this is a home rather than the audience chamber of a palace, and the man who welcomes them a kindly host rather than a sovereign. A thoughtful and bounteous host, too, for there is no lack at his table nor in attendance upon his guests. Whatever their hearts may desire will be supplied by him who is not only a prince in fact but by nature royal in munificence. The guests go on from him, still occupied in receiving later arrivals, to gather in groups according to their intimacy and their interest in the topics of discussion started by the different leaders. There are times when the hum of eager conversation fills the room, that uncontrolled outpouring of many vibrant voices which annoyed the excellent Ibn Asaker so greatly, but which is in itself eloquent witness that there is neither stiffness nor timidity among these leaders of the cultural life of the capital of Islam. The gathering may be likened to one of those small clubs of our own day, made up of men of the polite professions, poets, authors, dramatists, journalists, actors, artists and musicians, men whose vocations in themselves compel mental cultivation, contact with the artistic side of life, travel and experience with the world ; where each member is on challenge to be as interesting to his fellows as he can be, and the dullard is speedily elbowed out of the charmed circle. The natural eloquence of the oriental, his gift for picturesque and telling phrase and love of ornate word painting, will give heightened color to tale and verse, and be sure there will be no lack of the subtle wit with which