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diff --git a/30577-h/30577-h.htm b/30577-h/30577-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2752cab --- /dev/null +++ b/30577-h/30577-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5012 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Told in the Coffee House, by Cyrus Adler and Allan Ramsay. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-top: 0em; + margin-right: 0em; padding: 0 5px 0 0; text-align: center; width: 100px;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Told in the Coffee House, by Cyrus Adler and Allan Ramsay + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Told in the Coffee House + Turkish Tales + +Author: Cyrus Adler + Allan Ramsay + +Release Date: December 2, 2009 [EBook #30577] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOLD IN THE COFFEE HOUSE *** + + + + +Produced by Ritu Aggarwal and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h2>TOLD IN THE COFFEE HOUSE</h2> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px"> +<img src="images/pubicon.jpg" width="300" alt="Publisher Icon" title="Publisher Icon" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1>Told in the Coffee House</h1> +<h2>Turkish Tales<br /><br /></h2> + +<h4>Collected and done into English<br /> +by<br /> +CYRUS ADLER <span class="smcap">AND</span> ALLAN RAMSAY<br /><br /></h4> +<h4>New York</h4> +<h3>The Macmillan Company</h3> +<h4>London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd.<br /> +1898<br /> +<i>All rights reserved</i></h4> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1898,<br /> +<span class="smcap">By</span> THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.<br /><br /></h4> + +<h5>Norwood Press<br /> +J. S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith<br /> +Norwood Mass. U.S.A.</h5> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE</h2> + + +<p>In the course of a number of visits to Constantinople, +I became much interested in the +tales that are told in the coffee houses. These +are usually little more than rooms, with walls +made of small panes of glass. The furniture +consists of a tripod with a contrivance for holding +the kettle, and a fire to keep the coffee +boiling. A carpeted bench traverses the entire +length of the room. This is occupied by turbaned +Turks, their legs folded under them, +smoking nargilehs or chibooks or cigarettes, +and sipping coffee. A few will be engaged in a +game of backgammon, but the majority enter +into conversation, at first only in syllables, which +gradually gives rise to a general discussion. +Finally, some sage of the neighborhood comes +in, and the company appeals to him to settle +the point at issue. This he usually does by +telling a story to illustrate his opinion. Some +of the stories told on these occasions are adaptations +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> +of those already known in Arabic and +Persian literature, but the Turkish mind gives +them a new setting and a peculiar philosophy. +They are characteristic of the habits, customs, +and methods of thought of the people, and for +this reason seem worthy of preservation.</p> + +<p>Two of these tales have been taken from +the Armenian, and were received from Dr. K. +Ohannassian of Constantinople. For one, <i>The +Merciful Khan</i>, I am indebted to Mr. George +Kennan. None of them has been translated +from any book or manuscript, and all are, as +nearly as practicable, in the form in which they +are usually narrated. Most of the stories have +been collected by Mr. Allan Ramsay, who, by +a long residence in Constantinople, has had +special opportunities for learning to know the +modern Turk. It is due to him, however, to +say that for the style and editing he is in no +wise responsible, and that all sins of omission +and commission must be laid at my door.</p> + +<p style='text-align:right;'>CYRUS ADLER.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cosmos Club, Washington</span>,<br /> + February 1, 1898.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td> </td><td align="right"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#HOW_THE_HODJA_SAVED_ALLAH"><span class="smcap">How the Hodja saved Allah</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#BETTER_IS_THE_FOLLY_OF_WOMAN_THAN_THE_WISDOM_OF_MAN"><span class="smcap">Better is the Folly of Woman than the Wisdom of Man</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_HANOUM_AND_THE_UNJUST_CADI"><span class="smcap">The Hanoum and the Unjust Cadi</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#WHAT_HAPPENED_TO_HADJI_A_MERCHANT_OF_THE_BEZESTAN"><span class="smcap">What happened to Hadji, a Merchant of the Bezestan</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#HOW_THE_JUNKMAN_TRAVELLED_TO_FIND_TREASURE_IN_HIS_OWN_YARD"><span class="smcap">How the Junkman travelled to find Treasure in his Own Yard</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#HOW_CHAPKIN_HALID_BECAME_CHIEF_DETECTIVE"><span class="smcap">How Chapkin Halid became Chief Detective</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#HOW_COBBLER_AHMET_BECAME_THE_CHIEF_ASTROLOGER"><span class="smcap">How Cobbler Ahmet became the Chief Astrologer</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_WISE_SON_OF_ALI_PASHA"><span class="smcap">The Wise Son of Ali Pasha</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_MERCIFUL_KHAN"><span class="smcap">The Merciful Khan</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#KING_KARA-KUSH_OF_BITHYNIA"><span class="smcap">King Kara-Kush of Bithynia</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_PRAYER_RUG_AND_THE_DISHONEST_STEWARD"><span class="smcap">The Prayer Rug and the Dishonest Steward</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_GOOSE_THE_EYE_THE_DAUGHTER_AND_THE_ARM"><span class="smcap">The Goose, the Eye, the Daughter, and the Arm</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_FORTY_WISE_MEN"><span class="smcap">The Forty Wise Men</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#HOW_THE_PRIEST_KNEW_THAT_IT_WOULD_SNOW"><span class="smcap">How the Priest knew that it would Snow</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#WHO_WAS_THE_THIRTEENTH_SON"><span class="smcap">Who was the Thirteenth Son?</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_107">107</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#PARADISE_SOLD_BY_THE_YARD"><span class="smcap">Paradise sold by the Yard</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#JEW_TURNED_TURK"><span class="smcap">Jew turned Turk</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_METAMORPHOSIS"><span class="smcap">The Metamorphosis</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_CALIF_OMAR"><span class="smcap">The Calif Omar</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_138">138</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#KALAIDJI_AVRAM_OF_BALATA"><span class="smcap">Kalaidji Avram of Balata</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#HOW_MEHMET_ALI_PASHA_OF_EGYPT_ADMINISTERED_JUSTICE"><span class="smcap">How Mehmet Ali Pasha of Egypt administered Justice</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#HOW_THE_FARMER_LEARNED_TO_CURE_HIS_WIFE_A_TURKISH_AESOP"><span class="smcap">How the Farmer learned to cure his Wife: A Turkish Æsop</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_LANGUAGE_OF_BIRDS"><span class="smcap">The Language of Birds</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_SWALLOWS_ADVICE"><span class="smcap">The Swallow's Advice</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#WE_KNOW_NOT_WHAT_THE_DAWN_MAY_BRING_FORTH"><span class="smcap">We know not what the Dawn may Bring Forth</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_158">158</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#OLD_MEN_MADE_YOUNG"><span class="smcap">Old Men made Young</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_BRIBE"><span class="smcap">The Bribe</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#HOW_THE_DEVIL_LOST_HIS_WAGER"><span class="smcap">How the Devil lost his Wager</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_EFFECTS_OF_RAKI"><span class="smcap">The Effects of Raki</span></a></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td></tr> +</table> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="HOW_THE_HODJA_SAVED_ALLAH" id="HOW_THE_HODJA_SAVED_ALLAH"></a>HOW THE HODJA SAVED ALLAH</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/ncap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="N" title="N" /> +</div><p>ot far from the famous Mosque +Bayezid an old Hodja kept a +school, and very skilfully he taught +the rising generation the everlasting +lesson from the Book of Books. Such +knowledge had he of human nature that by +a glance at his pupil he could at once tell +how long it would take him to learn a quarter +of the Koran. He was known over the +whole Empire as the best reciter and imparter +of the Sacred Writings of the Prophet. +For many years this Hodja, famed far and +wide as the Hodja of Hodjas, had taught in +this little school. The number of times he +had recited the Book with his pupils is beyond +counting; and should we attempt to +consider how often he must have corrected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +them for some misplaced word, our beards +would grow gray in the endeavor.</p> + +<p>Swaying to and fro one day as fast as his +old age would let him, and reciting to his +pupils the latter part of one of the chapters, +Bakara, divine inspiration opened his inward +eye and led him to pause at the following +sentence: "And he that spends his money in +the ways of Allah is likened unto a grain of +wheat that brings forth seven sheaves, and in +each sheaf an hundred grains; and Allah +giveth twofold unto whom He pleaseth." As +his pupils, one after the other, recited this +verse to him, he wondered why he had overlooked +its meaning for so many years. Fully +convinced that anything either given to Allah, +or in the way that He proposes, was an +investment that brought a percentage undreamed +of in known commerce, he dismissed +his pupils, and putting his hand into +his bosom drew forth from the many folds of +his dress a bag, and proceeded to count his +worldly possessions.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +Carefully and attentively he counted and +then recounted his money, and found that if +invested in the ways of Allah it would bring +a return of no less than one thousand piasters.</p> + +<p>"Think of it," said the Hodja to himself, +"one thousand piasters! One thousand piasters! +Mashallah! a fortune."</p> + +<p>So, having dismissed his school, he sallied +forth, his bag of money in his hand, and +began distributing its contents to the needy +that he met in the highways. Ere many +hours had passed the whole of his savings was +gone. The Hodja was very happy; for now +he was the creditor in Allah's books for one +thousand piasters.</p> + +<p>He returned to his house and ate his evening +meal of bread and olives, and was content.</p> + +<p>The next day came. The thousand piasters +had not yet arrived. He ate his bread, he +imagined he had olives, and was content.</p> + +<p>The third day came. The old Hodja had +no bread and he had no olives. He suffered +the pangs of hunger. So when the end of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +day had come, and his pupils had departed to +their homes, the Hodja, with a full heart and +an empty stomach, walked out of the town, +and soon got beyond the city walls.</p> + +<p>There, where no one could hear him, he +lamented his sad fate, and the great calamity +that had befallen him in his old age.</p> + +<p>What sin had he committed? What great +wrong had his ancestors done, that the wrath +of the Almighty had thus fallen on him, when +his earthly course was well-nigh run?</p> + +<p>"Ya! Allah! Allah!" he cried, and beat +his breast.</p> + +<p>As if in answer to his cry, the howl of the +dreaded Fakir Dervish came over across the +plain. In those days the Fakir Dervish was +a terror in the land. He knocked at the door, +and it was opened. He asked, and received +food. If refused, life often paid the penalty.</p> + +<p>The Hodja's lamentations were now greater +than ever; for should the Dervish ask him for +food and the Hodja have nothing to give, he +would certainly be killed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +"Allah! Allah! Allah! Guide me now. +Protect one of your faithful followers," cried +the frightened Hodja, and he looked around +to see if there was any one to rescue him from +his perilous position. But not a soul was to +be seen, and the walls of the city were five +miles distant. Just then the howl of the Dervish +again reached his ear, and in terror he +flew, he knew not whither. As luck would +have it he came upon a tree, up which, although +stiff from age and weak from want, +the Hodja, with wonderful agility, scrambled +and, trembling like a leaf, awaited his +fate.</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer came the howling Dervish, +till at last his long hair could be seen +floating in the air, as with rapid strides +he preceded the wind upon his endless +journey.</p> + +<p>On and on he came, his wild yell sending +the blood, from very fear, to unknown parts of +the poor Hodja's body and leaving his face as +yellow as a melon.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +To his utter dismay, the Hodja saw the Dervish +approach the tree and sit down under its +shade.</p> + +<p>Sighing deeply, the Dervish said in a loud +voice, "Why have I come into this world? +Why were my forefathers born? Why was +anybody born? Oh, Allah! Oh, Allah! What +have you done! Misery! Misery! Nothing +but misery to mankind and everything living. +Shall I not be avenged for all the misery my +father and my father's fathers have suffered? +I shall be avenged."</p> + +<p>Striking his chest a loud blow, as if to emphasize +the decision he had come to, the Dervish +took a small bag that lay by his side, and +slowly proceeded to untie the leather strings +that bound it. Bringing forth from it a small +image, he gazed at it a moment and then addressed +it in the following terms:</p> + +<p>"You, Job! you bore much; you have written +a book in which your history is recorded; +you have earned the reputation of being the +most patient man that ever lived; yet I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +read your history and found that when real +affliction oppressed you, you cursed God. +You have made men believe, too, that there +is a reward in this life for all the afflictions +they suffer. You have misled mankind. For +these sins no one has ever punished you. +Now I will punish you," and taking his long, +curved sword in his hand he cut off the head +of the figure.</p> + +<p>The Dervish bent forward, took another +image and, gazing upon it with a contemptuous +smile, thus addressed it:</p> + +<p>"David, David, singer of songs of peace in +this world and in the world to come, I have +read your sayings in which you counsel men to +lead a righteous life for the sake of the reward +which they are to receive. I have +learned that you have misled your fellow-mortals +with your songs of peace and joy. I +have read your history, and I find that you +have committed many sins. For these sins +and for misleading your fellowmen you have +never been punished. Now I will punish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +you," and taking his sword in his hand he cut +off David's head.</p> + +<p>Again the Dervish bent forward and brought +forth an image which he addressed as follows:</p> + +<p>"You, Solomon, are reputed to have been +the wisest man that ever lived. You had +command over the host of the Genii and +could control the legion of the demons. They +came at the bidding of your signet ring, and +they trembled at the mysterious names to +which you gave utterance. You understood +every living thing. The speech of the beasts +of the field, of the birds of the air, of the +insects of the earth, and of the fishes of the +sea, was known unto you. Yet when I read +your history I found that in spite of the vast +knowledge that was vouchsafed unto you, you +committed many wrongs and did many foolish +things, which in the end brought misery +into the world and destruction unto your people; +and for all these no one has ever punished +you. Now I will punish you," and +taking his sword he cut off Solomon's head.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +Again the Dervish bent forward and brought +forth from the bag another figure, which he +addressed thus:</p> + +<p>"Jesus, Jesus, prophet of God, you came +into this world to atone, by giving your blood, +for the sins of mankind and to bring unto +them a religion of peace. You founded a +church, whose history I have studied, and I +see that it set fathers against their children +and brethren against one another; that it +brought strife into the world; that the lives +of men and women and children were sacrificed +so that the rivers ran red with blood unto +the seas. Truly you were a great prophet, but +the misery you caused must be avenged. For +it no one has yet punished you. Now I will +punish you," and he took his sword and cut +off Jesus' head.</p> + +<p>With a sorrowful face the Dervish bent forward +and brought forth another image from +the bag.</p> + +<p>"Mohammed," he said, "I have slain Job, +David, Solomon, and Jesus. What shall I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +do with you? After the followers of Jesus +had shed much blood, their religion spread +over the world, was acceptable unto man, and +the nations were at peace. Then you came +into the world, and you brought a new religion, +and father rose against father, and brother +rose against brother; hatred was sown between +your followers and the followers of Jesus, and +again the rivers ran red with blood unto the +seas; and you have not been punished. For +this I will punish you. By the beard of my +forefathers, whose blood was made to flow +in your cause, you too must die," and with +a blow the head of Mohammed fell to the +ground.</p> + +<p>Then the Dervish prostrated himself to +the earth, and after a silent prayer rose and +brought forth from the bag the last figure. +Reverently he bowed to it, and then he addressed +it as follows:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Allah! The Allah of Allahs. There +is but one Allah, and thou art He. I have +slain Job, David, Solomon, Jesus, and Mo<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>hammed +for the folly that they have brought +into the world. Thou, God, art all powerful. +All men are thy children, thou createst them +and bringest them into the world. The +thoughts that they think are thy thoughts. +If all these men have brought all this evil +into the world, it is thy fault. Shall I punish +them and allow thee to go unhurt? No. I +must punish thee also," and he raised his +sword to strike.</p> + +<p>As the sword circled in the air the Hodja, +secreted in the tree, forgot the fear in which +he stood of the Dervish. In the excitement +of the moment he cried out in a loud tone of +voice: "Stop! Stop! He owes me one thousand +piasters."</p> + +<p>The Dervish reeled and fell senseless to the +ground. The Hodja was overcome at his own +words and trembled with fear, convinced that +his last hour had arrived. The Dervish lay +stretched upon his back on the grass like one +dead. At last the Hodja took courage. +Breaking a twig from off the tree, he threw it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +down upon the Dervish's face, but the Dervish +made no sign. The Hodja took more courage, +removed one of his heavy outer shoes +and threw it on the outstretched figure of the +Dervish, but still the Dervish lay motionless. +The Hodja carefully climbed down the tree, +gave the body of the Dervish a kick, and +climbed back again, and still the Dervish did +not stir. At length the Hodja descended from +the tree and placed his ear to the Dervish's +heart. It did not beat. The Dervish was dead.</p> + +<p>"Ah, well," said the Hodja, "at least I shall +not starve. I will take his garments and sell +them and buy me some bread."</p> + +<p>The Hodja commenced to remove the Dervish's +garments. As he took off his belt he +found that it was heavy. He opened it, and +saw that it contained gold. He counted +the gold and found that it was exactly one +thousand piasters.</p> + +<p>The Hodja turned his face toward Mecca +and raising his eyes to heaven said, "Oh +God, you have kept your promise, but," he +added, "not before I saved your life."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="BETTER_IS_THE_FOLLY_OF_WOMAN_THAN_THE_WISDOM_OF_MAN" id="BETTER_IS_THE_FOLLY_OF_WOMAN_THAN_THE_WISDOM_OF_MAN"></a>BETTER IS THE FOLLY OF WOMAN THAN THE WISDOM OF MAN</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/tcap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div><p>here lived in Constantinople an +old Hodja, a learned man, who +had a son. The boy followed in +his father's footsteps, went every +day to the Mosque Aya Sofia, seated himself +in a secluded spot, to the left of the pillar +bearing the impress of the Conqueror's hand, +and engaged in the study of the Koran. Daily +he might be seen seated, swaying his body to +and fro, and reciting to himself the verses of +the Holy Book.</p> + +<p>The dearest wish of a Mohammedan theological +student is to be able to recite the entire +Koran by heart. Many years are spent in +memorizing the Holy Book, which must be +recited with a prescribed cantillation, and in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +acquiring a rhythmical movement of the body +which accompanies the chant.</p> + +<p>When Abdul, for that was the young man's +name, had reached his nineteenth year, he had, +by the most assiduous study, finally succeeded +in mastering three-fourths of the Koran. At +this achievement his pride rose, his ambition +was fired, and he determined to become a +great man.</p> + +<p>The day that he reached this decision he +did not go to the Mosque, but stopped at home, +in his father's house, and sat staring at the fire +burning in the grate. Several times the father +asked:</p> + +<p>"My son, what do you see in the fire?"</p> + +<p>And each time the son answered:</p> + +<p>"Nothing, father."</p> + +<p>He was very young; he could not see.</p> + +<p>Finally, the young man picked up courage +and gave expression to his thoughts.