, mysterious Entity in
the tribune, is bound to reach the very heart of it; for think what
five thousand rays focussed on a sensitive plate can do." Thus our
Scribe, apologetically.

But after the first contact and the vibrations of enthusiasm and
flattery that followed, Khalid regains his equilibrium and reason, and
strikes into his favourite theme. He begins by arraigning the
utilitarian spirit of Europe, the rank materialism which is invading
our very temples of worship. God, Truth, Virtue, with them, is no
longer esteemed for its own worth, but for what it can yield of the
necessities and luxuries of life. And with these cynical materialistic
abominations they would be supreme even in the East; they would
extinguish with their dominating spirit of trade every noble virtue of
the soul. And yet, they make presumption of introducing civilisation
by benevolent assimilation, rather dissimulation. For even an
Englishman in our country, for instance, is unlike himself in his own.
The American, too, who is loud-lunged about democracy and shirt-sleeve
diplomacy, wheedles and truckles as good as the wiliest of our pashas.
And further he exclaims:

"Not to Christian Europe as represented by the State, therefore, or by
the industrial powers of wealth, or by the alluring charms of
decadence in art and literature, or by missionary and educational
institutions, would I have you turn for light and guidance. No: from
these plagues of civilisation protect us, Allah! No: let us have
nothing to do with that practical Christianity which is become a sort
of divine key to Colonisation; a mint, as it were, which continually
replenishes the treasuries of Christendom. Let us have nothing to do
with their propagandas for the propagation of supreme Fakes. No, no.
Not this Europe, O my Brothers, should we take for our model or
emulate: not the Europe which is being dereligionised by Material
Science; disorganised by Communion and Anarchy; befuddled by
Alcoholism; enervated by Debauch. To another Europe indeed, would I
direct you--a Europe, high, noble, healthy, pure, and withal
progressive. To the deep and inexhaustible sources of genius there, of
reason and wisdom and truth, would I have you advert the mind. The
divine idealism of German philosophy, the lofty purity of true French
art, the strength and sterling worth of English freedom,--these we
should try to emulate; these we should introduce into the gorgeous
besottedness of Oriental lif