Show how little algerian girls learn fine needlework schools re on ot the educational features 0 algiers the smallest mites ot girls are gent to them liae it would seem before they re able to a needle anu are taught to take and stitches which grow more elaborate a the pupil advances A visit to one of these Is both curious and interesting the building has the usual open court in the cen tre with beautifully carved arched doorway opening from it the children eit about the court or upon the crepe ot the porch which surrounds it their embroidery frame before them these frames are like email table with an open top across which the embroidery I 1 stretched aad the work Is rolled a completed it a large piece Is in hand the children learn readily er their own handkerchief placing their camp la one corner in a cullous looking inscription and working the edget in color with a fine openwork beltch which looks like lacet or drawn work they also make mall bits of work which remind us of the sampler of our day these also finished with the fine openwork edge used upon the the children enjoy their work and form a quaint picture seated in little groups they wear their hair in tight pigtail at the back of the head wound tightly with a strip ot red cloth their finger nails are also painted red some of them wear a loose cloth cap or headdress while at work they apply themselves with enthusiasm and patience and display good taste when sufficiently advanced to choose their own patterns and colors the teachers and founders of these school are mainly french the first lesson taught the children Is that of cleanliness tor many of the girl come brou trou the poorest homos the first work la done in simple outlines but by the time they are eleven or twelve year of age the puella are able to work fine beautiful in even mat the most advanced pupils render the peculiar texture ot tire plumage of bird and the surface of flowers with a truth of na ture which nothing but the arab embroidery approaches the instructions are practical but the historic value of the old heraldic and symbolic designs 1 strongly impressed upon the worker strange as the statement may seem some of the best designed needlework of the present day comes to ns from the north of africa tor the arab designers and embroiderers ers of algiers do most artistic work some of which Is modern in style but most of which shows beautiful and elaborate oriental patterns these have been handed down from generation to generation tor many hundred years the algerian arabs in general are exceed angly fond of fine needlework wrought almost every garment worn from the simple ornamental hem upon a childs frock to the rich ecclesiastical vestment of their bellg lou ceremonies women in their home wear garments elaborately worked in artistic but upon the etall this beauty of needlework Is covered by the long white balk and the loose garment which reminds one of the habit of a capuchin monk even the peasants of the conn try have embroidery upon their garment while the tall moor who Is a figure upon the streets of algiers wear a tunic completely covered with beautiful and elaborate in silk gold and stiver threads combined the hannings hangings hang ings ot the house are so wrought with imaginative designs that they beem like woven tapestries of heavy texture while the robee of the nobility are equally heavy and rich with the most it Is on account of this arts being so ly prized by all classes that it Is taught even to the youngest children and I 1 an essential part of every girl education |