</p> + +<p>"Father," he said, "I wish to become a +great man."</p> + +<p>"That is very easy," said the father.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +"And to be a great man," continued the son, +"I must first go to Mecca." For no Mohammedan +priest or theologian, or even layman, +has fulfilled all of the cardinal precepts +of his faith unless he has made the pilgrimage +to the Holy City.</p> + +<p>To his son's last observation the father +blandly replied: "It is very easy to go to +Mecca."</p> + +<p>"How, easy?" asked the son. "On the +contrary, it is very difficult; for the journey +is costly, and I have no money."</p> + +<p>"Listen, my son," said the father. "You +must become a scribe, the writer of the thoughts +of your brethren, and your fortune is made."</p> + +<p>"But I have not even the implements necessary +for a scribe," said the son.</p> + +<p>"All that can be easily arranged," said the +father; "your grandfather had an ink-horn; +I will give it you; I will buy you some +writing-paper, and we will get you a box to +sit in; all that you need to do is to sit still, +look wise and your fortune is made."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +And indeed the advice was good. For +letter-writing is an art which only the few +possess. The ability to write by no means +carries with it the ability to compose. Epistolary +genius is rare.</p> + +<p>Abdul was much rejoiced at the counsel that +had been given him, and lost no time in carrying +out the plan. He took his grandfather's +ink-horn, the paper his father bought, got himself +a box and began his career as a scribe.</p> + +<p>Abdul was a child, he knew nothing, but +deeming himself wise he sought to surpass the +counsel of his father.</p> + +<p>"To look wise," he said, "is not sufficient; +I must have some other attraction."</p> + +<p>And after much thought he hit upon the +following idea. Over his box he painted a +legend: "The wisdom of man is greater than +the wisdom of woman." People thought the +sign very clever, customers came, the young +Hodja took in many piasters and he was correspondingly +happy.</p> + +<p>This sign one day attracted the eyes and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +mind of a Hanoum (Turkish lady). Seeing +that Abdul was a manly youth, she went to him +and said:</p> + +<p>"Hodja, I have a difficult letter to write. +I have heard that thou art very wise, so I +have come to thee. To write the letter thou +wilt need all thy wit. Moreover, the letter +is a long one, and I cannot stand here +while it is being written. Come to my Konak +(house) at three this afternoon, and we will +write the letter."</p> + +<p>The Hodja was overcome with admiration +for his fair client, and surprised at the invitation. +He was enchanted, his heart beat +wildly, and so great was his agitation that his +reply of acquiescence was scarcely audible.</p> + +<p>The invitation had more than the charm of +novelty to make it attractive. He had never +talked with a woman outside of his own family +circle. To be admitted to a lady's house was +in itself an adventure.</p> + +<p>Long before the appointed time, the young +Hodja—impetuous youth—gathered together<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +his reeds, ink, and sand. With feverish step +he wended his way to the house. Lattices +covered the windows, a high wall surrounded +the garden, and a ponderous gate barred the +entrance. Thrice he raised the massive +knocker.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" called a voice from within.</p> + +<p>"The scribe," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"It is well," said the porter; the gate was +unbarred, and the Hodja permitted to enter. +Directly he was ushered into the apartment of +his fair client.</p> + +<p>The lady welcomed him cordially.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Hodja Effendi, I am glad to see you; +pray sit down."</p> + +<p>The Hodja nervously pulled out his writing-implements.</p> + +<p>"Do not be in such a hurry," said the lady. +"Refresh yourself; take a cup of coffee, smoke +a cigarette, and we will write the letter afterwards."</p> + +<p>So he lit a cigarette, drank a cup of coffee, +and they fell to talking. Time flew; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +minutes seemed like seconds, and the hours +were as minutes. While they were thus enjoying +themselves there suddenly came a heavy +knock at the gate.</p> + +<p>"It is my husband, the Pasha," cried the +lady. "What shall I do? If he finds you +here, he will kill you! I am so frightened."</p> + +<p>The Hodja was frightened too. Again there +came a knock at the gate.</p> + +<p>"I have it," and taking Abdul by the arm, +she said, "you must get into the box," indicating +a large chest in the room. "Quick, quick, +if you prize your life utter not a word, and +Inshallah I will save you."</p> + +<p>Abdul now, too late, saw his folly. It was +his want of experience; but driven by the sense +of danger, he entered the chest; the lady locked +it and took the key.</p> + +<p>A moment afterwards the Pasha came in.</p> + +<p>"I am very tired," he said; "bring me +coffee and a chibook."</p> + +<p>"Good evening, Pasha Effendi," said the lady. +"Sit down. I have something to tell you."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +"Bah!" said the Pasha; "I want none of +your woman's talk; 'the hair of woman is long, +and her wits are short,' says the proverb. Bring +me my pipe."</p> + +<p>"But, Pasha Effendi," said the lady, "I +have had an adventure to-day."</p> + +<p>"Bah!" said the Pasha; "what adventure +can a woman have—forgot to paint your eyebrows +or color your nails, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"No, Pasha Effendi. Be patient, and I will +tell you. I went out to-day to write a letter."</p> + +<p>"A letter?" said the Pasha; "to whom would +you write a letter?"</p> + +<p>"Be patient," she said, "and I will tell you +my story. So I came to the box of a young +scribe with beautiful eyes."</p> + +<p>"A young man with beautiful eyes," shouted +the Pasha. "Where is he? I'll kill him!" +and he drew his sword.</p> + +<p>The Hodja in the chest heard every word +and trembled in every limb.</p> + +<p>"Be patient, Pasha Effendi; I said I had an +adventure, and you did not believe me. I told<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +the young man that the letter was long, and I +could not stand in the street to write it. So +I asked him to come and see me this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Here? to this house?" thundered the +Pasha.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Pasha Effendi," said the lady. "So +the Hodja came here, and I gave him coffee +and a cigarette, and we talked, and the minutes +seemed like seconds, and the hours were +as minutes. All at once came your knock +at the gate, and I said to the Hodja, 'That is +the Pasha; and if he finds you here, he will kill +you.'"</p> + +<p>"And I will kill him," screamed the Pasha, +"where is he?"</p> + +<p>"Be patient, Pasha Effendi," said the lady, +"and I will tell you. When you knocked a +second time, I suddenly thought of the chest, +and I put the Hodja in."</p> + +<p>"Let me at him!" screamed the Pasha. +"I'll cut off his head!"</p> + +<p>"O Pasha," she said, "what a hurry you are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +in to slay this comely youth. He is your prey; +he cannot escape you. The youth is not only +in the box, but it is locked, and the key is in +my pocket. Here it is."</p> + +<p>The lady walked over to the Pasha, stretched +out her hand and gave him the key.</p> + +<p>As he took it, she said:</p> + +<p>"Philopena!"</p> + +<p>"Bah!" said the Pasha, in disgust. He threw +the key on the floor and left the harem, slamming +the door behind him.</p> + +<p>After he had gone, the lady took up the key, +unlocked the door, and let out the trembling +Hodja.</p> + +<p>"Go now, Hodja, to your box," she said. +"Take down your sign and write instead: 'The +wit of woman is twofold the wit of man,' for I +am a woman, and in one day I have fooled two +men."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_HANOUM_AND_THE_UNJUST_CADI" id="THE_HANOUM_AND_THE_UNJUST_CADI"></a>THE HANOUM AND THE UNJUST CADI</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/icap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="I" title="I" /> +</div><p>t was, and still is, in some parts of +Constantinople, the custom of the +refuse-gatherer to go about the +streets with a basket on his +back, and a wooden shovel in his hand, +calling out 'refuse removed.'</p> + +<p>A certain Chepdji, plying his trade, had, in +the course of five years of assiduous labor, +amassed, to him, the no unimportant sum of +five hundred piasters. He was afraid to keep +this money by him; so hearing the Cadi of +Stamboul highly and reverently spoken of, he +decided to entrust his hard-earned savings to +the Cadi's keeping.</p> + +<p>Going to the Cadi, he said: "Oh learned +and righteous man, for five long years have +I labored, carrying the dregs and dross of rich<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +and poor alike, and I have saved a sum of five +hundred piasters. With the help of Allah, in +another two years I shall have saved a further +sum of at least one hundred piasters, when, +Inshallah, I shall return to my country and +clasp my wife and children again. In the +meantime you will be granting a boon to your +slave, if you will consent to keep this money +for me until the time for departure has come."</p> + +<p>The Cadi replied: "Thou hast done well, +my son; the money will be kept and given to +thee when required."</p> + +<p>The poor Chepdji, well satisfied, departed. +But after a very short time he learned that +several of his friends were about to return to +their Memleket (province), and he decided to +join them, thinking that his five hundred +piasters were ample for the time being, 'Besides,' +said he, 'who knows what may or may +not happen in the next two years?' So he +decided to depart with his friends at once.</p> + +<p>He went to the Cadi, explained that he had +changed his mind, that he was going to leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +for his country immediately, and asked for +his money. The Cadi called him a dog and +ordered him to be whipped out of the place +by his servants. Alas! what could the poor +Chepdji do! He wept in impotent despair, +as he counted the number of years he must +yet work before beholding his loved ones.</p> + +<p>One day, while moving the dirt from the +Konak of a wealthy Pasha, his soul uttered a +sigh which reached the ears of the Hanoum, +and from the window she asked him why he +sighed so deeply. He replied that he sighed +for something that could in no way interest +her. The Hanoum's sympathy was excited, +and after much persuasion, he finally, with +tears in his eyes, related to her his great +misfortune. The Hanoum thought for a few +minutes and then told him to go the following +day to the Cadi at a certain hour and +again ask for the money as if nothing had +happened.</p> + +<p>The Hanoum in the meantime gathered +together a quantity of jewelry, to the value<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +of several hundred pounds, and instructed her +favorite and confidential slave to come with +her to the Cadi and remain outside whilst she +went in, directing her that when she saw the +Chepdji come out and learned that he had +gotten his money, to come in the Cadi's room +hurriedly and say to her, "your husband has +arrived from Egypt, and is waiting for you at +the Konak."</p> + +<p>The Hanoum then went to the Cadi, carrying +in her hand a bag containing the jewelry. +With a profound salaam she said:</p> + +<p>"Oh Cadi, my husband, who is in Egypt and +who has been there for several years, has at last +asked me to come and join him there; these +jewels are of great value, and I hesitate to take +them with me on so long and dangerous a +journey. If you would kindly consent to +keep them for me until my return, or if I +never return to keep them as a token of my +esteem, I will think of you with lifelong +gratitude."</p> + +<p>The Hanoum then began displaying the rich<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +jewelry. Just then the Chepdji entered, and +bending low, said:</p> + +<p>"Oh master, your slave has come for his +savings in order to proceed to his country."</p> + +<p>"Ah, welcome," said the Cadi, "so you +are going already!" and immediately ordered +the treasurer to pay the five hundred piasters +to the Chepdji.</p> + +<p>"You see," said the Cadi to the Hanoum, +"what confidence the people have in me. +This money I have held for some time without +receipt or acknowledgment; but directly it is +asked for it is paid."</p> + +<p>No sooner had the Chepdji gone out of the +door, than the Hanoum's slave came rushing +in, crying: "Hanoum Effendi! Hanoum +Effendi! Your husband has arrived from +Egypt, and is anxiously awaiting you at the +Konak."</p> + +<p>The Hanoum, in well-feigned excitement, +gathered up her jewelry and, wishing the Cadi +a thousand years of happiness, departed.</p> + +<p>The Cadi was thunderstruck, and caressing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +his beard with grave affection thoughtfully +said: "Allah! Allah! For forty years have I +been judge, but never was a cause pleaded in +this fashion before."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="WHAT_HAPPENED_TO_HADJI_A_MERCHANT_OF_THE_BEZESTAN" id="WHAT_HAPPENED_TO_HADJI_A_MERCHANT_OF_THE_BEZESTAN"></a>WHAT HAPPENED TO HADJI, A MERCHANT OF THE BEZESTAN</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/hcap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="H" title="H" /> +</div><p>adji was a married man, but even +Turkish married men are not invulnerable +to the charms of other +women. It happened one day, when +possibly the engrossing power of his lawful wife's +influence was feeble upon him, that a charming +Hanoum came to his shop to purchase some +spices. After the departure of his fair visitor +Hadji, do what he might, could not drive from +his mind's eye, either her image, or her attractive +power. He was further greatly puzzled +by a tiny black bag containing twelve grains +of wheat, which the Hanoum had evidently +forgotten.</p> + +<p>Till a late hour that night did Hadji remain +in his shop, in the hope that either the Hanoum +or one of her servants would come for the bag,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +and thus give him the means of seeing her +again or at least of learning where she lived. +But Hadji was doomed to disappointment, and, +much preoccupied, he returned to his home. +There he sat, unresponsive to his wife's conversation, +thinking, and no doubt making mental +comparisons between her and his visitor.</p> + +<p>Hadji remained downcast day after day, and +at last, giving way to his wife's entreaties to +share his troubles, he frankly told her what had +happened, and that ever since that day his soul +was in his visitor's bondage.</p> + +<p>"Oh husband," replied his wife, "and do you +not understand what that black bag containing +the twelve grains of wheat means?"</p> + +<p>"Alas! no," replied Hadji.</p> + +<p>"Why, my husband, it is plain, plain as if it +had been told. She lives in the Wheat Market, +at house No. 12, with a black door."</p> + +<p>Much excited, Hadji rushed off and found +that there was a No. 12 in the Wheat Market, +with a black door, so he promptly knocked. +The door opened, and who should he behold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +but the lady in question? She, however, instead +of speaking to him, threw a basin of water out +into the street and then shut the door. Hadji, +with mingled feelings of gratitude to his wife for +having so accurately directed him, but none the +less surprised at his reception, lingered about +the doorway for a time and then returned +home. He greeted his wife more pleasantly +than he had for many days, and told her of +his strange reception.</p> + +<p>"Why," said his wife, "don't you understand +what the basin of water thrown out of the door +means?"</p> + +<p>"Alas! no," said Hadji.</p> + +<p>"Veyh! Veyh! (an exclamation of pity) it +means that at the back of the house there is a +running stream, and that you must go to her +that way."</p> + +<p>Off rushed Hadji and found that his wife was +right; there was a running stream at the back +of the house, so he knocked at the back door. +The Hanoum, however, instead of opening it, +came to the window, showed a mirror, reversed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +it and then disappeared. Hadji lingered at +the back of the house for a long time, but +seeing no further sign of life, he returned +to his home much dejected. On entering the +house, his wife greeted him with: "Well, was +it not as I told you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Hadji. "You are truly a wonderful +woman, Mashallah! But I do not know +why she came to the window and showed me +a mirror both in front and back, instead of +opening the door."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said his wife, "that is very simple; she +means that you must go when the face of the +moon has reversed itself, about ten o'clock." +The hour arrived, Hadji hurried off, and so +did his wife; the one to see his love, and the +other to inform the police.</p> + +<p>Whilst Hadji and his charmer were talking in +the garden the police seized them and carried +them both off to prison, and Hadji's wife, +having accomplished her mission, returned +home.</p> + +<p>The next morning she baked a quantity of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +lokum cakes, and taking them to the prison, +begged entrance of the guards and permission +to distribute these cakes to the +prisoners, for the repose of the souls of her +dead. This being a request which could not +be denied, she was allowed to enter. Finding +the cell in which the lady who had infatuated +her husband was confined, she offered to save +her the disgrace of the exposure, provided +she would consent never again to look upon +Hadji, the merchant, with envious or loving +eyes. The conditions were gratefully accepted, +and Hadji's wife changed places with the +prisoner.</p> + +<p>When they were brought before the judge, +Hadji was thunderstruck to see his wife, but +being a wise man he held his peace, and left +her to do the talking, which she did most +vigorously, vehemently protesting against the +insult inflicted on both her and her husband +in bringing them to prison, because they chose +to converse in a garden, being lawfully wedded +people; in witness whereof, she called upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +the Bekdji (watchman) and the Imam (priest) +of the district and several of her neighbors.</p> + +<p>Poor Hadji was dumfounded, and, accompanied +by his better half, left the prison, where +he had expected to stay at least a year or two, +saying: "Truly thou art a wonderful woman, +Mashallah."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="HOW_THE_JUNKMAN_TRAVELLED_TO_FIND_TREASURE_IN_HIS_OWN_YARD" id="HOW_THE_JUNKMAN_TRAVELLED_TO_FIND_TREASURE_IN_HIS_OWN_YARD"></a>HOW THE JUNKMAN TRAVELLED TO FIND TREASURE IN HIS OWN YARD</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/icap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="I" title="I" /> +</div><p>n one of the towers overlooking +the Sea of Marmora and skirting +the ancient city of Stamboul, there +lived an old junkman, who earned +a precarious livelihood in gathering cinders +and useless pieces of iron, and selling them +to smiths.</p> + +<p>Often did he moralize on the sad Kismet +that had reduced him to the task of daily +laboring for his bread to make a shoe, perhaps +for an ass. Surely he, a true Mussulman, +might at least be permitted to ride the ass. +His eternal longing often found satisfaction in +passing his hours of sleep in dreams of wealth +and luxury. But with the dawning of the day +came reality and increased longing.</p> + +<p>Often did he call on the spirit of sleep to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +reverse matters, but in vain; with the rising +of the sun began the gathering of the cinders +and iron.</p> + +<p>One night he dreamt that he begged this +nocturnal visitor to change his night to day, +and the spirit said to him: "Go to Egypt, +and it shall be so."</p> + +<p>This encouraging phrase haunted him by +day and inspired him by night. So persecuted +was he with the thought that when his +wife said to him, from the door, "Have you +brought home any bread?" he would reply, +"No, I have not gone; I will go to-morrow;" +thinking she had asked him, "Have you gone +to Egypt?"</p> + +<p>At last, when friends and neighbors began +to pity poor Ahmet, for that was his name, as +a man on whom the hand of Allah was heavily +laid, removing his intelligence, he one morning +left his house, saying: "I go! I go! to the +land of wealth!" And he left his wife wringing +her hands in despair, while the neighbors +tried to comfort her. Poor Ahmet went straight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +on board a boat which he had been told was +bound for Iskender (Alexandria), and assured +the captain that he was summoned thither, +and that he was bound to take him. Half-witted +and mad persons being more holy than +others, Ahmet was conveyed to Iskender.</p> + +<p>Arriving in Iskender, Hadji Ahmet roamed +far and wide, proceeding as far as Cairo, in +search of the luxuries he had enjoyed at +Constantinople when in the land of Morpheus, +which he had been promised to enjoy +in the sunshine, if he came to Egypt. Alas! +for Hadji Ahmet; the only bread he had to eat +was that which was given him by sympathizing +humanity. Time sped on, sympathy was +growing tired of expending itself on Hadji +Ahmet, and his crusts of bread were few and +far between.</p> + +<p>Wearied of life and suffering, he decided to +ask Allah to let him die, and wandering out to +the Pyramids he solicited the stones to have +pity and fall on him. It happened that a +Turk heard this prayer, and said to him:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +"Why so miserable, father? Has your soul +been so strangled that you prefer its being +dashed out of your body, to its remaining the +prescribed time in bondage?