﻿MODERN 
  LIFE 
  IN 
  THE 
  CRADLE 
  OF 
  CIVILIZATION 
  

  

  Photograph 
  by 
  Eric 
  Keast 
  Burke 
  

  

  A 
  CARPENTER 
  AND 
  DECORATOR 
  BESIDE 
  THE 
  EUPHRATES 
  

  

  This 
  chest 
  when 
  it 
  is 
  gaily 
  decorated 
  will 
  probably 
  form 
  the 
  "hope 
  chest" 
  or 
  "glory 
  box" 
  of 
  an 
  Arab 
  ladv. 
  

  

  Wood 
  is 
  scarce 
  in 
  many 
  parts 
  of 
  the 
  East, 
  hence 
  is 
  highly 
  valued. 
  

   inlays 
  of 
  alternate 
  silver 
  and 
  mother-of-pearl 
  are 
  frequently 
  seen, 
  

   decorated 
  to 
  order 
  by 
  some 
  gentleman 
  who 
  has 
  a 
  banquet 
  in 
  view, 
  

   brass 
  trays 
  inlaid 
  with 
  silver 
  and 
  copper 
  figures 
  are 
  common. 
  

  

  XV 
  

  

  Much 
  labor 
  is 
  expended 
  in 
  decorating 
  it 
  and 
  

  

  The 
  painted 
  tray 
  is 
  of 
  copper 
  and 
  has 
  been 
  

  

  In 
  other 
  parts 
  of 
  the 
  Near 
  East, 
  damascened 
  

  

  