lundered.

The hammams or bath-places are quite numerous in the cities. They are
usually well-built, brick buildings and have within two or three pools
of water, some hot, others cold. Men can bathe any day in the week
except Friday, which day is reserved for women. The charge is three or
four cents. Christians cannot enter a Mohammedan hammam, as they are
considered unclean.

HOLIDAYS.

The Mohammedans have several holidays. Neither the government nor the
priesthood compel observance of these days, but they are usually
observed either for the sake of rest, religious profit or amusement.
There is, however, one set of holidays, ten days known as Moharram,
that is strictly observed by all faithful Mohammedans. There is also
one national holiday generally observed in memory of the beginning of
the Persian nation. It is called Newrooz, meaning new day. This name
was given by a Persian king in ancient times. Two weeks before this day
all stores will be decorated with different kinds of fruits, such as
palms, figs, pomegranates, apples, almonds, and raisins. Also some fine
shawls and rugs are hung before the stores. During these two weeks most
people buy of these fruits and prepare for the national feast. On that
day nearly every man, woman and child puts on some new garments of
clothing and new clothes throughout if possible. People also clean
their houses for this occasion. On the evening of Newrooz a table is
spread with the finest fruits and the family will gather around and
feast until a late hour in the night. The poor are remembered on these
occasions and presents of fruit are sent to them. Christians are also
frequently remembered in this way.

SCHOOLS.

There is no system of public or state schools in Persia. There are
schools in all large towns and cities which are taught by the priest in
a room of the mosque. These schools are voluntary, no person being
obliged to send his children. The students pay the priest each from 5
to 25 cents per month. Those who can't pay anything are admitted free.
The priest's food is brought to him by the students. The ages of the
pupils range from ten to twenty years. These schools are for boys only.
There are no schools for girls. If a girl gets any education at all, it
must be from a private tutor. In the schools the textbooks in history
and poetry are in the Persian language and Koran and grammar are taught
in the Arabic language. Mathematics, geography, the sciences and t