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my son," said Hadji Ahmet. "Far +away in Stamboul, with the help of God, I +managed as a junkman to feed my wife and +myself; but here am I, in Egypt, a stranger, +alone and starving, with possibly my wife +already dead of starvation, and all this through +a dream."</p> + +<p>"Alas! Alas! my father! that you at your +age should be tempted to wander so far from +home and friends, because of a dream. Why, +were I to obey my dreams, I would at this +present moment be in Stamboul, digging for a +treasure that lies buried under a tree. I can +even now, although I have never been there, +describe where it is. In my mind's eye I see +a wall, a great wall, that must have been built +many years ago, and supporting or seeming to +support this wall are towers with many corners, +towers that are round, towers that are square,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +and others that have smaller towers within +them. In one of these towers, a square one, +there live an old man and woman, and close +by the tower is a large tree, and every night +when I dream of the place, the old man tells +me to dig and disclose the treasure. But, +father, I am not such a fool as to go to Stamboul +and seek to verify this. It is an oft-repeated +dream and nothing more. See what +you have been reduced to by coming so far."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Hadji Ahmet, "it is a dream +and nothing more, but you have interpreted it. +Allah be praised, you have encouraged me; I +will return to my home."</p> + +<p>And Hadji Ahmet and the young stranger +parted, the one grateful that it had pleased +Allah to give him the power to revive and +encourage a drooping spirit, and the other +grateful to Allah that when he had despaired +of life a stranger should come and give him +the interpretation of his dream. He certainly +had wandered far and long to learn that the +treasure was in his own garden.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +Hadji Ahmet in due course, much to the +astonishment of both wife and neighbors, +again appeared upon the scene not a much +changed man. In fact, he was the cinder +and iron gatherer of old.</p> + +<p>To all questions as to where he was and +what he had been doing, he would answer: +"A dream sent me away, and a dream brought +me back."</p> + +<p>And the neighbors would say: "Truly he +must be blessed."</p> + +<p>One night Hadji Ahmet went to the tree, +provided with spade and pick, that he had +secured from an obliging neighbor. After +digging a short time a heavy case was brought +to view, in which he found gold, silver, and +precious jewels of great value. Hadji Ahmet +replaced the case and earth and returned to +bed, much lamenting that it had pleased God +to furnish women, more especially his wife, +with a long tongue, long hair, and very short +wits. Alas! he thought, if I tell my wife, I +may be hung as a robber, for it is against the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +laws of nature for a woman to keep a secret. +Yet, becoming more generous when thinking +of the years of toil and hardship she had +shared with him, he decided to try and see +if, by chance, his wife was not an exception +to other women. Who knows, she might +keep the secret. To test her, at no risk to +himself and the treasure, he conceived a +plan.</p> + +<p>Crawling from his bed, he sallied forth and +bought, found, or stole an egg. This egg on +the following morning he showed to his wife, +and said to her:</p> + +<p>"Alas! I fear I am not as other men, for +evidently in the night I laid this egg; and, +wife mine, if the neighbors hear of this, your +husband, the long-suffering Hadji Ahmet, will +be bastinadoed, bowstrung, and burned to +death. Ah, truly, my soul is strangled."</p> + +<p>And without another word Hadji Ahmet, +with a sack on his shoulder, went forth to +gather the cast-off shoes of horse, ox, or ass, +wondering if his wife would prove an excep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>tion +in this, as she had in many other ways, +to other women.</p> + +<p>In the evening he returned, heavily laden +with his finds, and as he neared home he heard +rumors, ominous rumors, that a certain Hadji +Ahmet, who had been considered a holy man, +had done something that was unknown in the +history of man, even in the history of hens—that +he had laid a dozen eggs.</p> + +<p>Needless to add that Hadji Ahmet did not +tell his wife of the treasure, but daily went +forth with his sack to gather iron and cinders, +and invariably found, when separating his +finds of the day, in company with his wife, at +first one, and then more gold and silver pieces, +and now and then a precious stone.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="HOW_CHAPKIN_HALID_BECAME_CHIEF_DETECTIVE" id="HOW_CHAPKIN_HALID_BECAME_CHIEF_DETECTIVE"></a>HOW CHAPKIN HALID BECAME CHIEF DETECTIVE</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/icap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="I" title="I" /> +</div><p>n Balata there lived, some years ago, +two scapegraces, called Chapkin +Halid and Pitch Osman. These +two young rascals lived by their +wits and at the expense of their neighbors. +But they often had to lament the ever-increasing +difficulties they encountered in procuring +the few piasters they needed daily for bread +and the tavern. They had tried several +schemes in their own neighborhood, with +exceptionally poor results, and were almost +disheartened when Chapkin Halid conceived +an idea that seemed to offer every chance of +success. He explained to his chum Osman +that Balata was "played out," at least for a +time, and that they must go elsewhere to satisfy +their needs. Halid's plan was to go to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +Stamboul, and feign death in the principal +street, while Osman was to collect the funeral +expenses of his friend Halid.</p> + +<p>Arriving in Stamboul, Halid stretched himself +on his back on the pavement and covered +his face with an old sack, while Osman sat +himself down beside the supposed corpse, and +every now and then bewailed the hard fate of +the stranger who had met with death on the +first day of his arrival. The corpse prompted +Osman whenever the coast was clear, and the +touching tale told by Osman soon brought +contributions for the burial of the stranger. +Osman had collected about thirty piasters, and +Halid was seriously thinking of a resurrection, +but was prevented by the passing of the Grand +Vizier, who, upon inquiring why the man lay +on the ground in that fashion, was told that he +was a stranger who had died in the street. +The Grand Vizier thereupon gave instructions +to an Imam, who happened to be at hand, to +bury the stranger and come for the money +to the Sublime Porte.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +Halid was reverently carried off to the +Mosque, and Osman thought that it was time +to leave the corpse to take care of itself. The +Imam laid Halid on the marble floor and prepared +to wash him prior to interment. He +had taken off his turban and long cloak and +got ready the water, when he remembered that +he had no soap, and immediately went out to +purchase some. No sooner had the Imam disappeared +than Halid jumped up, and, donning +the Imam's turban and long cloak, repaired to +the Sublime Porte. Here he asked admittance +to the Grand Vizier, but this request was not +granted until he told the nature of his business. +Halid said he was the Imam who, in +compliance with the verbal instructions received +from his Highness, had buried a +stranger and that he had come for payment. +The Grand Vizier sent five gold pieces (twenty +piasters each) to the supposed Imam, and +Halid made off as fast as possible.</p> + +<p>No sooner had Halid departed than the +cloakless Imam arrived in breathless haste,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +and explained that he was the Imam who had +received instructions from the Grand Vizier to +bury a stranger, but that the supposed corpse +had disappeared, and so had his cloak and +turban. Witnesses proved this man to be the +bona-fide Imam of the quarter, and the Grand +Vizier gave orders to his Chief Detective to +capture, within three days, on pain of death, +and bring to the Sublime Porte, this fearless +evil-doer.</p> + +<p>The Chief Detective was soon on the track +of Halid; but the latter was on the keen lookout. +With the aid of the money he had +received from the Grand Vizier to defray +his burial expenses he successfully evaded the +clutches of the Chief Detective, who was +greatly put about at being thus frustrated. +On the second day he again got scent of +Halid and determined to follow him till an +opportunity offered for his capture. Halid +knew that he was followed and divined the +intentions of his pursuer. As he was passing +a pharmacy he noticed there several young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +men, so he entered and explained in Jewish-Spanish +(one of his accomplishments) to the +Jew druggist, as he handed him one of the gold +pieces he had received from the Grand Vizier, +that his uncle, who would come in presently, +was not right in his mind; but that if the druggist +could manage to douche his head and back +with cold water, he would be all right for a +week or two. No sooner did the Chief Detective +enter the shop than, at a word from the +apothecary, the young men seized him and, by +means of a large squirt, they did their utmost +to effectively give him the salutary and cooling +douche. The more the detective protested, +the more the apothecary consolingly explained +that the operation would soon be over and +that he would feel much better, and told of +the numerous similar cases he had cured in a +like manner. The detective saw that it was +useless to struggle, so he abandoned himself +to the treatment; and in the meantime Halid +made off. The Chief Detective was so disheartened +that he went to the Grand Vizier<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +and asked him to behead him, as death was +preferable to the annoyance he had received +and might still receive at the hands of Chapkin +Halid. The Grand Vizier was both furious +and amused, so he spared the Chief Detective +and gave orders that guards be placed +at the twenty-four gates of the city, and that +Halid be seized at the first opportunity. +A reward was further promised to the person +who would bring him to the Sublime +Porte.</p> + +<p>Halid was finally caught one night as he was +going out of the Top-Kapou (Cannon Gate), +and the guards, rejoicing in their capture, +after considerable consultation decided to +bind Halid to a large tree close to the Guard +house, and thus both avoid the loss of sleep +and the anxiety incident to watching over so +desperate a character. This was done, and +Halid now thought that his case was hopeless. +Towards dawn, Halid perceived a man with a +lantern walking toward the Armenian Church, +and rightly concluded that it was the beadle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +going to make ready for the early morning +service. So he called out in a loud voice:</p> + +<p>"Beadle! Brother! Beadle! Brother! come +here quickly."</p> + +<p>Now it happened that the beadle was a +poor hunchback, and no sooner did Halid +perceive this than he said:</p> + +<p>"Quick! Quick! Beadle, look at my back +and see if it has gone!"</p> + +<p>"See if what has gone?" asked the beadle, +carefully looking behind the tree.</p> + +<p>"Why, my hump, of course," answered +Halid.</p> + +<p>The beadle made a close inspection and +declared that he could see no hump.</p> + +<p>"A thousand thanks!" fervently exclaimed +Halid, "then please undo the rope."</p> + +<p>The beadle set about to liberate Halid, and +at the same time earnestly begged to be told +how he had got rid of the hump, so that he +also might free himself of his deformity. +Halid agreed to tell him the cure, provided +the beadle had not yet broken fast, and also<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +that he was prepared to pay a certain small +sum of money for the secret. The beadle +satisfied Halid on both of these points, and +the latter immediately set about binding the +hunchback to the tree, and further told him, +on pain of breaking the spell, to repeat sixty-one +times the words: 'Esserti! Pesserti! Sersepeti!' +if he did this, the hump would of +a certainty disappear. Halid left the poor +beadle religiously and earnestly repeating the +words.</p> + +<p>The guards were furious when they found, +bound to the tree, a madman, as they thought, +repeating incoherent words, instead of Halid. +They began to unbind the captive, but the +only answer they could get to their host of +questions was 'Esserti, Pesserti, Sersepeti.' +As the knots were loosened, the louder did the +beadle in despair call out the charmed words +in the hopes of arresting them. No sooner +was the beadle freed than he asked God to +bring down calamity on the destroyers of the +charm that was to remove his hunch. On<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +hearing the beadle's tale, the guards understood +how their prisoner had secured his +liberty, and sent word to the Chief Detective. +This gentleman told the Grand Vizier of the +unheard-of cunning of the escaped prisoner. +The Grand Vizier was amused and also very +anxious to see this Chapkin Halid, so he sent +criers all over the city, giving full pardon to +Halid on condition that he would come to the +Sublime Porte and confess in person to the +Grand Vizier. Halid obeyed the summons, +and came to kiss the hem of the Grand +Vizier's garment, who was so favorably impressed +by him that he then and there appointed +him to be his Chief Detective.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="HOW_COBBLER_AHMET_BECAME_THE_CHIEF_ASTROLOGER" id="HOW_COBBLER_AHMET_BECAME_THE_CHIEF_ASTROLOGER"></a>HOW COBBLER AHMET BECAME THE CHIEF ASTROLOGER</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/ecap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="E" title="E" /> +</div><p>very day cobbler Ahmet, year in +and year out, measured the +breadth of his tiny cabin with his +arms as he stitched old shoes. +To do this was his Kismet, his decreed fate, +and he was content—and why not? his business +brought him quite sufficient to provide +the necessaries of life for both himself and +his wife. And had it not been for a coincidence +that occurred, in all probability he +would have mended old boots and shoes to +the end of his days.</p> + +<p>One day cobbler Ahmet's wife went to the +Hamam (bath), and while there she was much +annoyed at being obliged to give up her compartment, +owing to the arrival of the Harem +and retinue of the Chief Astrologer to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +Sultan. Much hurt, she returned home and +vented her pique upon her innocent husband.</p> + +<p>"Why are you not the Chief Astrologer to +the Sultan?" she said. "I will never call or +think of you as my husband until you have +been appointed Chief Astrologer to his +Majesty."</p> + +<p>Ahmet thought that this was another phase +in the eccentricity of woman which in all probability +would disappear before morning, so he +took small notice of what his wife said. But +Ahmet was wrong. His wife persisted so much +in his giving up his present means of earning +a livelihood and becoming an astrologer, that +finally, for the sake of peace, he complied +with her desire. He sold his tools and collection +of sundry old boots and shoes, and, +with the proceeds purchased an inkwell and +reeds. But this, alas! did not constitute him +an astrologer, and he explained to his wife +that this mad idea of hers would bring him +to an unhappy end. She, however, could not +be moved, and insisted on his going to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +highway, there to wisely practise the art, and +thus ultimately become the Chief Astrologer.</p> + +<p>In obedience to his wife's instructions, +Ahmet sat down on the highroad, and his +oppressed spirit sought comfort in looking at +the heavens and sighing deeply. While in +this condition a Hanoum in great excitement +came and asked him if he communicated +with the stars. Poor Ahmet sighed, saying +that he was compelled to converse with +them.</p> + +<p>"Then please tell me where my diamond +ring is, and I will both bless and handsomely +reward you."</p> + +<p>The Hanoum, with this, immediately +squatted on the ground, and began to tell +Ahmet that she had gone to the bath that +morning and that she was positive that she +then had the ring, but every corner of the +Hamam had been searched, and the ring was +not to be found.</p> + +<p>"Oh! astrologer, for the love of Allah, exert +your eye to see the unseen."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +"Hanoum Effendi," replied Ahmet, the instant +her excited flow of language had ceased, +"I perceive a rent," referring to a tear he +had noticed in her shalvars or baggy trousers. +Up jumped the Hanoum, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"A thousand holy thanks! You are right! +Now I remember! I put the ring in a crevice +of the cold water fountain." And in her +gratitude she handed Ahmet several gold +pieces.</p> + +<p>In the evening he returned to his home, +and giving the gold to his wife, said: "Take +this money, wife; may it satisfy you, and in +return all I ask is that you allow me to go +back to the trade of my father, and not expose +me to the danger and suffering of trudging +the road shoeless."</p> + +<p>But her purpose was unmoved. Until he +became the Chief Astrologer she would +neither call him nor think of him as her +husband.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, owing to the discovery +of the ring, the fame of Ahmet the cobbler<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +spread far and wide. The tongue of the +Hanoum never ceased to sound his praise.</p> + +<p>It happened that the wife of a certain +Pasha had appropriated a valuable diamond +necklace, and as a last resource, the Pasha +determined, seeing that all the astrologers, +Hodjas, and diviners had failed to discover +the article, to consult Ahmet the cobbler, +whose praises were in every mouth.</p> + +<p>The Pasha went to Ahmet, and, in fear and +trembling, the wife who had appropriated the +necklace sent her confidential slave to overhear +what the astrologer would say. The +Pasha told Ahmet all he knew about the necklace, +but this gave no clue, and in despair he +asked how many diamonds the necklace contained. +On being told that there were twenty-four, +Ahmet, to put off the evil hour, said it +would take an hour to discover each diamond, +consequently would the Pasha come on the +morrow at the same hour when, Inshallah, he +would perhaps be able to give him some news.</p> + +<p>The Pasha departed, and no sooner was he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +out of earshot, than the troubled Ahmet exclaimed +in a loud voice:</p> + +<p>"Oh woman! Oh woman! what evil influence +impelled you to go the wrong path, and drag +others with you! When the twenty-four hours +are up, you will perhaps repent! Alas! Too +late. Your husband gone from you forever! +Without a hope even of being united in +paradise."</p> + +<p>Ahmet was referring to himself and his +wife, for he fully expected to be cast into +prison on the following day as an impostor. +But the slave who had been listening gave another +interpretation to his words, and hurrying +off, told her mistress that the astrologer knew +all about the theft. The good man had even +bewailed the separation that would inevitably +take place. The Pasha's wife was distracted, +and hurried off to plead her cause in person +with the astrologer. On approaching Ahmet, +the first words she said, in her excitement, +were:</p> + +<p>"Oh learned Hodja, you are a great and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +good man. Have compassion on my weakness +and do not expose me to the wrath of +my husband! I will do such penance as you +may order, and bless you five times daily as +long as I live."</p> + +<p>"How can I save you?" innocently asked +Ahmet. "What is decreed is decreed!"</p> + +<p>And then, though silent, looked volumes, +for he instinctively knew that words unuttered +were arrows still in the quiver.</p> + +<p>"If you won't pity me," continued the Hanoum, +in despair, "I will go and confess +to my Pasha, and perhaps he will forgive +me."</p> + +<p>To this appeal Ahmet said he must ask the +stars for their views on the subject. The +Hanoum inquired if the answer would come +before the twenty-four hours were up. Ahmet's +reply to this was a long and concentrated +gaze at the heavens.</p> + +<p>"Oh Hodja Effendi, I must go now, or the +Pasha will miss me. Shall I give you the +necklace to restore to the Pasha without ex<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>planation, +when he comes to-morrow for the +answer?"</p> + +<p>Ahmet now realized what all the trouble +was about, and in consideration of a fee, he +promised not to reveal her theft on the condition +that she would at once return home and +place the necklace between the mattresses of +her Pasha's bed. This the grateful woman +agreed to do, and departed invoking blessings +on Ahmet, who in return promised to exercise +his influence in her behalf for astral intervention.</p> + +<p>When the Pasha came to the astrologer at +the appointed time, he explained to him, that +if he wanted both the necklace and the thief +or thieves, it would take a long time, as it was +impossible to hurry the stars; but if he would +be content with the necklace alone, the +horoscope indicated that the stars would +oblige him at once. The Pasha said that he +would be quite satisfied if he could get his +diamonds again, and Ahmet at once told him +where to find them. The Pasha returned to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +his home not a little sceptical, and immediately +searched for the necklace where Ahmet +had told him it was to be found. His joy +and astonishment on discovering the long-lost +article knew no bounds, and the fame of +Ahmet the cobbler was the theme of every +tongue.</p> + +<p>Having received handsome payment from +both the Pasha and the Hanoum, Ahmet earnestly +begged of his wife to desist and not +bring down sorrow and calamity upon his +head. But his pleadings were in vain. Satan +had closed his wife's ear to reason with envy. +Resigned to his fate, all he could do was to +consult the stars, and after mature thought +give their communication, or assert that the +stars had, for some reason best known to the +applicant, refused to commune on the subject.