
most equal to the amazing fertility ;
of its soil.
The Sword of the Frophet.
Cairo is the citadel and cradle of
Mohammedanism. Sanguine Chris
tians predict that, as the magnificent
Mohammed Ali mosque, which over
looks the entire city, from the sum
mit, of the ancient citadel, is now sur
rounded by the soldiers of a Christian
power, so the religion which it rep
resents is hound to succumb to the
advance of Christianity. Which is
more easily said than done. This is j
a thoroughly Mohammedan city. The
Christian may still hear himself cursed
as an unbelieving dog. in the bazars
and in the mosques.
What has often been called the
largest university in the world, the
highest educational institution of Is
lam is situated here; and when 1 vis
ited it the sibilant sound of serpentine
hate followed me through all ihe vast
inelosure. The books say that there
are 10,000 students taking the 12-year
course in the El Azhar mosque, al
though the officials told me that the
number is more than 14,000. This is
now the fountain head of the force
by which Mohammedanism has con
quered 232,966,170 of the world's popu
lation. The only reason that this
force is no longer expressed by the
sword, as formerly, is that the great
world powers, which are Christians,
prevent. • Curiously enough, the
Christian emperor of Great Hritain
and India rules over more Mohammed
ans than any other sovereign.’ In
Egypt there are about 9,000,000 fol
lowers of Islam. 720,000 Coptic Chris
tians, and a srmill scattering of Jews
and Protestants.
Studying. Eating. Sleeping in Church.
This Azkar mosque is like only it
self. The students, who >ave come
from every part of the Mohammedan
world, do not study occidental fash
ion, in classes and under teachers. 1
could find no traces of organization
Whatever. The students—all men. of
course, gat, reclined or lay about the
floors in nondescript fashion. Occa
sionally a cluster would have their
heads together, swaying to and fro,
and repeating some passages aloud
and in unison. There were no mod
ern books in evidence whatever. In
deed, this "university” is really a
school of theology; it will have noth
ing to do with the modern sciences
or scientific learning. What other
universities teach it eschews; and its
branches of study would be looked for
in vain In any college in Christendom.
A man may graduate from the Azhar,
and yet be unable to pass an exam
ination in the studies required for
admission to an English grammar
school. But they know' the Koran,
and are ready to die for the faith
of the prophet.
The mosque is also a lodging house.
The students sleep where they study,
and apparently they sleep and study
when they please. Likewise, they eat
where they sleep, after the primitive
style of the east. The passing of the
occasional tourist arouses sufficient in
terest to set the students to hissing;
hut I was more disturbed by the ver
min of the place than by these hostile
demonstrations, knowing that there
is no real danger, since Britain rules
with a strong hand.
Ungratefulness of “The Faithful."
The famous "howling Dervishes" of
Cairo are no longer to be seen by
visitors, because of fanatical out
breaks, anil because of the disgust
ing character of their exhibition.
The great flood of tourists in Cairo
makes itself felt in this respect, being
one of the influences that, impercep
itbly, undermine the solidarity of Is
lam.
My dragoman threw a side light on
religious conditions. He assured me
that he is a faithful follower of the
prophet, keeps the fast of Itomadon,
and observes the earlj prayers—al
lhough in our jlay. together I failed
to catch him at . • .-se. We were
rocking across the - sert on camels,
when in his terse fashion lie gave ut
terance to what is the practical infi
delity of many Moslems. "Priests say
all Christians go to hell and all Mo
hammedans go to heaven. I do not
believe it. You think good man who
has only one face and makes straight
taik and gives to the poor, will go to
hell because he is a Christian? I do
not. You think had man, who lies,
shows two faces and does many
wrong things, go to heaven because
he is a Mohammedan? I do not.
Had man go to hell; good man go to
heaven; do not care wh^t priests
say.”
Not only the advent of the western
spirit, but also the immorality of its
followers is weakening Mohammedan
ism. Cairo is probably the wickedest
city in the world, not even Port Said
surpassing it. The position of women
is indicated by the statement on the
part of a Moslem authority, that not
five per cent, of the .Mohammedan
men retain their first wife until death.
Divorce is as common as it is easy.
