In the early 20th century he studied in Mecca alongside a man named Ahmad Dahlan.

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Taking an elective in college used to mean studying something you wanted to learn about but not necessarily major in: the mathematician who took a class in 19th century Russian literature or the French major who studied Biology 101.

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He studied architecture in Europe, late in the nineteenth century, then returned to his native New York and made a small fortune developing new neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens.

NEWYORKER: Brooklyn Circle