</p> + +<p>It happened that forty cases of gold were +stolen from the Imperial Treasury, and every +astrologer having failed to get even a clue as +to where the money was or how it had disappeared, +Ahmet was approached. Poor man,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +his case now looked hopeless! Even the +Chief Astrologer was in disgrace. What +might be his punishment he did not know—most +probably death. Ahmet had no idea of +the numerical importance of forty; but concluding +that it must be large he asked for a +delay of forty days to discover the forty cases +of gold. Ahmet gathered up the implements +of his occult art, and before returning to his +home, went to a shop and asked for forty +beans—neither one more nor one less. +When he got home and laid them down +before him he appreciated the number of +cases of gold that had been stolen, and +also the number of days he had to live. +He knew it would be useless to explain to +his wife the seriousness of the case, so that +evening he took from his pocket the forty +beans and mournfully said:</p> + +<p>"Forty cases of gold,—forty thieves,—forty +days; and here is one of them," handing +a bean to his wife. "The rest remain in their +place until the time comes to give them up."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +While Ahmet was saying this to his wife +one of the thieves was listening at the window. +The thief was sure he had been discovered +when he heard Ahmet say, "And here is +one of them," and hurried off to tell his +companions.</p> + +<p>The thieves were greatly distressed, but decided +to wait till the next evening and see what +would happen then, and another of the number +was sent to listen and see if the report +would be verified. The listener had not long +been stationed at his post when he heard +Ahmet say to his wife: "And here is another +of them," meaning another of the forty days +of his life. But the thief understood the +words otherwise, and hurried off to tell his +chief that the astrologer knew all about it and +knew that he had been there. The thieves +consequently decided to send a delegation to +Ahmet, confessing their guilt and offering to +return the forty cases of gold intact. Ahmet +received them, and on hearing their confession, +accompanied with their condition to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +return the gold, boldly told them that he did +not require their aid; that it was in his +power to take possession of the forty cases of +gold whenever he wished, but that he had no +special desire to see them all executed, and he +would plead their cause if they would go and +put the gold in a place he indicated. This +was agreed to, and Ahmet continued to give +his wife a bean daily—but now with another +purpose; he no longer feared the loss of his +head, but discounted by degrees the great +reward he hoped to receive. At last the final +bean was given to his wife, and Ahmet was +summoned to the Palace. He went, and explained +to his Majesty that the stars refused +both to reveal the thieves and the gold, but +whichever of the two his Majesty wished +would be immediately granted. The Treasury +being low, it was decided that, provided the +cases were returned with the gold intact, his +Majesty would be satisfied. Ahmet conducted +them to the place where the gold was buried, +and amidst great rejoicing it was taken back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +to the Palace. The Sultan was so pleased +with Ahmet, that he appointed him to the +office of Chief Astrologer, and his wife attained +her desire.</p> + +<p>The Sultan was one day walking in his Palace +grounds accompanied by his Chief Astrologer; +wishing to test his powers he caught a +grasshopper, and holding his closed hand out +to the astrologer asked him what it contained. +Ahmet, in a pained and reproachful tone, +answered the Sultan by a much-quoted +proverb: "Alas! Your Majesty! the grasshopper +never knows where its third leap will +land it," figuratively alluding to himself +and the dangerous hazard of guessing what +was in the clenched hand of his Majesty. +The Sultan was so struck by the reply that +Ahmet was never again troubled to demonstrate +his powers.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_WISE_SON_OF_ALI_PASHA" id="THE_WISE_SON_OF_ALI_PASHA"></a>THE WISE SON OF ALI PASHA</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/acap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="A" title="A" /> +</div><p> servant of his Majesty Sultan +Ahmet, who had been employed +for twenty-five years in the Palace, +begged leave of the Sultan to allow +him to retire to his native home, and at the +same time solicited a pension to enable him +to live. The Sultan asked him if he had not +saved any money. The man replied that owing +to his having to support a large family, he had +been unable to do so. The Sultan was very +angry that any of his servants, especially in the +immediate employ of his household, should, +after so many years' service, say that he was +penniless. Disbelieving the statement, and in +order to make an example, the Sultan gave +orders that Hassan should quit the Palace in +the identical state he had entered it twenty-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>five +years before. Hassan was accordingly +disrobed of all his splendor, and his various +effects, the accumulation of a quarter of a +century, were confiscated, and distributed +amongst the legion of Palace servants. Poor +Hassan, without a piaster in his pocket, and +dressed in the rude costume of his native province, +began his weary journey homeward on +foot.</p> + +<p>In time he reached the suburbs of a town in +Asia Minor, and seeing some boys playing, he +approached them, sat on the ground, and +watched their pastime. The boys were playing +at state affairs: one was a Sultan, another his +Vizier, who had his cabinet of Ministers, while +close by were a number of boys bound hand +and foot, representing political and other prisoners, +awaiting judgment for their imaginary +misdeeds. The Sultan, who was sitting with +worthy dignity on a throne made of branches +and stones, decorated with many-colored centrepieces, +beckoned to Hassan to draw near, +and asked him where he had come from. Has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>san +replied that he had come from Stamboul, +from the Palace of the Sultan.</p> + +<p>"That's a lie," said the mock Sultan, "no +one ever came from Stamboul dressed in that +fashion, much less from the Palace; you are +from the far interior, and if you do not confess +that what I say is true, you will be tried +by my Ministers, and punished accordingly."</p> + +<p>Hassan, partly to participate in their boyish +amusement, and partly to unburden his aching +heart, related his sad fate to his youthful audience. +When he had finished, the boy Sultan, +Ali by name, asked him if he had received his +twenty-five years. Hassan, not fully grasping +what the boy said, replied:</p> + +<p>"Nothing! Nothing!"</p> + +<p>"That is unjust," continued Ali, "and you +shall go back to the Sultan and ask that your +twenty-five years be returned to you so that you +may plough and till your ground, and thus +make provision for the period of want, old +age."</p> + +<p>Hassan was struck by the sound advice the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +boy had given him, thanked him and said he +would follow it to the letter. The boys then +in thoughtless mirth separated, to return to +their homes, never dreaming that the seeds of +destiny of one of their number had been +sown in play. Hassan, retracing his steps, reappeared +in time at the gates of the Palace +and begged admittance, stating that he had +forgotten to communicate something of importance +to his Majesty. His request being +granted, he humbly solicited, that, inasmuch +as his Majesty had been dissatisfied with his +long service, the twenty-five years he had +devoted to him should be returned, so that +he might labor and put by something to provide +for the inevitable day when he could no +longer work. The Sultan answered:</p> + +<p>"That is well said and just. As it is not +in my power to give you the twenty-five +years, the best equivalent I can grant you is +the means of sustenance for a period of that +duration should you live so long. But tell me, +who advised you to make this request?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +Hassan then related his adventure with the +boys while on his journey home, and his +Majesty was so pleased with the judgment and +advice of the lad that he sent for him and had +him educated. The boy studied medicine, +and distinguishing himself in the profession +ultimately rose to be Hekim Ali Pasha.</p> + +<p>He had one son who was known as Doctor +Ali Pasha's son. He studied calligraphy, and +became so proficient in this art, now almost +lost, that his imitations of the Imperial Iradés +(decrees) were perfect fac-similes of the originals. +One day he took it into his head to +write an Iradé appointing himself Grand +Vizier, in place of the reigning one, a protégé +of the Imperial Palace, which Iradé he took +to the Sublime Porte and there and then installed +himself. By chance the Sultan happened +to drive through Stamboul that day, in +disguise, and noticing considerable excitement +and cries of "Padishahim chok yasha" +(long live my Sultan) amongst the people, +made inquiries as to the cause of this unusual<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +occurrence. His Majesty's informers brought +him the word that the people rejoiced in the +fall of the old Grand Vizier, and the appointment +of the new one, Doctor Ali Pasha's son. +The Sultan returned to the Palace and immediately +sent one of his eunuchs to the Sublime +Porte to see the Grand Vizier and find out +the meaning of these strange proceedings.</p> + +<p>The eunuch was announced, and the Grand +Vizier ordered him to be brought into his +presence. Directly he appeared in the doorway, +he was greeted with: "What do you want, +you black dog?"</p> + +<p>Then turning to the numerous attendants +about, he said: "Take this nigger to the slave +market, and see what price he will bring."</p> + +<p>The eunuch was taken to the slave market, +and the highest price bid for him was fifty +piasters. On hearing this, the Grand Vizier +turned to the eunuch and said: "Go and tell +your master what you are worth, and tell him +that I think it too much by far."</p> + +<p>The eunuch was glad to get off, and com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>municated +to his Majesty the story of his strange +treatment. The Sultan then ordered his Chief +Eunuch, a not unimportant personage in the +Ottoman Empire, to call on the Grand Vizier +for an explanation. At the Sublime Porte, +however, no respect was paid to this high dignitary. +Ali Pasha received him in precisely +the same manner as he had received his subordinate. +The chief was taken to the slave +market, and the highest sum bid for him was +five hundred piasters. The self-appointed +Grand Vizier ordered him to go and tell his +master the amount some foolish people were +willing to pay for him.</p> + +<p>When the Sultan heard of these strange proceedings +he sent an autograph letter to Ali +Pasha, commanding him to come to the Palace. +The Grand Vizier immediately set out for the +Palace and was received in audience, when he +explained to his Majesty that the affairs of +State could not be managed by men not worth +more than from fifty to five hundred piasters, +and that if radical changes were not made,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +certain ruin would be the outcome. The Sultan +appreciated this earnest communication, +and ratified the appointment, as Grand Vizier, +of Ali Pasha, the son of the boy who had +played at state affairs in a village of Asia +Minor.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_MERCIFUL_KHAN" id="THE_MERCIFUL_KHAN"></a>THE MERCIFUL KHAN</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/tcap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div><p>here lived once near Ispahan a +tailor, a hard-working man, who +was very poor. So poor was he +that his workshop and house together +consisted of a wooden cottage of but +one room.</p> + +<p>But poverty is no protection against thieves, +and so it happened that one night a thief +entered the hut of the tailor. The tailor had +driven nails in various places in the walls on +which to hang the garments that were +brought to him to mend. It chanced that in +groping about for plunder, the thief struck +against one of these nails and put out his eye.</p> + +<p>The next morning the thief appeared before +the Khan (Judge) and demanded justice. +The Khan accordingly sent for the tailor,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +stated the complaint of the thief, and said +that in accordance with the law, 'an eye for +an eye,' it would be necessary to put out one +of the tailor's eyes. As usual, however, the +tailor was allowed to plead in his own defence, +whereupon he thus addressed the court:</p> + +<p>"Oh great and mighty Khan, it is true that +the law says <i>an</i> eye for an eye, but it does not +say <i>my</i> eye. Now I am a poor man, and a +tailor. If the Khan puts out one of my eyes, +I will not be able to carry on my trade, and +so I shall starve. Now it happens that there +lives near me a gunsmith. He uses but one +eye with which he squints along the barrel of +his guns. Take his other eye, oh Khan, and +let the law be satisfied."</p> + +<p>The Khan was favorably impressed with this +idea, and accordingly sent for the gunsmith. +He recited to the gunsmith the complaint of +the thief and the statement of the tailor, +whereupon the gunsmith said:</p> + +<p>"Oh great and mighty Khan, this tailor +knows not whereof he talks. I need both<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +of my eyes; for while it is true that I squint +one eye along one side of the barrel of the +gun, to see if it is straight, I must use the +other eye for the other side. If, therefore, +you put out one of my eyes you will take +away from me the means of livelihood. It +happens, however, that there lives not far +from me a flute-player. Now I have noticed +that whenever he plays the flute he closes both +of his eyes. Take out one of his eyes, oh +Khan, and let the law be satisfied."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the Khan sent for the flute-player, +and after reciting to him the complaint +of the thief, and the words of the gunsmith, +he ordered him to play upon his flute. This +the flute-player did, and though he endeavored +to control himself, he did not succeed, but, +as the result of long habit, closed both of his +eyes. When the Khan saw this, he ordered +that one of the flute-player's eyes be put out, +which being done, the Khan spoke as follows:</p> + +<p>"Oh flute-player, I saw that when playing +upon your flute you closed both of your eyes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +It was thus clear to me that neither was necessary +for your livelihood, and I had intended +to have them both put out, but I have decided +to put out only one in order that you may tell +among men how merciful are the Khans."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="KING_KARA-KUSH_OF_BITHYNIA" id="KING_KARA-KUSH_OF_BITHYNIA"></a>KING KARA-KUSH OF BITHYNIA</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/acap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="A" title="A" /> +</div><p> King of Bithynia, named Kara-kush, +who was blind of an eye, +was considered in his day a +reasonable, just, and feeling man. +He administered justice upon the basis of +the law, 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a +tooth,' and enlarged or modified it as circumstances +demanded.</p> + +<p>It happened that a weaver by accident put +out the eye of a man. He was brought before +the King or Cadi, for in those days the Kings +acted as Cadis, who promptly condemned him, +in accordance with the law, to the loss of an +eye. The weaver pleaded touchingly, saying:</p> + +<p>"Oh Cadi! I have a wife and a large family, +and I support them by throwing the shuttle +from the right to the left, and again from the +left to the right; first using the one eye and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +then the other. If you remove one of my eyes, +I will not be able to weave, and my wife and +children will suffer the pangs of hunger. Why +not, in the place of my eye, remove that of the +hunter who uses but one eye in exercising his +profession, and to whom two eyes are superfluous?"</p> + +<p>The Cadi was impressed, acknowledged the +justice of the weaver's remarks, and the hunter +was immediately sent for. The hunter +being brought, the Cadi was greatly rejoiced to +notice that the hunter's eyes were exactly the +same color as his own. He asked the hunter +how he earned his living, and receiving his +answer that he was a hunter, the Cadi asked +him how he shot. The hunter in reply +demonstrated the manner by putting up his +arms, his head to a side, and closing one eye. +The Cadi said the weaver was right, and immediately +sent for the surgeon to have the eye +removed. Further, the Cadi bethought him +that he might profit by this and have the hunter's +eye placed in his own socket. The sur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>geon +set to work and prepared the cavity to +receive the hunter's eye. This done with a +practised hand, the surgeon removed the hunter's +eye and was about to place it in the prepared +socket, when it accidentally slipped from +his fingers to the ground, and was snatched up +by a cat. The surgeon was terrified and madly +ran after the cat; but alas! the cat had eaten +the eye. What was he to do? On the inspiration +of the moment he snatched out the +eye of the cat, and placing it in the Cadi's +head, bound it up.</p> + +<p>Some time after the surgeon asked the Cadi +how he saw.</p> + +<p>"Oh," replied the Cadi, "with my old eye +I see as usual, but strange to say, the new eye +you placed in my head is continually searching +and watching for rat holes."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_PRAYER_RUG_AND_THE_DISHONEST_STEWARD" id="THE_PRAYER_RUG_AND_THE_DISHONEST_STEWARD"></a>THE PRAYER RUG AND THE DISHONEST STEWARD</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/acap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="A" title="A" /> +</div><p> poor Hamal (porter) brought to +the Pasha of Stamboul his savings, +consisting of a small canvas bag +of medjidies (Turkish silver dollars), +to be kept for him, while he was absent +on a visit to his home. The Pasha, being a +kind-hearted man, consented, and after sealing +the bag, called his steward, instructing him to +keep it till the owner called for it. The +steward gave the man a receipt, to the effect +that he had received a sealed bag containing +money.</p> + +<p>When the poor man returned, he went to the +Pasha and received his bag of money. On +reaching his room he opened the bag, and to +his horror found that it contained, instead of +the medjidies he had put in it, copper piasters,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +which are about the same size as medjidies. +The poor Hamal was miserable, his hard-earned +savings gone.</p> + +<p>He at last gathered courage to go and put his +case before the Pasha. He took the bag of +piasters, and with trembling voice and faltering +heart he assured the Pasha that though he +had received his bag apparently intact, on +opening it he found that it contained copper +piasters and not the medjidies he had put in +it. The Pasha took the bag, examined it +closely, and after some time noticed a part +that had apparently been darned by a master-hand. +The Pasha told the Hamal to go away +and come back in a week; in the meantime +he would see what he could do for him. The +grateful man departed, uttering prayers for the +life and prosperity of his Excellency.</p> + +<p>The next morning after the Pasha had said +his prayers kneeling on a most magnificent and +expensive rug, he took a knife and cut a long +rent in it. He then left his Konak without +saying a word to any one. In the evening<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +when he returned he found that the rent had +been so well repaired that it was with difficulty +that he discovered where it had been. +Calling his steward, he demanded who had +repaired his prayer rug. The steward told the +Pasha that he thought the rug had been cut +by accident by some of the servants, so he +had sent to the Bazaar for the darner, Mustapha, +and had it mended, the steward, by +way of apology, adding that it was very well +done.</p> + +<p>"Send for Mustapha immediately," said the +Pasha, "and when he comes bring him to +my room."</p> + +<p>When Mustapha arrived, the Pasha asked +him if he had repaired the rug. Mustapha at +once replied that he had mended it that very +morning.</p> + +<p>"It is indeed well done," said the Pasha; +"much better than the darn you made in that +canvas bag."</p> + +<p>Mustapha agreed, saying that it was very +difficult to mend the bag as it was full of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +copper piasters. On hearing this, the Pasha +gave him a backsheesh (present) and told him +to retire. The Pasha then called his steward, +and not only compelled him to pay the Hamal +his money, but discharged him from his service, +in which he had been engaged for many +years.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_GOOSE_THE_EYE_THE_DAUGHTER_AND_THE_ARM" id="THE_GOOSE_THE_EYE_THE_DAUGHTER_AND_THE_ARM"></a>THE GOOSE, THE EYE, THE DAUGHTER, AND THE ARM</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/acap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="A" title="A" /> +</div><p> Turk decided to have a feast, so +he killed and stuffed a goose +and took it to the baker to be +roasted. The Cadi of the village +happened to pass by the oven as the baker +was basting the goose, and was attracted by +the pleasant and appetizing odor. Approaching +the baker, the Cadi said it was a fine +goose; that the smell of it made him quite +hungry, and suggested that he had better send +it to his house. The baker expostulated, saying: +"I cannot; it does not belong to me."</p> + +<p>The Cadi assured him that was no difficulty. +"You tell Ahmet, the owner of the goose, that +it flew away."