One of the most interesting addresses of the Association was
.delivered by Mr. Gifford Palgrave on Arabia. He spoke of the ani- snosity of the feud between the white (the Northern) Arabs, and the red (the Southern) Arabs, and described as extraordinary the way in which it is carried down into the life and games of children. -" One child belonging to the red section would pull a white flower -and trample it under foot ; a child of the opposite section would do the like .by .a poppy or other red flower ; then words would follow, and finally showers of stones and blows." If Mr. Palgrave had ever seen the children of a country town in England quarrel- ling over the election colours he would not have been so much surprised ; but perhaps the curious element in the matter is that this colour-feud goes on in places where the origin of the distinc- tion between the white and red as the symbols of difference between the Northern and Southern races has been lost or for- gotten, and the white and red have parties on their own account, and no longer as symbols.
Previous page