The men are grossly and naturally,
immoral. They drink large quanti
ties of liquor despite the prohibitions
of the prophet. Only eight per cent,
of the population can read and write,
Tite people are senile and ingenious
mendicants. Their religion, which
should be intense Mohammedanism,
has degenerated into all sorts of su
perstitions.
a f-at Man s Misery.
Thus, at the entrance to the mosque
which is a duplicate of the Mecca
mosque, there stand two marble pil
lars. The belief is that whoever can
squeeze between these two pillars is
free from evil and sure of paradise.
Hut the person in whose heart evil
resides can in no wise get through.
Physical form is not taken into ac
count. Our driver wa3 terribly con
cerned because he could not squeeze
through, even after removing various
garments. After much effort, and at
the risk of ribs, we pulled and pushed
him through; and he was straightway
as happy as a peasant girl after her
confirmation.
No “Holy War.”
Frequently the aiarm is sounded
that a pan-Islamic movement threat
ens Europe or Asia, and that the
green flag of a "holy war” is to be un
furled. Undoubtedly the leaders of
Islam are solidifying their forces'as
thoroughly as possible; and undoubt
edly Mohammedanism is the most se
rious foe to be met by the Christian
missionaries. The report, however,
that Islam is growing rapidly, and car
rying on an aggressive missionary
campaign, cannot be verified here.
Leading students of Mohammedanism
say that they can find no evidence of
such a movement. It is as unfounded
a report as the rumors of a "holy
war.” With the present admixture of
races and governments and civiliza
tions, it seems the height of improb
ability that there should ever be a
"holy war." The prophet is fighting
against the calendar.
None the less. Islam makes it warm
for ail apostates. Ostracism and per
secution—loss of home, friend, social
position and means of earning a live
lihood—follow the Mohammedan who
becomes a Christian. It is frequently
asserted that there never has been a
genuine convert from Mohammedan
ism to Christianity. The American
mission alone has detailed records of
140 such, as a result of its work since
1854. Not a very large company, it is
true, but enough to prove the possi
bility of wide success.
dapping and Mining.
Uike many other oriental missions,
this one of the United Presbyterian
church is working for the second and
third generation. It plans a long,
wide and far-reaching campaign. By
many indirect methods, it is inculcat
ing a more tolerant spirit in the
community, and removing the ancient
prejudice. It is educating the boys
and girls, on a scale almost equal to
that of the reformed government it
self. A recent report showed 15,
000 scholars in the schools of this
American mission, and 18,000 in all
government schools. There are more
than 16,000 scholars in the mission
schools, of whom about 3,000 are Mo
hammedans.
The ancient Coptic Christian
church, now sadly corrupted, has per
sisted in Egypt despite all Moslem
persecution. Among these the first
work of the missionaries was done,
and from them come the majority of
the 8,639 members reported by the
mission. The latter, by the way, has
107 American missionaries, supported
! by the most aggressively missionary
of all denominate s in the we3t, the
United Presbyterians.
Where the Holy Family Rested.
The Coptic quarter of old Cairo
does not speak well for the thrift and
progressiveness of the Coptic. My
dragoman gave them a bad repu
tation for morality. The old church,
dating back to the fifteenth century,
which covers the crypt where Joseph'
and Mary rested with the babe in
their flight into Egypt, is in sorry dis
repair. The priest and his family,
who show tourists about are as
shameless beggars as any Arab, and
quite as arrogant. The priest sober
ly gave me, as the names of apostles
whose pictures are on the wall, a med
ley of Xew Testament characters,
some of whom no church ever called
apostles. The association of the old
church building with the hply fam
ily renders it one of the chief points
of interest in this interesting city.
It is at Cairo that the west touches
the east: here most travelers get
their first sight of foreign mission
work. The old American mission
building is directly across the street
from the principal hotel, and here re
side veteran missionaries who have
been in the work for nearly half a
century, as well as a fine corps of
younger workers. Here is a church,
a book store, and schools for both
girls and boys.
By the Xile the mission has even
greater work. Assuit college enrolls
700 students, and the hospitals at As
suit and Tanta minister respective
ly to 2,000 and to 200 In-patients an
nually. and to 20,000 and 10,000 dis
pensary patients. The praise of this
mission's work is in the mouths of
natives, travelers and government of
ficials.
(Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
ENTIRE STATE WAS IN PAWN.