</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" said the baker. "How can +a roasted goose fly away? Ahmet will only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +laugh at me, your Worship, and I will be cast +into prison."</p> + +<p>"Am I not a Judge?" said the Cadi, "fear +nothing."</p> + +<p>At this the baker consented to send the goose +to the Cadi's house. When Ahmet came for +his goose the baker said: "Friend, thy goose +has flown."</p> + +<p>"Flown?" said Ahmet, "what lies! Am +I thy grandfather's grandchild that thou +shouldst laugh in my beard?"</p> + +<p>Seizing one of the baker's large shovels, he +lifted it to strike him, but, as fate would have +it, the handle put out the eye of the baker's +boy, and Ahmet, frightened at what he had +done, ran off, closely followed by the baker +and his boy, the latter crying: "My eye!"</p> + +<p>In his hurry Ahmet knocked over a child, +killing it, and the father of the child joined +in the chase, calling out: "My daughter!"</p> + +<p>Ahmet, well-nigh distracted, rushed into a +mosque and up a minaret. To escape his +pursuers he leaped from the parapet, and fell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +upon a vender who was passing by, breaking +his arm. The vender also began pursuing +him, calling out: "My arm!"</p> + +<p>Ahmet was finally caught and brought before +the Cadi, who no doubt was feeling contented +with the world, having just enjoyed the delicious +goose.</p> + +<p>The Cadi heard each of the cases brought +against Ahmet, who in turn told his case +truthfully as it had happened.</p> + +<p>"A complicated matter," said the Cadi. +"All these misfortunes come from the flight +of the goose, and I must refer to the book of +the law to give just judgment."</p> + +<p>Taking down a ponderous manuscript volume, +the Cadi turned to Ahmet and asked him +what number egg the goose had been hatched +from. Ahmet said he did not know.</p> + +<p>"Then," replied the Cadi, "the book writes +that such a phenomenon was possible. If +this goose was hatched from the seventh egg, +and the hatcher also from the seventh egg, +the book writes that it is possible for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +roasted goose, under those conditions, to fly +away."</p> + +<p>"With reference to your eye," continued +the Cadi, addressing the baker's lad, "the +book provides punishment for the removal of +two eyes, but not of one, so if you will consent +to your other eye being taken out, I will condemn +Ahmet to have both of his removed."</p> + +<p>The baker's lad, not appreciating the force +of this argument, withdrew his claim.</p> + +<p>Then turning to the father of the dead +child, the Cadi explained that the only provision +for a case like this in the book of the +law, was that he take Ahmet's child in its +place, or if Ahmet had not a child, to wait till +he got one. The bereaved parent not taking +any interest in Ahmet's present or prospective +children, also withdrew his case.</p> + +<p>These cases settled, there remained but the +vender's, who was wroth at having his arm +broken. The Cadi expatiated on the justice +of the law and its far-seeing provisions, that +the vender at least could claim ample com<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>pensation +for having his arm broken. The +book of the law provided that he should go to +the very same minaret, and that Ahmet must +station himself at the very same place where +he had stood when his arm was broken; and +that he might jump down and break Ahmet's +arm.</p> + +<p>"But be it understood," concluded the +Cadi, "if you break his leg instead of his +arm, Ahmet will have the right to delegate +some one to jump down on you to break your +leg."</p> + +<p>The vender not seeing the force of the +Cadi's proposal, also withdrew his claim.</p> + +<p>Thus ended the cases of the goose, the eye, +the daughter, and the arm.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_FORTY_WISE_MEN" id="THE_FORTY_WISE_MEN"></a>THE FORTY WISE MEN</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/ocap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="O" title="O" /> +</div><p>n a day amongst the many days, +when the Turk was more earnest +than now, before the Europeans +came and gave new ideas to our +children, there lived and labored for the welfare +of our people an organized body of men. +At whose suggestion this society was formed I +know not. All that we know of them to-day, +through our fathers, is that their forefathers +chose from among them the most wise, sincere, +and experienced forty brethren. These +forty were named the Forty Wise Men. When +one of the forty was called away from his +labors here, perhaps to continue them in +higher spheres, or to receive his reward, who +knows? the remaining thirty-nine consulted +and chose from the community him whom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +they thought capable, and worthy of guiding +and of being guided, to add to their number. +They lived and held their meetings in a +mosque of which little remains now, the +destructive hand of time having left it but a +battered dome, with cheerless walls and great +square holes, where once were iron bars and +stained glass. It has gone—so have the wise +men. But its foundations are solid, and they +may in time come to support an edifice dedicated +to noble work, and, Inshallah, the seed +of the Forty Wise Men will also bear fruit in +the days that are not yet.</p> + +<p>You will say, what good did this body of +men do? These men who always numbered +forty were, as I have told you, originally +chosen by the people, and when one of the +forty departed from his labors here, the remaining +thirty-nine consulted together and +from the most worthy of the community they +chose another member.</p> + +<p>What was the good of this body of men? +Great, great, my friends. Not only did they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +administer justice to the oppressed, and give +to the needy substantial aid; but their very +existence had the most beneficial effect on +the community. Why? you ask. Because +each vied with the other to be worthy of +being nominated for the vacancy when it occurred. +No station in life was too low to be +admitted, no station was too high for one of +the faithful to become one of the 'Forty.' +Here all were equal. As Allah himself doth +consider mankind by deeds, so also mankind +was considered by the Forty Wise Men, who +presided over the welfare and smoothed the +destiny of the children of Allah. With their +years, their wisdom grew, and they were +blessed by Allah.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>In the town of Scutari, over the way, there +lived and labored a Dervish. His counsel +to the rash was ever ready, his sole object, +apparently, in life was to become one of the +Forty Wise Men, who presided over the people +and protected them from all ills.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +The years went on, and still without a reward +he patiently labored, no doubt contenting +himself with the idea that the day +would come when the merit of his actions +would be recognized by Allah. That was a +mistake, my friends; true faith expecteth +nothing. However, the day did come, and +the Dervish's great desire had every appearance +of being realized. One of the Forty Wise +Men having accomplished his mission on earth, +departed this life. The remaining thirty-nine, +who still had duties to fulfil, consulted as +to whom they should call to aid them in +their work. A eulogy was pronounced in +favor of the Dervish. They not unjustly considered +how he had labored among the poor +in Scutari; ever ready to help the needy, ever +ready to counsel the rash, ever ready to comfort +and encourage the despairing. It was decided +that he should be nominated. A deputation +consisting of three, two to listen, one to speak, +was named, and with the blessing of their +brethren, for success, they entered a caique<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +and were rowed to Scutari. Arriving at the +Dervish's gate, the spokesman thus addressed +the would-be member of the Forty Wise Men:</p> + +<p>"Brother in the flesh, thy actions have been +noted, and we come to put a proposition to +thee, which, after consideration, thou wilt +either accept or reject as thou thinkest best +for all interested therein. We would ask +thee to become one of us. We are sent +hither by, and are the representatives of, +the sages who preside over the people. +Brother, we number in all one hundred and +thirty-eight in spirit;—ninety-nine, having +accomplished their task in the flesh, have departed; +thirty-nine, still in the flesh, endeavor +their duty to fulfil. And it is the desire of +the one hundred and thirty-eight souls to add +to us thyself, in order to complete our number +of laborers in the flesh. Brother, thy +duties, which will be everlasting, thou wilt +learn when with us. Do thou consider, and +we will return at the setting of the sun of +the third day, to receive thy answer."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +And they turned to depart. But the Dervish +stopped them, saying: "Brothers, I have +no need to consider the subject for three days, +seeing that my inmost desire for thirty years, +and my sole object in life has been to become +worthy of being one of you. In spirit I have +long been your brother, in the flesh it is easy +to comply, seeing that it has been the spirit's +desire."</p> + +<p>Then answered the spokesman: "Brother, +thou hast spoken well. Allah, thou art with us +in our choice; we praise Thee. Brother, one +word! Our ways are different to all men's ways; +thou hast but to have faith, and all is well."</p> + +<p>"Brethren, faith! I have had faith; my +faith is now even strengthened. I do your +bidding."</p> + +<p>"Brother, first of all thy worldly goods must +be disposed of and rendered into gold. Every +earthly possession thou hast must be represented +by a piece of gold. Therefore see to +that; we have other duties to fulfil, but will +return ere the sun sets in the west."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +The Dervish set about selling all his goods; +and when the coloring of the sky in the west +harbingered the closing of the day, he had disposed +of everything and stood waiting with +naught but a sack of gold.</p> + +<p>The three wise men returned, and, on seeing +the Dervish, said: "Brother, thou hast done +well; we will hence."</p> + +<p>A caique was in waiting, and the four entered. +Silently the caique glided over the +smooth surface of the Bosphorus; and silently +the occupants sat. When beyond Maidens' +Tower, the spokesman, turning to the Dervish, +said: "Brother, with thy inmost blessing +give me that sack, representing everything +thou dost possess in this world."</p> + +<p>The Dervish handed the sack as he was +bidden, and the wise man solemnly rose, and +holding it on high, said: "With the blessing +of our brother Mustapha," and dropped it +where the current is strongest. Then, sitting +down, resumed his silence. The deed was +done, and nothing outward told the story; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +Caiquedji dipped his oars, and the waves +rippled as soft as before. Nothing but the +distant, soothing cry of the Muezzin, calling +the faithful to prayer, now waxing, now +waning, now completely dying away as they +moved around the minarets, broke the stillness.</p> + +<p>Ere long the boat was brought to the +shore, the four men wended their way up the +steep hill, and the horizon, wrapped in the +mantle of night, hid them from the boatman's +sight. A few minutes' walk brought them to +the mosque of the Forty Wise Men; the +spokesman turned to the Dervish, and said: +"Brother, faithfully follow," and then passed +through the doorway. They entered a large, +vaulted chamber, the ceiling of which was +artistically inlaid with mosaïques, and the +floor covered with tiles of the ceramic art of +bygone ages. From the centre hung a large +chandelier holding a number of little oil cups, +each shedding its tiny light, as if to show +that union was strength. Round this chandelier +were seven brass filagreed, hemispherical-<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>shaped +lanterns, holding several oil burners. +These many tiny burners gave a soothing, +contented, though undefined light, which, +together with the silence, added to the impressiveness +of the place. Round this hall +were forty boxes of the same shape and +size.</p> + +<p>Our friend stood in the centre of the hall +and under the influence of the scene, he was +afraid to breathe; he did not know whether to +be happy or sad, for having come so far.</p> + +<p>As he stood thus thinking, dreaming, one +of the curtains was raised, and there came +forth a very old man, his venerable white +beard all but touching his girdle.</p> + +<p>Solemnly and slowly he walked over to the +opposite side, and following in his train +came thirty-eight more, the last apparently +being the youngest.</p> + +<p>Chill after chill went coursing down the +spinal cord of the astonished would-be brother, +whilst these men moved about in the unbroken +silence, as if talking to invisible beings; now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +embracing, now clasping hands, now bidding +farewell.</p> + +<p>The Dervish closed his eyes, opened them, +Were these things so? Yes, it was no dream, +no hallucination. Yet why heard he no sound?</p> + +<p>Each of the brethren now took his place +beside a box, but there was one vacancy; no +one stood at the side of the box to the left +of the youngest brother. Making a profound +salaam, which all answered, the old man silently +turned, raised the curtain, and passed +into the darkness, each in his order following. +As one in a trance, the Dervish watched one +after another disappear. The last now raised +the curtain, but before vanishing, turned (it +was the spokesman), and whispered: "Brother, +faith, follow!" and stepped into the darkness.</p> + +<p>These words acted upon the Dervish like a +spell; he followed.</p> + +<p>Up, up, the winding stairway of a minaret +they go. At last they arrive, and to the +horror of the Dervish, what does he see? +One, two, three, disappear over the parapet,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +and his friend the spokesman, with: "Brother, +faith, follow!" also vanished into the inky +darkness.</p> + +<p>Again at the eleventh hour did the cheering +words of the brother spokesman act upon the +Dervish like magic, he raised his foot to the +parapet, and, in faltering decision, jumped +up two or three times. But man's guardian +does not lead him over the rugged paths of +life; he gives the impulse and you must go. +So it was with the Dervish. He jumped once, +twice, thrice, but each time fell backward +instead of forward. My friends, he hesitated +again; at the eleventh hour he was encouraged, +but undecided—he was not equal to the test. +So, with a great weight on his heart, he descended +the winding stairs of the minaret. +He had reached his zenith only in desire, and +was now on his decline.</p> + +<p>Lamenting, like a weak mortal that he was, +for not having followed, he again entered the +hall he had just left, with the intention, no +doubt, of departing.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +But the charm of the place was on him +again, and as he stood the curtain moved, and +the old man advanced; and as before, the +silence was unbroken. Again did each take +his place beside a box, again did the old man +salaam, with the simultaneous response of the +others. Again did they gesture as if talking +to invisible beings of some calamity which had +befallen them which they all regretted.</p> + +<p>The old man went and opened the box that +stood alone. From this he took, what? the +identical bag of gold that had been dropped +into the Bosphorus some hours ago. The +spokesman came forward and took it from +the hand of the old man. The Dervish now +no longer believed that <i>he</i> was <i>he</i> himself, and +that these things were taking place. He understood +not, he knew not.</p> + +<p>Coming forward, the spokesman thus addressed +the spell-bound Dervish, his voice +giving a strange echo, as if his words were +emphasized by a hundred invisible mouths:</p> + +<p>"Friend and brother in the flesh, but weak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +of the spirit, thou hast proved thyself unworthy +to impart that which thou hast not +thyself,—Faith! Thine actions hitherto, of +seeming conviction, have not been for the +eye of the Almighty, the All-seeing, the All-powerful +alone, but for the approbation of +mankind. To get this approbation thou hast +soared out of thine element; the atmosphere +is too rarified, thou canst not live, thou must +return!</p> + +<p>"Get thee back into the world, back to thy +brothers; thou canst not be one of us. One +hundred and thirty-nine in the spirit have +regretfully judged thee as lacking in faith, +and not having a sheltered apartment within +thyself, thou canst not shelter others. No +man can bequeath that which he hath not. +Go thy way, and in secret build thee a wall, +brick by brick, action by action; let none +see thy place but the eye that seeth all, +lest a side, when all but completed, fall, and +thou art again exposed to the four winds. +Take thy money, thine all, and when hesita<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>tion +interrupts, offer a prayer in thy heart, and +then faithfully follow! Farewell!"</p> + +<p>And the Dervish was led out into the street, +a lone and solitary man; he had his all in his +hand—a bag of gold.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="HOW_THE_PRIEST_KNEW_THAT_IT_WOULD_SNOW" id="HOW_THE_PRIEST_KNEW_THAT_IT_WOULD_SNOW"></a>HOW THE PRIEST KNEW THAT IT WOULD SNOW</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/acap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="A" title="A" /> +</div><p> Turk travelling in Asia Minor +came to a Christian village. He +journeyed on horseback, was accompanied +by a black slave, and +seeming a man of consequence, the priest of +the village offered him hospitality for the +night. The first thing to be done was to conduct +the traveller to the stable, that he might see +his horse attended to and comfortably stalled +for the night. In the stable was a magnificent +Arab horse, belonging to the priest, and the +Turk gazed upon it with covetous eyes, but +nevertheless, in order that no ill should befall +the beautiful creature and to counteract the +influence of the evil eye with certainty, he +spat at the animal. After they had dined, the +priest took his guest for a walk in the garden,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +and in the course of a very pleasant conversation +he informed the Turk that on the morrow +there would be snow on the ground.</p> + +<p>"Never! Impossible!" said the Turk.</p> + +<p>"Well, to-morrow you will see that I am +right," said the priest.</p> + +<p>"I am willing to stake my horse against +yours, that you are wrong," answered the Turk, +who was delighted at this opportunity which +gave him a chance of securing the horse, without +committing the breach in Oriental etiquette +of asking his host if he would sell it. +After some persuasion the priest accepted his +wager, and they separated for the night.</p> + +<p>Later on that night, the Turk said to his +slave: "Go, Sali, go and see what the weather +says, for truly my life is in want of our good +host's horse."</p> + +<p>Sali went out to make an observation, and +on returning said to his master: "Master, the +heavens are like unto your face,—without a +frown and many kindly sparkling eyes, and the +earth is like unto that of your black slave."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +"'Tis well, Sali, 'tis well. What a beautiful +animal that is!"</p> + +<p>Later on, before retiring to rest, he sent his +slave on another inspection, and was gratified +to receive the same answer. Early in the +morning he awoke, and calling his slave, who +had slept at his door, he sent him forth again +to see if any change had taken place.</p> + +<p>"Oh master!" reported Sali, in trembling +tones, "Nature has reversed herself, for the +heavens are now like the scowling face of your +slave, and the earth is like yours, white, entirely +white."</p> + +<p>"Chok shai! wonderful thing. Then I +have lost not only that beautiful animal but +my own horse as well. Oh pity! Oh +pity!"</p> + +<p>He gave up his horse, but before parting he +begged the priest to tell him how he knew it +would snow.</p> + +<p>"My pig told me as we were walking in the +garden yesterday. I saw it put its nose in the +heap of manure you see in that corner, and I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +knew that to be a sure sign that it would snow +on the morrow," replied the priest.</p> + +<p>Deeply mystified, the Turk and his slave +proceeded on foot. Reaching a Turkish village +before nightfall, he sought and obtained +shelter for the night from the Imam, the +Mohammedan priest of the village. While +partaking of the evening meal he asked the +Imam when the feast of the Bairam would be.</p> + +<p>"Truly, I do not know! When the cannons +fire, I will know it is Bairam," said his host.</p> + +<p>"What!" said the traveller, becoming angry, +"you an Imam,—a learned Hodja,—and +don't know when it will be Bairam, and the +pig of the Greek priest knew when it would +snow? Shame! Shame!"</p> + +<p>And becoming much angered, he declined +the hospitality of the Imam and went elsewhere.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="WHO_WAS_THE_THIRTEENTH_SON" id="WHO_WAS_THE_THIRTEENTH_SON"></a>WHO WAS THE THIRTEENTH SON</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/icap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="I" title="I" /> +</div><p>n the town of Adrianople there +lived an Armenian Patriarch, +Munadi Hagop by name, respected +and loved alike by Mussulman +and Christian. He was a man of +wide reading and profound judgment. The +Ottoman Governor of the same place, Usref +Pasha, happened also to be a man of considerable +acquirements and education. The +Armenian and the Turk associated much +together. In fact, they were always either +walking out together or visiting, one at the +residence of the other. This went on for +some time, and the twelve wise men who +were judges in the city thought that their +Governor was doing wrong in associating so +much with a dog of a Christian; so they resolved +to call him to account.