KERBELA, Meshhed Hosein, mesh'hed 116 sin', city in Bagdad vilayet, and some 50 miles southwest of the city of Bagdad. It is connected by canal with the. Euphrates. The city is Persian in the character of its build ings and its inhabitants and is looked upon as a very sacred place by the Shiahs. In com memoration of the death of Hosein, son of the Caliph Ali, who was murdered there (680) and whose body is buried in one of the mosques of the city, a passion, or historic play is performed there yearly on the anniversary of his death, just as the greater play is held periodically in Theheran in commemoration of the death of Mohammed's nephew, claimant for the robes of the prophet. For many years the sacred 'city was a place of refuge for criminals of all kinds who, once they had placal themselves beneath her protection, could not be extradited or brought to justice. The presence of this unde sirable element was the cause of many revolts and much trouble within the city; and condi tions got so bad that finally, in 1843, the right of sanctuary was formally done away with. Being a holy city in the eyes of the Shiahs and Sunnis, Kerbela possesses five fine mosques, the most striking of which is that containing the tomb of Hosein, the golden-plated domes and minarets of which can be seen glistening from afar as though beckoning the pilgrims to the sacred shrine to which none but the faithful are permitted entrance. The number of pilgrims visiting the city annually is in the neighborhood of 200,000. More pilgrims probably visit Ker
bela because it is en route for Mecca. The mosques are among the richest in Asiatic Tur key and their wealth is steadily increasing from year to year. Kerbela is the centre of an ex tensive trade and commerce which extends throughout northwest Arabia. Among its manu factures are kneeling-bricks and shrouds. The old city, which forms the central portion of Kerbela, has crooked, narrow, dirty and ill paved streets. This part is surrounded by a very old massive wall. Outside this wall, which is 24 feet thick, is the new city which is quite modern and attractive.
The name of the daughter of Job, born in the time of his re stored prosperity. The name means horn of the face paint, i.e., a cosmetic box, or as we might say Joy-face. In the Septuagint the word is Amalthea-Keras, meaning horn of plenty, and in that sense has reference to Job's gratitude for his prosperity.
KERENS, Richard C., Irish American diplomat: b. Killberry, County Meath, Ireland, 1842; d. 4 Sept. 1916. He fought in the Union side throughout the American Civil War. Later he became contractor for the over land mail and interested in railroad construc tion. From 1892 he was a member of the Re publican National Committee until he was appointed ambassador to Austria-Hungary in 1909.