CHAPTER SEVEN
THE YOUNG MOSLEM LOOKS AT CHRISTIANITY
It was between Old Babylon and Baghdad on the journey through Iraq. The third-class compartment of the train was crowded. Uncouth, illiterate, dirty Bedouins from the desert, with their cumbersome flowing robes and piles of luggage, occupied the greater part of the space. But there were a few young men of the educated effendi class who were seated next to us. Because they were in government employ they knew some English, and it was not long before we engaged one of these young Iraqis in conversation. He said his country had made great progress since the World War. A modern representative form of government had been set up, Baghdad was fast changing its atmosphere of The Arabian Nights for that of a European capital, a modern system of education was being developed, the Iraqis had taken charge of their own army and air force, and their country was now a member of the League of Nations. On the whole, they had much for which they were grateful to the British. Then I surprised him with the question, "Are you a Christian?" To which he immediately replied, "Thank God, no!"