Nevada Said to Have Been in That
Condition Five Years Back.
Five years ago Nevada was a state
in pawn. She had been stolen. The
entire population was not sufficient
to constitute a third-rate western
town, and it was decreasing. It might
well have been asked then: “What’s
the matter with Nevada?"
The trouble grew out of Nevada’s
public land grant, amounting to 2,000,
000 acres, which congress had care
lessly authorized the state to select
as desired. The Nevada legislature
practically put the land up at auction,
and the result was that a few stock
men bought enough land to shoestring
and surround and absolutely control
every river, lake and water hole in
the state.
By doing so they became virtual
possessors of the rest of the state.
No one else could use the public land
or make settlement because of their
control of all the water, and in Ne
vada water is the life blood of the
land. Sixty million acres were con
trolled and in effect owned by about
a million acres, and not an opportu
nity for a single 160-acre homestead.
Five years ago this was the situation
—a hopeless one. Public-spirited men
had attempted to induce immigration
and to encourage the development of
their state, but their work had come
to naught and they had to quit. There
was no chance.
Yet all the time tfcere was still a
great , water supply running to waste
annually. The perennial flow of the
rivers and streams was entirely util
ized. but the floods from the melting
of the mountain snows swept away
uselessly to the sea.
Viewing the situation as it was then,
who would have dared to predict that
with the passage of the national irri
gation act could have occurred the
great transformation and development
of Nevada, and if it had been predict
ed, who would have believed it? Of
the $37,000,000 government reclama
tion fund, Nevada has thus far re
ceived her fair share, and the comple
tion of the great project upon which
the federal engineers are now working
will more than quadruple the already
increased population of the state.
The first section of the Truekee
Carson project has been completed
and the settlers are now farming the
fertile land in 80-acre homesteads.
By next year 150,000 acres of this
project will be under irrigation.—
Successful American.
Both Presbyterians.
In the Missouri state prison at Jef
ferson City are 1,761 prisoners. Ac
cording to an article in the North
American 395 of them are Baptists,
301 Methodists, six Jews and one
Christian Scientist.
This calls to mind a story about the
late Rev. Dr. John Hall. The good
doctor was once walking home from
preaching at a Sunday night meeting
out in the country. In the moonlight
he saw a man lying drunk in the gut
ter, and going up to him, gave him a
shake.
"Here,” he said, "it is a shame for
a nice, respectable-looking man like
you to be lying in the gutter.”
The man opened his tipsy eyes and
saw the long, black coat.
"Are you a minister?” he asked.
"Yes," said Dr. Hall; “come, get
up.”
"Presbyterian?" queried the inebri
ate.
“Yes,” was the answer, somewhat
impatiently, “I am.”
“Then,” said the other, “help me
up, I’m a Presbyterian myself.”
Easy Way to Return Favors.
"If you owe somebody a dinner or
something, or an entertainment,” re
marked the careful man, “the best
way I know to return it is to send
them complimentary concert tickets
somebody has given you. I know a
pair of such tickets that did duty six
times in the way of returning obliga
tions. I started them, they passed on
to five other people, and by jingo! if
they finally 'didn’t get back to me.”
Yfflfleflnitninie CSffis
riGUorn^V
rioujenNPJ
FIGURE ns.3
Many simple and effective valentine
hints are given us from Paris, a few
of which are shown in the sketches.
They may be used as luncheon favors,
cotillon favors or as valentines, as
their usefulness as well as daintiness
is their strong recommendation. Fig
ure No. 1 is a heart-shaped sachet of
silk covered with sheer linen and a
narrow ruffle of lace. A butterfly is
embroidered in the center. A heart
is first cut out of absorbent cotton,
seven inches by 7t4. the sachet pow
der being laid in between the two
layers of cotton. Orris and violet, or
heliotrope and violet, make a good
combination. Then cover this with a
pretty shade of pink or blue china
silk, cut out a trifle larger than the
cotton, and baste firmly around the
edge.
After the linen has been embroid
ered, making sure the butterfly is ex
actly in the center, press on the wrong
side and cut out the same size as the
silk heart. Baste over silk on both
sides—that is, plain linen on one side
and the embroidered piece on the oth
er. Bind neatly with a half-inch satin
ribbon the color of the silk. This is
done by hemming the ribbon first on
one side, then on the other, just far
enough from the edge to fasten the
linen. It must be slightly fulled over
the rounded portions of the heart.
