Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 December 1903 — The Arable Language. [ARTICLE]

The Arable Language.

There is no language more poetical thtfn the Arabic language, where snow is called “hair of the mountain” and the rainbow is “bride of the rain.” Red mullet Is “the sultan of fishes,” maidenhair fern is translated by “little cane of the well.” Ordinary Arabic words show an extraordinary gift of description. The word for secretly means literally “under the matting’.’ and never Is expressed thus: “When tbe charcoal takes root and the salt bads.” Uncontrolled ascendency of Imagination marks the Arab and endows his nature with a fascination all its own. An outdoor life is his heritage, and tbe things of nature are a part of himself. Spring he calls “grass;” summer is “gleaning;” autumn is “fruit,-” winter is “rainy.”