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +This resolution taken, the entire twelve +proceeded to the house of the Governor and +told him that he was setting a bad example +to his subjects. They feared, too, that the +salvation of his own soul and of his posterity +was in danger, should this Armenian in any +way influence his mind.</p> + +<p>"My friends," answered the Governor, "this +man is very learned, and the only reason why +we so often come together is because a great +sympathy exists between us, and much mutual +pleasure is derived from this friendship. I +ask his advice, and he gives me a clear explanation. +He is my friend, and I would gladly +see him your friend."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the spokesman of the judges, +"it is his wise answers that act as magic upon +you? We will give him a question to answer, +and if he solves this to our satisfaction, he +will then in reality be a great man."</p> + +<p>"I am sure you will not be disappointed!" +said the Pasha. "He has never failed me, +and I have sometimes put questions to him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +which appeared unanswerable. He will surely +call to-morrow. Shall I send him to you or +bring him myself?"</p> + +<p>"We wish to see him alone," said the +judges.</p> + +<p>"I shall not fail to send him to you to-morrow, +after which I am sure you will often +seek his company."</p> + +<p>On the following day the Pasha told the +Patriarch how matters stood, and begged him +to call on the gentlemen who took so lively +an interest in their friendly association.</p> + +<p>The Patriarch, never dreaming of what +would happen, called on the twelve wise men +and introduced himself. They were holding +the Divan, and the entrance of the Patriarch +gave considerable pleasure to them. On the +table lay a turban and a drawn sword.</p> + +<p>The customary salutations having been duly +exchanged, the Patriarch seated himself, and +at once told them that his friend the Governor +had asked him to call, and he took +much pleasure in making their acquaintance,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +adding that he would be happy to do anything +in his power that they might wish.</p> + +<p>The spokesman of the Divan rose and said: +"Effendi, our friend the Governor has told us +of your great learning, and we have decided to +put a question to you. The reason of our +taking this liberty is because the Governor +told us that he had never put a question to +you which had remained unanswered."</p> + +<p>And as he spoke he moved toward the table.</p> + +<p>"Effendi, our question will consist of only +a few words." And laying his right hand on +the turban and his left hand on the sword, he +said: "Is this the right, or is this the right?"</p> + +<p>The Patriarch paused aghast at the terrible +feature of the interrogation. He saw destruction +staring him in the face. Nevertheless +he said to them with great composure: "Gentlemen, +you have put an exceedingly difficult +question to me, the most difficult that could +be put to man. However, it is a question +put, and now, according to your laws, cannot +be recalled."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +"No," answered the twelve wise men, rubbing +their hands, "it cannot be recalled."</p> + +<p>"I will but say that it grieves me much to +have to reply to this," the Patriarch continued, +"and I cannot do so without continued +prayers for guidance. Therefore I beg to +request a week's time before giving my +answer."</p> + +<p>To this no objection was made, and the +Patriarch prepared to go. Respectfully bowing +to all present, as if nothing out of the +common had happened, he slowly moved +toward the door apparently in deep thought.</p> + +<p>Just as he reached the door he turned back +and addressing the judges, said:</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, one of the reasons I had great +pleasure in meeting you to-day was because I +wished to have your advice on a difficult legal +problem which has been presented to me by +some members of my community. Knowing +your great wisdom, I thought you might assist +me, and as you are now sitting in lawful +council I shall, if agreeable to you, put the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +case before you and be greatly pleased to +learn your opinion."</p> + +<p>The judges, whose curiosity was aroused, +and who were flattered that a man of such +reputation for wisdom should submit a matter +to them for their opinion, signified to him to +proceed.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen and wise men," began the Patriarch, +"there was once a father, and this +father had thirteen sons, who were esteemed +by all who knew them. As time with sure +hand marked its progress on the issue of this +good man, and the children grew into youth, +they one by one went into the world, spreading +to the four known quarters of the globe, and +carrying with them the good influence given +by their father. Through them the name of +the father spread, causing a great moral and +mental revolution throughout the world. The +father in his native home, however, saw that +his days were few, that he had well-nigh +turned the leaves of the book of life, and +yearned to see his sons once more. He ac<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>cordingly +sent messengers all over the world, +saying: 'Come, my sons, and receive your +father's blessing; he is about to depart this +life, come and get each one your portion of +the worldly possessions I have, together with +my blessing, and again go forth, doing each +your duty to God and man.'</p> + +<p>"One by one the sons of the aged father +came, and once more were united in the +ancient home of their childhood, with the +exception of one son. The remaining days +of the old man were spent with his twelve +sons, and the brothers found that all of them +had retained the teachings of infancy, and +the pleasure was great. The reuniting of the +family, though of comparatively short duration, +was happier by far than the years of +childhood and youth which they had spent +together. Still the thirteenth son was not +found. The messengers returned one after +the other, bearing no tidings of him. The +old father saw that he could wait no longer, +that he must dispose of his worldly posses<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>sions, +give his blessing to his twelve sons +and rejoin his Father. So he called them +to his side and thus spoke to them:</p> + +<p>"'My sons, as you have done may it be +done unto you. You have cheered my last +steps to the grave, and I bless you.'</p> + +<p>"And the father's blessing was bestowed on +each.</p> + +<p>"'Of all I possess I give to each of you an +equal share with my blessing. You are my +offspring and the representatives of your +father on earth. It is my will that you +should continue as you have begun. You +are my twelve sons, and I have no other. +Your brother who was, is no longer. We +have waited long, that he should take his +portion and my blessing; but he has tarried +elsewhere, and now the hand of my Father is +on me, and as you have come to me, so I +must go to show Him my work.'</p> + +<p>"So the father ordained that the twelve +should be his heirs, and declared that any one +coming after claiming to be his son, was an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +impostor. He also confirmed in the existing +and competent courts that these alone were +his representatives on earth. This was duly +registered in conformity with the law, and +the old father passed away to rejoin his forefathers.</p> + +<p>"The twelve sons again went forth into the +world and carried with them the blessings and +teachings of their father, and these teachings +and ideas developed and grew, and the memory +of their father was cherished and blessed.</p> + +<p>"Many years after, a person turned up +claiming to be the missing son, and sought +to obtain the part due to him. Not only did +he wish his share, but he claimed the whole +worldly possessions of his father, that he was +the son blessed by his father, and exhorted +all to follow his teachings. By those who +knew the circumstances, he was not believed; +but many were ignorant of the father, and +also ignorant of the registering in the courts +of law, and were inclined to believe in the +impostor.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +"Now, gentlemen, this is the case that has +troubled me much. As you are sitting in +lawful council, it would give me much pleasure +if you could cast light on the case. Your +statement will help me, and I will be ever +grateful to you. Had this son, the late returned +person, any right to all the worldly +possessions of the father, or, in fact, even any +right to an equal share?"</p> + +<p>Thus having spoken he turned to the Hodjas +with an inquiring look. They one and all, +unanimously, and in a breath said, that all +the legal formalities having been carried out, +the will of the father was law, and the law +he passed should be respected, therefore the +thirteenth son was an impostor. On returning +he should have gone to his brothers, and +no doubt he would have been received as a +brother, but he acted otherwise. He should +receive nothing.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see that you look at it in +that light, and I will now say that that has +always been my opinion, but your statement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +now adds strength to the conviction, and had +there been any doubt on my part, your unanimous +declaration would have dispelled it. I +would further esteem it a great kindness and +a favor if, as a reference and as a proof of +my authority, or rather as a corroboration of +many proofs, you would, as you are sitting in +lawful Divan, give your signatures to the effect +that the decision of the learned council was +unanimous, and to this said effect, that the +thirteenth son was an impostor, and had no +right to any of the possessions he claimed."</p> + +<p>Flattered that their opinion had such +weight, the judges also consented to do this, +and the Patriarch set about drawing up the +case. This he read to them, and each put +his hand and seal to the document.</p> + +<p>The Patriarch thanked them and departed.</p> + +<p>A week had passed, and the judges had entirely +forgotten the case that had been put to +them, but they had not forgotten the Patriarch, +and eagerly awaited his answer to their +question which left no alternative, and which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +would cause his head to be separated from his +body by a blow of the executioner. But +the Patriarch did not make his appearance, +and as the prescribed time had passed, the +judges went to the Governor to see what steps +should be taken.</p> + +<p>The Governor was deeply grieved when the +judges told him of the terrible question they +had put to the Patriarch, yet remembering +leaving that morning the Patriarch who had +been with him, and who seemed in no wise +anxious, he said that he was convinced that +either a satisfactory answer had been given or +would be forthcoming. He questioned the +Hodjas as to what had taken place, and they +answered that nothing had been said beyond +the question that had been put to him and +his request for a week's time in which to +answer.</p> + +<p>"Did he say nothing at all," asked the +Pasha, "before he left?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," said the spokesman of the +judges, "except that he put to us a case<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +which he had been called on to decide and +asked our opinion."</p> + +<p>"What was this case?" asked the Pasha. +And the judges recited it to him, told what +opinion they had given, and stated that they +had, at the Patriarch's request and for his use, +placed their seal to this opinion.</p> + +<p>"Go home, you heads of asses," said the +Governor, "and thank Allah that it is to a +noble and a great man who would make no +unworthy use of it that you have delivered a +document testifying that Mohammed is an +impostor. In future, venture not to enter into +judgment with men whom it has pleased God +to give more wit than to yourselves."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="PARADISE_SOLD_BY_THE_YARD" id="PARADISE_SOLD_BY_THE_YARD"></a>PARADISE SOLD BY THE YARD</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/tcap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div><p>he chief Imam of the Vilayet +of Broussa owed to a Jew money-lender +the sum of two hundred +piasters. The Jew wanted his +money and would give no rest to the Imam. +Daily he came to ask for it, but without success. +The Jew was becoming very anxious +and determined to make a great effort. Not +being able to take the Imam to court, he decided +to try and shame him into paying +the sum due; and to effect this, he came, +sat on his debtor's doorstep and bewailed his +sad fate in having fallen into the hands of a +tyrant. The Imam saw that if this continued, +his reputation as a man of justice would be +considerably impaired, so he thought of a plan +by which to pay off his creditor. Calling the +Jew into his house, he said:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +"Friend, what wilt thou do with the money +if I pay thee?"</p> + +<p>"Get food, clothe my children, and advance +in my business," answered the Jew.</p> + +<p>"My friend," said the Imam, "thy pitiful +position awakens my compassion. Thou art +gathering wealth in this world at the cost of +thy soul and peace in the world to come; and +I wish I could help thee. I will tell thee what +I will do for thee. I would not do the same +thing for any other Jew in the world, but thou +hast awakened my commiseration. For the +debt I owe thee, I will sell thee two hundred +yards of Paradise, and being owner of this +incomparable possession in the world to come, +thou canst fearlessly go forth and earn as much +as possible in this world, having already made +ample provision for the next."</p> + +<p>What could the Jew do but take what the +Imam was willing to give him? So he accepted +the deed for the two hundred yards of +Paradise. A happy thought now struck the +Jew. He set off and found the tithe-collector<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +of the revenues of the mosque, and made +friends with him. He then explained to him, +when the intimacy had developed, how he was +the possessor of a deed entitling him to two +hundred yards of Paradise, and offered the +collector a handsome commission if he would +help him in disposing of it. When the money +had been gathered for the quarter, the collector +came and discounted the Imam's document, +returning it to him as two hundred +piasters of the tithes collected, with the statement +that this document had been given to +him by a peasant, and that bearing his holy +seal, he dared not refuse it.</p> + +<p>The Imam was completely deceived, and +thought that the Jew had sold the deed at a +discount to some of his subjects who were in +arrears, and of course had to receive it as +being as good as gold. Nevertheless the Jew +was not forgotten, and the Imam determined +to have him taken into court and sentenced if +possible. His charge against the Jew was that +he, the chief priest of the province, had taken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +pity on this Jew, thinking what a terrible thing +it was to know no future, and as the man +hitherto had an irreproachable character, in +consideration of a small debt he had against +the church, which it was desirable to balance, +he thought he would give this Jew two hundred +yards of Paradise, which he did.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen, this ungrateful dog sold +this valuable document, and it was brought +back to me as payment of taxes in arrears due +to the church. Therefore, I say that this Jew +has committed a great sin and ought to be +punished accordingly."</p> + +<p>The Cadis now turned to hear the Jew, who, +the personification of meekness, stood as if +awaiting his death sentence. With the most +innocent look possible, the Jew replied, when +the Cadis asked him what he had to say for +himself:</p> + +<p>"Effendim, it is needless to say how I appreciate +the kindness of our Imam, but the +reason that I disposed of that valuable document +was this: When I went to Paradise I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +found a seat, and measured out my two hundred +yards, and took possession of the further +inside end of the bench. I had not been +there long when a Turk came and sat beside +me. I showed him my document and protested +against his taking part of my seat; but, +gentlemen, I assure you it was altogether useless; +the Turks came and came, one after the +other, till, to make a long story short, I fell +off at the other end of the seat, and here I +am. The Turks in Paradise will take no heed +of your document, and either will not recognize +the authority of the Imam, or will not let +the Jews enter therein.</p> + +<p>"Effendim, what could I do but come +back and sell the document to men who could +enter Paradise, and this I did."</p> + +<p>The Cadis, after consulting, gave judgment +as follows:</p> + +<p>"We note that you could not have done anything +else but sell the two hundred yards of +Paradise, and the fact that you cannot enter +there is ample punishment for the wrong<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +committed; but there is still a grievous +charge against you, which, if you can clear to +our satisfaction, you will at once be dismissed. +How much did the document cost +you and what did you sell it for?"</p> + +<p>"Effendim, it cost me two hundred piasters, +and I sold it for two hundred piasters."</p> + +<p>This statement having been proved by producing +the deed in question, and the tithe-collector +who had given it to the Imam for +two hundred piasters, the Jew was acquitted.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="JEW_TURNED_TURK" id="JEW_TURNED_TURK"></a>JEW TURNED TURK</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/scap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="S" title="S" /> +</div><p>irkedji, the landing-place on the +Stamboul side of the Golden Horn, +is always a scene of bustle and +noise. The Caiquedjis, striving +for custom, cry at the top of their voices: +"I am bound for Haskeuy; I can take another +man; my fare is a piaster!"</p> + +<p>Others call in lusty tones, that they are bound +for Karakeuy. Further out in the stream are +other caiques, bound for more distant places, +some with a passenger or two, others without. +In one of these sat a Jew patiently waiting, +while the Caiquedji, standing erect, backed +in and out, every now and then calling at the +top of his voice: 'Iuskidar,' meaning that he +was bound for Scutari, on the Asiatic shore.</p> + +<p>At last a Mussulman signed to him to ap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>proach, +and inquired his fare. After some +bargaining, the Turk entered the caique, and +the boatman still held on to the pier in the +hope of securing a third passenger, which, +after a very short time, he did. The third +passenger happened to be a Jew, who had forsaken +his faith for that of Islam.</p> + +<p>This converted individual saw at a glance +that one of his fellow-passengers was a Moslem +and the other a Jew, and wishing to gain +favor in the eyes of the former, he called the +other a 'Yahoudi' (meaning Jew, but usually +employed as a term of disdain) and told him +to make room for him. This the Jew meekly +did, without a murmur, and the Caiquedji +bent his oars for the Asiatic shore. The converted +Jew and the Turk started a conversation, +which they kept up till within a short distance +of Scutari, when the Turk turned and said to +the Jew, who had humbly been sitting on the +low seat with bowed head and closed eyes:</p> + +<p>"And what have you to say on the subject, +Moses?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +"Alas! Pasha Effendi," answered the Jew, +"I have been asleep, and have not followed +your conversation; and if I had, what worth +could my opinion be, I, a poor Jew?"</p> + +<p>The converted Jew then said: "At least, you +can tell us, to pass the time, where you have +been in your sleep?" and he burst out laughing, +thinking it a capital joke.</p> + +<p>"I dreamt I was in Paradise," replied the +poor Jew. "Oh! it was wonderful! There +were three great golden gates, and on the +inside, at the side of the keeper of each gate, +stood Mohammed at one, Moses at the other, +and Jesus at the third. No one was allowed +to pass into Paradise, unless Mohammed, +Moses, or Jesus gave the order that they +should pass. At Mohammed's gate a man +knocked, and on being opened, the keeper +asked:</p> + +<p>"'What is your name?' to which he replied, +'Ahmet.'</p> + +<p>"'And your father's name?' again asked +the keeper. 'Abdullah.'</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +"And the prophet signed with his hand that +he might enter.</p> + +<p>"I then went to the gate where Jesus stood, +and heard the same questions put to an applicant. +He told the keeper that his name was +Aristide, and that his father's name was Vassili, +and Jesus permitted him to enter.</p> + +<p>"Hearing a loud knocking at Mohammed's +gate again, I hurried to see who the important +comer was. There stood a man of confident +mien, who proudly answered that his name was +Hussein Effendi.</p> + +<p>"'And your father's name?' asked the +keeper. 'Abraham,' replied Hussein. At +this Mohammed said: 'Shut the door; you +can't enter here; mixtures will not do.'"</p> + +<p>"Eh! What happened next?" asked the Turk.</p> + +<p>"Just then, as the gate was shutting, I heard +your voice and I awoke, Pasha Effendi," +answered the Jew; "and so I can't tell you."</p> + +<p>And as they approached the Scala (landing), +they disembarked at Scutari and separated +without a word.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_METAMORPHOSIS" id="THE_METAMORPHOSIS"></a>THE METAMORPHOSIS</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/hcap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="H" title="H" /> +</div><p>ussein Agha was much troubled +in spirit and mind. He had +saved a large sum of money in +order that he might make the +pilgrimage to Mecca. What troubled him +was, that after having carefully provided for +all the expenses of this long journey there +still remained a few hundred piasters over and +above. What was he to do with these? True, +they could be distributed amongst the poor, +but then, might not he, on his return, require +the money for even a more meritorious +purpose?