Then the half-inch Valenciennes lace
is whipped on.
Figure No. 2 enables the linen cover
to be taken off, as the ribbon is run
through eyelets made in the linen for
the purpose.
A cotton heart is made as before,
then a silk slip is made, leaving the
largest part open, in which to put the
cotton. Sew the edges of the silk to
gether, turn on the right side, put in
the cotton and overcast the edges left
open. Care must be taken to keep the
cotton perfectly smooth.
Mark out on a piece of handkerchief
linen two hearts with scalloped edges,
one slightly larger than the other, the
smallest being about half an inch
larger than the silk heat.
Buttonhole the edges of both with
white mercerized cotton and make the
eyelets large enough to allow baby rib
bon, the color of the silk, to be run
through. The eyelets on both pieces
of linen must correspond, as the rib
bon is run through both sides at once,
just outside of the silk heart.
Figure No. 3 is a heart-shaped satin
covered box, with an embroidered linen
and lace frilled top and a gathered
chiffon ruffle, edged with narrow rib
bon, for the sides. The inside is
quilted satin. Cut out two heart
shaped pieces of cardboard and a strip
of cardboard four inches wide and long
enough to go arouud the edge of the
heart. Cover one side of one heart
with satin the desired color, and do
the same with the long strip of card
board. Then, after quilting enough
satin to cover both hearts and the
sides, cover the other side of the first
heart. This is for the bottom of the
box. Cover the other side of the long
strip and sew neatly one edge to the
covered heart, leaving the quilted
sides inside.
Care must be taken not to break the
cardboard when bending into the heart
shape. The chiffon ruffle is now
1 sewed around the upper edge. The
| cover is made by slightly padding the
outside before covering with the satin,
the inside being the quilting. Then
after pressing the linen carefully
which has been already embr'oidered
baste to the edge of the padded stae
This is then bound with half inch satin
ribbon, the narrow lace frill being put
on last. The quilting is done by taking
a single layer of wool wadding ano
basting to the wrong side of the satin
then, either by machine or hand
stitching across. If the box is to be
I used for handkerchiefs a suggestion oi
sachet pow'der is pleasant. The em
broidery is very simple, the bow knot
in the center being the Madeira stitch,
which is simply a succession of over
hand stitches, made in mercerized cot
ton.
NOVEL JACKET FORMED
OF SIX HANDKERCHIEFS
JUST NOW POPULAR.
This novel jacket is one that has
lately been very popular; it is com
posed of six handkerchiefs, which
should not be less than 19 inches
square. These may be of white cam
bric, simply hemstitched, or may have
embroidered borders and corners, or
colored stripes; in fact, any kind of
handkerchief may be used. The ma
king up is quite simple, as will be seen
from the illustration; one falls over
each shoulder; one forms each side
front, and two the back, which falls in
a pretty triple plait. The corners at
the neck turn over ;n points," which
may be edged with lace to form a little
collar; the fronts are connected by
ribbon tied in bows.
Bands of Cluny.
Hands of Cluny dyed in all the fash
ionable colors and combined with
white net make comparatively inex
pensive blouses, which, however, are
extremely smart. The heavy floss
silks are sometimes displaced by soft
chine ribbons when the lace or net
is embroidered, and handsome effects
are gained by using the ribbons that
come already shaded.
PRETTY FASHION FOR
THE TRIMMING OF
SMART INDOOR GOWNS
The method cf trimming nearly all
indoor gowns with net embroidery in
soutache has given rise to a pretty
fashion for trimming the new shirt
waists.
Heavy white net is used in cotton
weave and on this is a rug design, as
the new eastern work is called, done
in white or colored soutache. This is
used as yoke and stock, as panels, as
wide cuffs.
If, for instance, you are making a
blouse of cotton batiste, which is bet
ter than handkerchief linen, and want
to keep it simple, put it in pin tacks
from shoulders to waist on each side
of a front panel four inches wide, of
net and lace.
Cover this net with a design of blue
soutache and on each side of this strip
put a row of Cluuv, then one of Val.
insertion. Whip the edges of this panel
to the fine tucks on each side. Fasten
diwn back with white linen buttons.
