The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-01-30
f'2m the .Ne0 Monthly Magazine.
THE FOUR FOOLISH BRAHMTNs

7
PeSt vas to be given to the Brahmins, four
q @hon meeting on the road, agreed tc
perIoih the journey together. A solIie,
passing them saluted them, to which they
repliedby their blessing. The four Bra6-
mans Drthwlth began to dispute to which
i'oi then the soldiers salutation was address.
ca ! blt not being able to decide this
Weighll matter among themselves. it was
agfeedon that they should all run after the
soilier and ask him. After pursuino HIM
d leag'e, they came up with him ana pat
thelI question. The soldier provoked al
{ tiiiS 10Y, replied IN a moekIng tone, Why
I 'heu, saluted the greatest fool amonn
you" Though at first confounded at the
s@iulfFs decision, each was so unwilling to
i give up the honor Of the salute to another
That al elalmedthe superiority in folly: hui.
as fhey would only have proved their
Equality in it by coming to blows. tbevlde-
fermlned to submit the case to the decision
pr the Judges of the neighboring town Of
parmapOurg.
1t happened to be a court day, and all the
J(dges and Brahmins of the place we're as
semhed but, on hearing the cause. they
declared themselves unable to settle the
prEe otItolly to any of them, as-they were
all strangers, unless they should all detail
some lnldent Of their lives which should
prove PECULIAR eminence in stupidity. The
first accordingly began thus
= AM very i'll dressed, as you perceive.
and this is the cause. A rich merchant in
my nelEhhorhood one day made me a pres
ent Of two pieces Of very fine cloth. which
before using | washed to purify them, and
then lung them up on IA tree to drv. A
dogs passed by at this moment, but could
not perceive whether he had touched the
lne4 or net, nor did my children, who were
playing at a little distance. In order to as
sure myself Of the fact, knelt down on all
toufs, making myself about the dogs height.
and crawled under the linen.- Did /
touth:" L asked No" replied nv child
zen. But | reelected as the dogs tail was
turned uD, iemight by chance have touched
my linen; | accordingly fastened reaping
NOOK on my back, ami passed under it
Ihe hook touched; and convinced by this
that the dog must have profaned my linen
tore 1t IN thousand pieces. The adven-
ture spread, and every one called me fool.
- Even if the dog did touch your linen"
said some, "could not you have washed it
again 7" Why did YOU not rather give it
to the poor Soniras p t cried others AT
tel such piece of folly, who will ever give
you clothes MIXTURE ?" Their predictions
were just, for since that time, when | ask
tT hnen, TO tear in pieces, doubtless -
is always the reply
When the first Blahmin had ended, one
OF the auditors said, 1t seems then YOU run
we'll onyour hands and feet 20 You shall
see" replied he, and he scampered round
the hallln that posture, while the assembly
was IN commissions of laughter. The sec
ond thea spoke:
"Ont day being about to attend public
festlvalI had my head shaved. | desired
my wife to give the barler half penny. but
she by mistake gave him a penn~. / de-
mandedmy change, but this the barber re-
fused. However" said he, If YOU like, |
will shave your Wiie's head for tie disputed
I halipeniy." Very welI,,' | replied. Ac-
cordingy, held my wife, while the barber
shavedher head after which he decamped
and punished the afftir every where. 1t
was universally believed and said, that |
i. had surprised my wife with lover, and
had caused her head to be shaved as pun
lshmem; and to such a degree did this
story gain ground, that an ass was brought
to my door, on which 1t was intended las
usual II such cases. to parade nv wife
throughthe village. Her father and mother
arrived, and after abusing me grossly, car
RED OF their daughter; and to add to all
my mlstTtunes, missed the feast for which
had been preparing myself by three DAYS
last. Another repast was soon after an
nounceC, at which made my appearance.
and was received amidst the Kisses of all
presen, who insisted on my declaring who
was the lover Of my wife. 1t was in vain
that protested her innocence, and told Inv
own story. Did ever any one" they cried
hear OF husbands shaving his wife's
mead, but when lover was in the case
Either this man must be the greatest liar
orthe greatest fool that ever existed on the
ice OF the earth,""
When the second Brahmin had conclud-
ei, the third addressed the assembly: =
was formerly named Anantaya, but am
nov called Betet Anantaya, and the folloW-
M is the cause of my obtaining that nick
name; About IA month after my marriage
/ happened TO say to my wife that womer
'NNt'tNfo W w li' II sue ltpIGtls GNitlGIlJ-
| " alludlng to me, that there were some
men much more given to tattling than wo.
men, Plqued at this Ietort, said, 'Well
men, let us see which of us will hencefortt
speak first" with all my heart" replied
sue, -" but what shall our wager he ?" A
Leaf OF betel,''t said so the bargain was
made, and we went to bed. The next morn.
ing we did not make our appearance at the
usual hour; our friends called us severa
tunes and Knocked at our door, in vaiu.-
We persisted in our silence, till at last
alarmed lest we should have died suddenly
IN the night, they called a carpenter, anC
forced our door, when they found us alive
awake, and in good health, but both depriv.
ed OF speech. They were now convinced
that we were enchanted, and in order tC
remove the fatal spell, the most famous ma.