</p> + +<p>After much consideration, he decided that +it was not Allah's wish that he should at once +give this money in charity. On the other +hand, he felt convinced that he should not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +give it to a brother for safe keeping, as he +might be inspired, during Hussein's pilgrimage, +to spend it on some charitable purpose. +After a time he thought of a kindly Jew who +was his neighbor, and decided to leave his +savings in the hands of this man, to whom +Allah had been good, seeing that his possessions +were great. After mature thought he +decided not to put temptation in the way of +his neighbor. He therefore secured a jar, at +the bottom of which he placed a small bag +containing his surplus of wealth, and filled +it with olives. This he carried to his neighbor, +and begged him to take care of it for him. +Ben Moïse of course consented, and Hussein +Agha departed on his pilgrimage, contented.</p> + +<p>On his return from the Holy Land, Hussein, +now a Hadji, repaired to Ben Moïse and +asked for his jar of olives, and at the same +time presented Ben Moïse with a rosary of +Yemen stones, in recognition of the service +rendered him in the safe keeping of the +olives, which, he said, were exceptionally<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +palatable. Ben Moïse thanked him, and +Hadji Hussein departed with his jar, well +satisfied.</p> + +<p>During the absence of Hussein Agha, it +happened that Ben Moïse had some distinguished +visitors, to whom, as is the Eastern +custom, he served raki. Unfortunately, however, +he had no mézé (appetizer) to offer, as +is also the custom in the East. Ben Moïse +bethought him of the olives and immediately +went to the cellar, opened the jar, and extracted +some of them, saying: "Olives are not +rare; Hussein will never know the difference +if I replace them."</p> + +<p>The olives were found excellent, and Ben +Moïse again and again helped his friends to +them. Great was his surprise when he found +that instead of olives, he brought forth a bag +containing a quantity of gold. Ben Moïse +could not understand this phenomenon, but +appropriated the gold and held his peace.</p> + +<p>Arriving home, poor Hussein Agha was distracted +to find that his jar contained nothing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +but olives. Vainly did he protest to Ben +Moïse.</p> + +<p>"My friend," he would reply, "you gave me +the jar, saying it contained olives. I believed +you and kept the jar safe for you. Now you +say that in the jar you had put some money +together with the olives; perhaps you did, but +is not that the jar you gave me? If, as you +say, there was gold in the jar and it is now +gone, all I can say is, the stronger has overcome +the weaker, and that in this case the gold has +either been converted into olives or into oil. +What can I do? The jar you gave me I returned +to you."</p> + +<p>Hadji Hussein admitted this, and fully +appreciated that he had no case against the +Jew, so saying: 'Chok shai!' he returned to +his home.</p> + +<p>That night Hussein mingled in his prayers a +vow to recover his gold at no matter what cost +or trouble.</p> + +<p>In his younger days Hadji Hussein had +been a pipe-maker, and many were the chi<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>books +of exceptional beauty that he had made. +Go but to the potters' lane at Tophane, and +the works of art displayed by the majority of +them have been fashioned by the hands of +Hussein. The art that had fed him for years +was now to be the means of recovering his +money.</p> + +<p>Hadji Hussein daily met Ben Moïse but he +never again referred to the money, and further, +Hussein's sons were always in company +with Ben Moïse's only son, a lad of ten.</p> + +<p>Time passed, and Ben Moïse entirely forgot +about the jar, olives, and gold; not so Hadji +Hussein. He had been working. First he +had made an effigy of Ben Moïse. When he +had completed this image to his satisfaction, +he dressed it in the identical manner and +costume the Jew habitually wore. He then +purchased a monkey. This monkey was kept +in a cage opposite the effigy of Ben Moïse. +Twice a day regularly the monkey's food was +placed on the shoulders of the Jew, and Hussein +would open the cage, saying: "Babai git"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +(go to your father). At a bound the monkey +would plant himself on the shoulders of the +Jew, and would not be dislodged until its +hunger had been satisfied.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Hadji Hussein and Ben +Moïse were greater friends than ever, and +their children were likewise playmates. One +day Hussein took Ben Moïse's son to his +Harem and told him, much to the lad's joy, +that he was to be their guest for a week. +Later on Ben Moïse called on Hadji Hussein +to know the reason of his son's not returning +as usual at sundown.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my friend," said Hussein, "a great +calamity has befallen you! Your son, alas! +has been converted into a monkey, a furious +monkey! So furious that I was compelled to +put him into a cage. Come and see for +yourself."</p> + +<p>No sooner did Ben Moïse enter the room in +which the caged monkey was, than it set up +a howl, not having had any food that day. +Poor Ben Moïse was thunderstruck, and Hadji<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +Hussein begged him to take the monkey +away.</p> + +<p>Next day Hussein was summoned to the +court, the case of Ben Moïse was heard, and +the Hadji was ordered to return the child at +once. This he vowed he could not do, and +to convince the judges he offered to bring the +monkey caged as it was to the court, and, +Inshallah, they would see for themselves that +the child of the Jew had been converted into +a monkey. This was ultimately agreed to, +and the monkey was brought. Hadji Hussein +took special care to place the cage opposite +Ben Moïse, and no sooner did the monkey +catch sight of him than it set up a scream, +and the judges said: 'Chok shai!' Hussein +Agha then opened the cage door, saying: "Go +to your father," and the monkey with a bound +and a yell embraced Ben Moïse, putting his +head, in search of food, first on one shoulder +of the Jew and then on the other. The judges +were thunderstruck, and declared their incompetency +to give judgment in such a case. Ben<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +Moïse protested, saying that it was against the +laws of nature for such a metamorphosis to +take place, whereupon Hadji Hussein told the +judges of an analogous instance of some gold +pieces turning into olives, and called upon +Ben Moïse to witness the veracity of his statement. +The judges, much perplexed, dismissed +the case, declaring that provision had not been +made in the law for it, and there being no +precedent to their knowledge they were incompetent +to give judgment.</p> + +<p>Leaving the court, Hadji Hussein informed +Ben Moïse that there would still be pleasure +and happiness in this world for him, provided +he could reconvert the olives into gold. +Needless to add that Ben Moïse handed the +money to Hadji Hussein, and the heir of Ben +Moïse returned to his home none the worse +for his transformation.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_CALIF_OMAR" id="THE_CALIF_OMAR"></a>THE CALIF OMAR</h2> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/tcap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div><p>he Calif Omar, one of the first +Califs after the Prophet, is deeply +venerated to this day, and is continually +quoted as a lover of truth +and justice. Often in the face of appalling +evidence he refrained from judgment, thus +liberating the innocent and punishing the +guilty. The following is given as an example +of his perseverance in fathoming a murder.</p> + +<p>At the feast of the Passover, a certain Jew +of Bagdad had sacrificed his sheep and was +offering up his prayers, when suddenly a dog +came in, and snatching up the sheep's head +ran off with it. The Jew pursued in hot haste, +in his excitement still carrying the bloody +knife and wearing his besmeared apron. The +dog, carrying the sheep's head, rushed into an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +open doorway, followed closely by the Jew. +The Jew in his hurried pursuit fell over the +body of what proved to be a murdered man. +The murder was laid against the Jew, and +witnesses swore that they had seen him coming +out of the house covered with blood, and in +his hand a bloody dagger. The Jew was arrested +and tried, but with covered head he +swore by his forefathers and children that he +was innocent. Omar would not condemn +him as none of the witnesses had seen the +Jew do the deed, and until further evidence +had been given to prove his guilt the case +was adjourned. Spies and detectives, unknown +to anybody, were put to track the +murderers. After a time they were discovered, +condemned, put to death, and the Jew +liberated.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="KALAIDJI_AVRAM_OF_BALATA" id="KALAIDJI_AVRAM_OF_BALATA"></a>KALAIDJI AVRAM OF BALATA</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/bcap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="B" title="B" /> +</div><p>alata, situated on the Golden +Horn, is mostly inhabited by +Jews of the poorer classes, who +make their livelihood as tinsmiths, +tinkers, and hawkers.</p> + +<p>Here, in the early days when the Janissaries +flourished, there lived a certain tinsmith +called Kalaidji Avram. Having rather an +extensive business, his neighbors, especially +those who lived nearest, were always complaining +of the annoying smoke and disagreeable +odor of ammonia which he used in tinning +his pots and pans.</p> + +<p>Opposite Avram's place the village guard-house +was situated, and the chief, a Janissary, +often had disputes with Avram about the +smoke. Avram would invariably reply: "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +have my children to feed and I must work; +and without smoke I cannot earn their daily +bread."</p> + +<p>The Janissary, much annoyed, cultivated a +dislike for Avram and a thirst for revenge.</p> + +<p>It happened that a Jew one day came to the +Janissary and said to him: "Do you want to +make a fortune? if so, you have the means of +doing this, provided you will agree to halve +with me whatever is made."</p> + +<p>The Janissary, on being assured that he had +but to say a word or two to a person he would +designate and the money would be forthcoming, +accepted the conditions. The Jew then +said: "All you have to do is to go up to a +Jewish funeral procession that will pass by +here to-morrow on its way to the necropolis +outside the city, and order it to stop. It is +against the religion of the Jews for such a +thing to happen, and the Chacham (rabbi) +will offer you first ten, then twenty, and finally +one hundred and ten thousand piasters to +allow the funeral to proceed. The half will be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +for you to compensate you for your trouble and +the other fifty-five thousand piasters for me."</p> + +<p>This, as the Jew had told him, seemed very +simple to the Janissary. The next day, true +enough, he beheld a funeral, and immediately +went out and ordered it to stop. The Chacham +protested, offering first small bribes, +then larger and larger, till ultimately he +promised to bring to the worthy captain one +hundred and ten thousand piasters for allowing +the funeral to proceed.</p> + +<p>That evening, as agreed, the Chacham came +and handed the money to the captain of the +Janissaries. Then taking another bag containing +a second one hundred and ten thousand +piasters, he said: "If you will tell me +who informed you that we would pay so much +money rather than have a funeral stopped, +you can have this further sum."</p> + +<p>The Janissary immediately bethought him of +Avram, the tinsmith, and accused him as his +informant, and the Chacham, satisfied, paid +the sum and departed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +Avram disappeared nobody knew where. +The Chacham said that death had taken him +for his own as a punishment for stopping him +while on a journey.</p> + +<p>The accomplice of the Janissary came a few +days later for his share of the money. The +Janissary handed him the fifty-five thousand +piasters, and at the same time said: "Of +these fifty-five thousand piasters, thirty thousand +must be given to the widow and children +of Avram, and I advise you to give it willingly, +for Avram has taken your place."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="HOW_MEHMET_ALI_PASHA_OF_EGYPT_ADMINISTERED_JUSTICE" id="HOW_MEHMET_ALI_PASHA_OF_EGYPT_ADMINISTERED_JUSTICE"></a>HOW MEHMET ALI PASHA OF EGYPT ADMINISTERED JUSTICE</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/acap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="A" title="A" /> +</div><p> Jewish merchant was in the habit +of borrowing, and sometimes of +lending money to an Armenian +merchant of Cairo. Receipts were +never exchanged, but at the closing of an old +account or the opening of a new one they would +simply say to each other, I have debited or +credited you in my books, as the case might +be, with so much.</p> + +<p>On one occasion the Armenian lent the Jew +the sum of twenty-five thousand piasters, and +after the usual verbal acknowledgment the +Armenian made his entry. A reasonable time +having elapsed, the Armenian sent his greetings +to the Jew. This, in Eastern etiquette, +meant, 'Kindly pay me what you owe.' The +Jew, however, did not take the hint but re<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>turned +complimentary greetings to the Armenian. +This was repeated several times. +Finally, the Armenian sent a message requesting +the Jew to call upon him. The Jew, +however, told the messenger to inform the +Armenian merchant, that if he wished to see +him, he must come to his house. The Armenian +called upon the Jew, and requested +payment of the loan. The Jew brought out +his books and showed the Armenian that he +was both credited and debited with the sum +of twenty-five thousand piasters. The Armenian +protested, but in vain; the Jew maintained +that the debt had been paid.</p> + +<p>In the hope of recovering his money, the +Armenian had the case brought before Mehmet +Ali Pasha of Egypt, a clever and learned +judge. No witnesses, however, could be cited +to prove that the money had either been borrowed +or repaid. The entries were verified, +and it was thought that perhaps the Armenian +had forgotten. Before dismissing the case, +however, Mehmet Ali Pasha called in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +Public Weigher and ordered that both the +Armenian and Jewish merchants be weighed. +This done, Mehmet Ali Pasha took note of +their respective weights. The Jew weighed +fifty okes and the Armenian sixty okes. He +then discharged them, saying that he would +send for them later on.</p> + +<p>The Armenian waited patiently for a month +or two, but no summons came from the Pasha. +Every Friday he endeavored to meet the Pasha +so as to bring the case to his mind, but without +avail; for the Pasha, perceiving him from +a distance, would turn away his head or otherwise +purposely avoid catching his eye. At +last, after about eight months of anxious waiting, +the Armenian and the Jew were summoned +to appear before the court. Mehmet +Ali Pasha, in opening the case, called in the +Public Weigher and had them weighed again. +On this occasion it was found that the Armenian +had decreased, now only weighing +fifty okes, for worry makes a man grow thin; +but the Jew, on the contrary, had put on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +several okes. These facts were gravely considered, +and the Pasha accused the Jew of +having received the money and at once ordered +the brass pot to be heated and placed +on his head to force confession. The Jew +did not care to submit to this fearful ordeal, +so he confessed that he had not repaid the +debt, and had to do so then and there.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="HOW_THE_FARMER_LEARNED_TO_CURE_HIS_WIFE_A_TURKISH_AESOP" id="HOW_THE_FARMER_LEARNED_TO_CURE_HIS_WIFE_A_TURKISH_AESOP"></a>HOW THE FARMER LEARNED TO CURE HIS WIFE—A TURKISH ÆSOP</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/tcap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div><p>here once lived a farmer who understood +the language of animals. +He had obtained this knowledge +on condition that he would never +reveal its possession, and with the further provision +that should he prove false to his oath +the penalty would be certain death.</p> + +<p>One day he chanced to listen to a conversation +his ox and his horse were having. The +ox had just come in from a weary and hard +day's work in the rain.</p> + +<p>"Oh," sighed the ox, looking over to the +horse, "how fortunate you are to have been +born a horse and not an ox. When the +weather is bad you are kept in the stable, +well fed, groomed every morning, and caressed +every evening. Oh that I were a horse!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +"What you say is true," replied the horse, +"but you are very stupid to work so hard."</p> + +<p>"You do not know what it is to be goaded +with a spear and howled at, or you would not +accuse me of being stupid to work so hard," +replied the ox.</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you feign sickness," continued +the horse.</p> + +<p>On the following day the ox determined to +try this deceit, but he was stung with remorse +when he saw the horse led out to take his +place at the plough. In the evening, when +the horse was brought to the stable very tired, +the ox sympathized with him, and regretted +his being the cause, but at the same time +expressed astonishment at his working so hard.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my friend, I had to work hard; I +can't bear the whip; the thought of the +hideous crack! crack! makes me shiver even +now," answered the horse.</p> + +<p>"But leaving that aside, my poor horned +friend," proceeded the horse, "I am now +most anxious for you. I heard the master<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +say to-night that if you were not well in the +morning, the butcher was to come and slaughter +you."</p> + +<p>"You need not worry about me, friend +horse," said the ox, "as I much prefer the +yoke to chewing the cud of self-reproach."</p> + +<p>At this point the farmer left the animals +and entered his home, smiling at his own wily +craft in re-establishing, if not contentedness, +at least resignation to their fate, in the stable. +Meeting his wife, she at once inquired as +to the cause of his happy smile. He put +her off, first with one excuse then with another, +but to no avail; the more he protested, +the stronger her inquisitiveness grew. Her +unsatisfied curiosity at length made her ill. +The endeavors of the numerous doctors +brought to her assistance were as futile as +the incantations of the sages from far and +near, and as powerless to remove the spell +as were the amulets, the charms, and the +abracadabras conceived and written by holy +men. The evil prompting gnawed her,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +and she visibly pined away. The poor +farmer was distracted. Rather than see her +die, he at last decided to tell her, and +forfeit his own life to save hers. Deeply dejected, +for no man quits this planet without +a pang, he sat at the window gazing, as he +thought, for the last time on the familiar +surroundings. Of a sudden he noticed his +favorite chanticleer, followed by his numerous +harem, sadly strutting about, only allowing +his favorites to eat the morsels he discovered, +and ruthlessly driving the others away. To +one he said: "I am not like our poor master, +to be ruled by one or a score of you. He, poor +man, will die to-day for revealing his secret +knowledge to save her life."</p> + +<p>"What is the secret knowledge?" asked one +of the wives; and the chanticleer flew at her +and thrashed her mercilessly, saying at each +vigorous blow, "That is the secret, and if our +master only treated the mistress as I treat you, +he would not need to give up his life to-day."</p> + +<p>And as if maddened at the thought, he beat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +them all in turn. The master, seeing and +appreciating the effect from the window, +went to his wife and treated her in precisely +the same manner. And this effected what +neither doctors, sages, nor holy men could +do—it cured her.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_LANGUAGE_OF_BIRDS" id="THE_LANGUAGE_OF_BIRDS"></a>THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/tcap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div><p>here once lived a Hodja who, it +was said, understood the language +of birds, but refused to impart his +knowledge. One young man was +very persistent in his desire to know the language +of these sweet creatures, but the Hodja +was inflexible.</p> + +<p>In despair, the young man went to the +woods at least to listen to the pleasant chirping +of the birds. By degrees it conveyed to +him a meaning, till, finally, he understood +them to tell him that his horse would die. +On returning from the woods, he immediately +sold his horse and went and told the +Hodja.</p> + +<p>"Oh Hodja, why will you not teach me the +language of birds? Yesterday I went to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +woods and they warned me that my horse +would die, thus affording me an opportunity +of selling it and avoiding the loss."</p> + +<p>The Hodja was silent, but would not give +way.</p> + +<p>The following day the young man again +went to the woods, and the chirping of the +birds told him that his house would be burned. +The young man hurried away, sold his house, +again went to the Hodja and told him all that +had happened, adding:</p> + +<p>"See, Hodja Effendi, you would not teach +me the language of the birds, but I have saved +my horse and my house by listening to them."