Make stock of the embroidered net,
with two kinds of lace insertion at
each edge. Have sleeves rather small,
tucked at shoulder line and below el
bow and finished with a two-inch cuff
of embroidered net. edged on each
side with ruffles of narrow Cluny lace.
You could have nothing prettier for
afternoon wear under a coat suit.
White net with white soutache is
very dainty and it is used in a deep
V-shaped yoke back and front, quite
narrow on shoulders—remember that
—and applied to the muslin on each
side with Val. lace.
The sleeves are long, with a panel
of net down back and a wide turnover
of the net edged with two ruffles of
Val. lace.
Colored Satin Linings Preferred.
White satin linings, either for
muffs or jackets or cloaks, have be
come entirely ancien jeu—they are
replaced by rich colored Liberty silks
in contrast to the garment, reseda
green lining purple or gray garments,
royal blue lining khaki color, while
marcon is lined with flaming geranium
and aubergine with verdigris. Fot
evening cloaks this vivid lining is of
chiffon, full, detached from the gar
ment, so that it blows from the oper
fronts like inner scarfs.—Vogue.
THOS. CALE, OF ALASKA,
MEMBER OFtLS. CONGRESS
Well Known on the Pacific Slofe. If is
Washington Address is 131? qth St.,
N. IP., Washington, D. C.
.—
CONGRESSMAN THOS. CALE.
Hon. Thos. Cale. who was elected to
Congress from Alaska, is well known on
the Pacific slope, where he has resided.
His Washington address is 1312 9th St.,
N. W., Washington, D. C.
Washington, D. C.
Perttnn Drug Co., Columbus, Ohio.
Qentlemen: / can cheerfu'ly recom
mend Peruna as a very efficient rem
edy for coughs and colds.
Thomas Cale.
Hon C. Slemp. Congressman from
Virginia, writes: “I have used your val
uable remedy, Peruna, with beneficial
results, and can unhesitatingly recom
mend your remedy as an invigorating
tonic and an effective and permanent
cure for catarrh.”
Man-a-lin the Ideal Laxative.
SICK HEADACHE
n ■ ii ■ ■ .| ■. 11 Positively cared by
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PILLa. sea, Drowsiness, Bad
^^^■B Taste in the Mouth, Coat
m ||EHHS ed Tongue, Pain in the
EbdSSSS_(side, TORPID LIVER.
i They regnlate the Bowels. Purely Vegetable.
SMALL PILL. SMALL DOSE. SMALL PRICE.
Genuine Must Bear
Fac-Simile Signature
REFUSE SUBSTITUTES.
THE ONLY
Sanitary
Durable
WAUC8ATING
'Suitable for any room, never^T
molds, mildews or drops off the
wall. Comes in dry powder. Add
1 cold water. Brush on wall with ^
inch flat brush.
Alabastine is in packages, cor
rectly labeled ALABASTINE.
Each package covers from 300 to
450 square feet of wall.
SIXTEEN BEAUTIFUL SOFT.
VELVETY SHADES
THAT NEVER TADE. AS WELL
AS A CLEAR BRILLIANT WHITE
Alabastine is absolutely sanitary
and thoroughly beautiful. Try it
this fall. Your dealer has it, if
not, write to
ALABASTINE CO.
New York City - Grand Rapids Mkb
1 1
Typical Farm Scene. Showing Stock Raising in
WESTERN CANADA
Some of the choicest lands for grain growing
Stock raising and mixed farming in the new ilia
tricts of Saskatchewan and Alberta have re
cently beeu Opened tor Settlement under the
Revised Homestead Regulations
Entry may now be made by proxy (on certain
conditions), by the father, mother, son, daugh
ter, brother or sister of an intending home
steader. Thousands of homesteads of 160 acres
each are thus now easily available in these
great grain-growing, stock-raising and mixed
farming sections.
There you will find healthful climate, good
neighbors, churchesfor family worship, schools
for your children, good laws, spleudid crops,
and railroads convenient to market.
Entry fee in each case is $10.00. For pamph
let. “Last Best West/’ particulars as to rales,
routes, best time to go and where to locate,
apply to
W. V. BENNETT.
881 New York Life Building, Omaha. Nebraska.
PACKER'S
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50c, and |D0 st Dr,-it■
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