</p> + +<p>On the following day, the young man again +went to the woods, and the birds chirped him +the doleful tale, that on the following day he +would die. In tears the young man went to +the Hodja for advice.</p> + +<p>"Oh Hodja Effendi! Alas! What am I to +do? The birds have told me that to-morrow +I must die."</p> + +<p>"My son," answered the Hodja, "I knew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +this would come, and that is why I refused to +teach you the language of birds. Had you +borne the loss of your horse, your house would +have been saved, and had your house been +burned, your life would have been saved."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_SWALLOWS_ADVICE" id="THE_SWALLOWS_ADVICE"></a>THE SWALLOW'S ADVICE</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/acap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="A" title="A" /> +</div><p> man one day saw a swallow and +caught it. The bird pleaded hard +for liberty, saying:</p> + +<p>"If thou wilt let me go, thy +gain will be great, for I will give thee three +counsels that will hereafter be of use to thee."</p> + +<p>The man listened to the bird and let it go. +Flying to a tree close by it perched on a +branch, and said:</p> + +<p>"Hearken and give thine ear to the three +advices that will guide thee. The first is, do +not believe things that are incredible; the +second is, do not attempt to stretch out thine +hand to a place thou art unable to reach; and +the third advice I give thee is, do not pine +after a thing that is past and gone. Take +these my counsels and do not forget them."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +The bird then tempted the man, saying: +"Inside of me there is a large pearl of great +value; it is both magnificent and splendid, +and as large as the egg of a kite."</p> + +<p>Now, hearing this, the man repented at +having let the bird go, the color of his face +went to sadness, and he at once stretched out +his hand to catch the swallow, but the latter +said to the foolish man:</p> + +<p>"What! Hast thou already forgotten the +advice I gave thee, and the lie which I told +thee, hast thou considered as true? I had +fallen into thy hands, yet thou wert unable to +retain me, and now thou art sorrowing for +the past for which there is no remedy."</p> + +<p>Such are those that worship idols, and give +the name of God to their own handiwork. +They have left aside God Almighty, and have +forgotten the Great Bestower of all good gifts.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="WE_KNOW_NOT_WHAT_THE_DAWN_MAY_BRING_FORTH" id="WE_KNOW_NOT_WHAT_THE_DAWN_MAY_BRING_FORTH"></a>WE KNOW NOT WHAT THE DAWN MAY BRING FORTH</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/icap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="I" title="I" /> +</div><p>n the age of the Janissaries the Minister +of War, in all haste, called +the chief farrier of the Army and +ordered him to have made immediately +two hundred thousand horseshoes. +The farrier was aghast, and explained that to +make such a quantity of horseshoes, both time +and smiths would be required. The Minister +replied:</p> + +<p>"It is the order of his Majesty that these +two hundred thousand horseshoes be ready by +to-morrow; if not, your head will pay the +penalty."</p> + +<p>The poor farrier replied, that knowing now +that he was doomed he would be unable, +through nervousness, to make even a fifth of +the number. The Minister would not listen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +to reason, and left in anger, reiterating the +order of his Majesty.</p> + +<p>The farrier retired to his rooms deeply +dejected. His wife, woman-like, endeavored +to encourage and comfort him, saying:</p> + +<p>"Cheer up, husband, drink your raki, eat +your mézé, and be cheerful, for we know not +what the dawn may bring forth."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the farrier, "the dawn will not +bring forth two hundred thousand horseshoes, +and my head will pay the penalty."</p> + +<p>Late that night there was a tremendous +knocking at his door. The poor farrier +thought that it was an inquiry as to how +many horseshoes were already made, and +trembling with fear went and opened the door. +What was his surprise, when on opening the +door and inquiring the object of the visit, to +be greeted with:</p> + +<p>"Haste, farrier, let us have sixteen nails, +for the Minister of War has been suddenly +removed to Paradise by the hand of Allah."</p> + +<p>The farrier gathered, not sixteen but forty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +nails of the best he had, and, handing them +to the messenger, said:</p> + +<p>"Nail him down well, friend, so that he +will not get up again, for had not this happened, +the nails would have been required to +keep me in my coffin."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="OLD_MEN_MADE_YOUNG" id="OLD_MEN_MADE_YOUNG"></a>OLD MEN MADE YOUNG</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/icap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="I" title="I" /> +</div><p>n Psamatia, an ancient Armenian +village situated near the Seven +Towers, there lived a certain +smith, whose custom it was, in +contradiction to prescribed rules, to curse the +devil and his works regularly five times a day +instead of praying to God. He argued that +it is the devil's fault that man had need to +pray. The devil was angered at being thus +persistently cursed, and decided to punish +the smith, or at least prevent his causing +further trouble.</p> + +<p>Taking the form of a young man he went to +the smith and engaged himself as an apprentice. +After a time the devil told the smith +that he had a very poor and mean way of +earning a living, and that he would show him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +how money was to be made. The smith +asked what he, a young apprentice, could do. +Thereupon the devil told him that he was +endowed with a great gift: the power to make +old men young again. Though incredulous, +after continued assurance the smith allowed +a sign to be put above his door, stating that +aged people could here be restored to youth. +This extraordinary sign attracted a great many, +but the devil asked such high prices that most +went away, preferring age to parting with so +much money.</p> + +<p>At last one old man agreed to pay the sum +demanded by the devil, whereupon he was +promptly cast into the furnace, the master-smith +blowing the bellows for a small remuneration. +After a time of vigorous blowing +the devil raked out a young man. The fame +of the smith extended far and wide, and many +were the aged that came to regain their youth. +This lucrative business went on for some +time, and at last the smith, thinking to himself +that it was not a difficult thing to throw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +a man into the furnace and rake him out from +the ashes restored to youth, decided to do away +with his apprentice's services, but kept the sign +above the door.</p> + +<p>It happened that the captain of the Janissaries, +who was a very aged man, came to him, +and after bargaining for a much more modest +sum than his apprentice would have asked, the +smith thrust him into the furnace as the devil, +his apprentice, used to do, and worked at the +bellows. He afterwards raked in the fire for +the young man but he only raked out cinders +and ashes. Great was his consternation, but +what could he do?</p> + +<p>The devil in the meantime went to the head +of the Janissaries and the police, and informed +them of what had taken place. The poor +smith was arrested, tried, and condemned to +be bowstrung, as it was proved that the Janissary +was last seen to enter his shop.</p> + +<p>Just as the smith was about to be executed, +the devil again appeared before him in the form +of the discharged apprentice, and asked him if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +he wished to be saved; if so, that he could +save him, but on one condition only,—that +he ceased from cursing the devil five times +a day and pray as other Mussulmans prayed. +He agreed. Thereupon the apprentice called +in a loud voice to those who were about to +execute him: "What will you of this man? +He has not killed the Janissary; he is not +dead, for I have just seen him entering his +home." This was found to be true, and the +smith was liberated, learning the truth of the +proverb, 'Curse not even the devil.'</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_BRIBE" id="THE_BRIBE"></a>THE BRIBE</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/tcap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="T" title="T" /> +</div><p>here once lived in Stamboul a +man and wife who were so well +mated that though married for a +number of years their life was one +of ideal harmony. This troubled the devil +very much. He had destroyed the peace of +home after home; he had successfully created, +between husband and wife, father and son and +brothers, the chasm of envy wide and deep, +so wide that the bridge of life could not span +the gap. In this one little home alone did +he fail in spite of his greatest endeavor. One +day the devil was talking to an old woman, +when the man who had thus far baffled him +passed by. The devil groaned at the thought +of his repeated failures. Turning to the old +woman he said:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +"I will give you as a reward a pair of yellow +slippers if you make that man quarrel with his +wife."</p> + +<p>The old woman was delighted, and at once +began to scheme and work for the coveted +slippers. At an hour when she was sure to +find the lady alone, she went and solicited +alms, weeping and bemoaning her sad fate at +being a lonely old woman whose husband was +long since dead. She appealed to the lady +for compassion in proportion as she hoped for +the duration of the cup she and her husband +quaffed in undivided happiness. The lady +was very generous to the old woman, each +day giving her something; so much so, that +the thought that her good husband might +think her extravagant often gave her some +uneasiness.</p> + +<p>One day the old woman looked into the +shop-door of her benefactress's husband and +planted the first evil seed by calling out:</p> + +<p>"Ah! if men only knew where the money +they work for from morning till night goes, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +knew what their wives did when they were +away, some homes would not be so happy."</p> + +<p>The evil woman then went her way, and the +good shopman wondered why she had said +these words to him. A passing thought suggested +that it was strange that of late his wife +had asked him several times for a few extra +piasters. The next day, the old woman as +usual solicited alms of her victim. In the +fulness of her hypocrisy she embraced the +young lady before departing, taking care to +leave the imprint of her blackened hand on +her dupe's back. The old woman then again +went to the shop, looked at her victim's husband, +and said:</p> + +<p>"Oh! how blind men are! They only look +in a woman's face for truth and loyalty; they +forget to look at the back where the stamp of +the lover's hand is to be seen."</p> + +<p>As before, the old woman disappeared. But +the mind of the shopman was troubled and +his heart was heavy. In this oppressed state he +went to his home, and an opportunity offering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +he looked at his wife's back, and was aghast +to see there the impression of a hand. He +got up and left his home, a broken-hearted +man.</p> + +<p>The devil was deeply impressed at the signal +success of the old woman, and hastened +to redeem his promise. He took a long pole, +tied the pair of slippers at the end, and hurried +off to the old woman. Arriving at her +house he called out to her to open the window. +When she did this, he thrust in the +pair of yellow slippers, begging her to take +them, but not to come near him; they were +hard-earned slippers, he said; she had succeeded +where he had failed; so that he was +afraid of her and was anxious to keep out of +her way.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="HOW_THE_DEVIL_LOST_HIS_WAGER" id="HOW_THE_DEVIL_LOST_HIS_WAGER"></a>HOW THE DEVIL LOST HIS WAGER</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/acap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="A" title="A" /> +</div><p> peasant, ploughing his field, was +panting with fatigue, when the +devil appeared before him and +said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, poor man! you complain of your lot, +and with justice; for your labor is not that +of a man, but is as heavy as that of a beast of +burden. Now I have made a wager that I +shall find a contented man; so give me the +handle of your plough and the goad of your +oxen, that I may do the work for you."</p> + +<p>The peasant consenting, the devil touched +the oxen and in one turn of the plough all +the furrows of the field were opened up and +the work finished.</p> + +<p>"Is it well done?" asked the devil.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +"Yes," replied the man, "but seed is very +dear this year."</p> + +<p>In answer to this, the devil shook his long +tail in the air, and lo, little seeds began to +fall like hail from the sky.</p> + +<p>"I hope," said the devil, "that I have +gained my wager."</p> + +<p>"Bah," answered the peasant, "what's the +good of that? These seeds might be lost. +You do not take into consideration frost, +blighting winds, drought, damp, storms, +diseases of plants, and other things. How +can I judge as yet?"</p> + +<p>"Behold," said the devil, "in this box are +both sun and rain, take it and use it as you +please."</p> + +<p>The peasant did so and to very good purpose, +for his corn soon ripened and up to that +time he had never seen so good a harvest. +But the corn of his neighbors had also prospered +from the rain and sun.</p> + +<p>At harvest time the devil came, and saw +that the man was looking with envious eyes at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +his neighbor's fields where the corn was as +good as his own.</p> + +<p>"Have you been able to obtain what you +desired?" asked the devil.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" answered the man, "all the barns +will break down under the weight of the +sheaves. The grain will be sold at a low +price. This fine harvest will make me sit +on ashes."</p> + +<p>While he was speaking, the devil had taken +an ear of corn from the ground and was crushing +it in his hand, and as soon as he blew on +the grains they all turned into pure gold. +The peasant took up one and examined it +attentively on all sides, and then in a despairing +tone cried out: "Oh, my God! I must +spend money to melt all these and send them +to the mint."</p> + +<p>The devil wrung his hands in despair. He +had lost his wager. He could do everything, +but he could not make a contented man.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE_EFFECTS_OF_RAKI" id="THE_EFFECTS_OF_RAKI"></a>THE EFFECTS OF RAKI</h2> + + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/bcap.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt="B" title="B" /> +</div><p>ekri Mustafe, who lived during +the reign of Sultan Selim, was +a celebrated toper, and perhaps +at that time the only Moslem +drunkard in Turkey. Consequently, he was +often the subject of conversation in circles +both high and low. It happened that his +Majesty the Sultan had occasion to speak to +Bekri one day, and he asked him what pleasure +he found in drinking so much raki, and why +he disobeyed the laws of the Prophet. Bekri +replied that raki was a boon to man; that it +made the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the +lame to walk, and the poor rich, and that he, +Bekri, when drunk, could hear, see, and walk +like two Bekris. The Sultan, to verify the +truth of this statement, sent his servants into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +the highways to bring four men, the one blind, +the other deaf, the third lame, and the fourth +poor. Directly these were brought, his Majesty +ordered raki to be served to them in +company with Bekri. They had not been +drinking long when, to the glory of Bekri, the +deaf man said: "I hear the sound of great +rumbling."</p> + +<p>And the blind man replied: "I can see him; +it is an enemy who seeks our destruction."</p> + +<p>The lame man asked where he was, saying, +"Show him to me, and I will quickly despatch +him."</p> + +<p>And the poor man called out: "Don't be +afraid to kill him; I've got his blood money +in my pocket."</p> + +<p>Just then a funeral happened to pass by the +Palace buildings, and Bekri got up and ordered +the solemn procession to stop. Removing +the lid of the coffin, he whispered a +few words into the ear of the dead man, and +then putting his ear to the dead man's mouth, +vented an exclamation of surprise. He then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +ordered the funeral to proceed, and returned +to the Palace.</p> + +<p>The Sultan asked him what he had said to +the dead man, and what the dead man replied.</p> + +<p>"I simply asked him where he was going +and from what he had died, and he replied +he was going to Paradise, and that he had +died from drinking raki without a mézé."</p> + +<p>Whereupon the Sultan understanding what +he wanted, ordered that the mézé should be +immediately served.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>ON THE FACE OF THE WATERS.</h3> + +<h4>By FLORA ANNIE STEEL,</h4> + +<p style='text-align:center;'><i>Author of "Miss Stuart's Legacy," "Flower of Forgiveness," +"Red Rowans," "Tales from the Punjab," etc., etc.</i></p> + +<h5>12mo. Cloth. $1.50.</h5> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We have read Mrs. Steel's book with ever-increasing surprise and +admiration. It is the most wonderful picture. We know that none who +lived through the mutiny will lay it down without a gasp of admiration, +and believe that the same emotion will be felt by thousands to whom the +scenes depicted are but lurid phantasmagoria."—<i>The Spectator.</i></p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h3>TALES OF THE PUNJAB</h3> + +<h4>TOLD BY THE PEOPLE.</h4> + +<h4>By MRS. F. A. STEEL.</h4> + +<p style='text-align:center;'>With Illustrations by <span class="smcap">J. Lockwood Kipling, C.I.E.</span>, and Notes +by <span class="smcap">R. C. Temple.</span></p> + +<h5>16mo. Cloth, Gilt. $2.00.</h5> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"A book that will be welcomed no less eagerly by the children than +by students of folklore from a scientific standpoint is Mrs. Steel's collection +of Indian stories, entitled 'Tales of the Punjab.' They were taken +down by her from the very lips of the natives in some of the most primitive +districts in India. Yet these tales, handed down solely by word of +mouth from one generation to another, could hardly be distinguished +from those in a Teutonic collection like that of the Brothers Grimm; and +even closer examination serves only to impress upon us more strongly +than ever before the unity of the great Indo-European family of nations."—<i>Nashville +Banner.</i></p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h3>UNIFORM EDITION OF THE STORIES AND POEMS OF RUDYARD KIPLING.</h3> + +<h4>Seven Volumes. 12mo. Cloth. $1.25 each.</h4> + + +<h4>PLAIN TALES FROM THE HILLS.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Mr. Kipling knows and appreciates the English in India, and is a +born story-teller and a man of humor into the bargain.... It would +be hard to find better reading."—<i>The Saturday Review, London.</i></p></div> + +<h4>THE LIGHT THAT FAILED.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"'The Light that Failed' is an organic whole—a book with a backbone—and +stands out boldly among the nerveless, flaccid, invertebrate +things that enjoy an expensive but ephemeral existence in the circulating +libraries."—<i>The Athenæum.</i></p></div> + +<h4>LIFE'S HANDICAP.<br /> + +Stories of Mine Own People.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"No volume of his yet published gives a better illustration of his +genius, and of the weird charm which has given his stories such deserved +popularity."—<i>Boston Daily Traveler.</i></p></div> + +<h4>THE NAULAHKA.<br /> + +A Story of East and West.</h4> + +<p style='text-align:center;'>By RUDYARD KIPLING and WOLCOTT BALESTIER.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"What is the most surprising, and at the same time most admirable +in this book, is the manner in which Mr. Kipling seems to grasp the +character of the native women; we know of nothing in the English language +of its kind to compare with chapter xx. in its delicacy and genuine +sympathy."</p></div> + +<h4>UNDER THE DEODARS, THE PHANTOM 'RICKSHAW, +AND WEE WILLIE WINKIE.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>With additional matter, now published for the first time.</p></div> + +<h4>SOLDIERS THREE, THE STORY OF THE GADSBYS, +and BLACK AND WHITE.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Also together with additional matter.</p></div> + +<h4>BALLADS AND BARRACK-ROOM BALLADS.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Mr. Kipling differs from other ballad-writers of the day in that he +has that rare possession, imagination, and he has the temerity to speak +out what is in him with no conventional reservations or deference to the +hypocrisies of public opinion."—<i>Boston Beacon.</i></p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h3>THE MACMILLAN COMPANY,<br /> +<small>66 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK.</small></h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h4>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES</h4> +<p>Other than the corrections listed below, printer's inconsistencies in +spelling, punctuation, hyphenation and ligature usage have been retained:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">"to-morrrow" corrected to "to-morrow" (page 158)</span><br /> +</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Told in the Coffee House, by +Cyrus Adler and Allan Ramsay + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOLD IN THE COFFEE HOUSE *** + +***** This file should be named 30577-h.htm or 30577-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/5/7/30577/ + +Produced by Ritu Aggarwal and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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