Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-05-18


the Indispensable necessaries Of life, he
would spend the remainder of his small
pittance i'll oil.
After the prayer of sunset, which the
Turks call aXam Hamas, the honest cob
bier would prepare his Illumination
| Then, having taken his supper, he would
chat with his wife, smoke his chibouque,
and thrum ON his guitar, while his child
danced to the sound. Sometimes he would
sing to the full stretch of his lungs, ac-
cording 10 the Turkish fashion. At the
"iahi," or fifth prayer, which took place
two hours after sunset, he would retire to
bed.
In those times the Turkish cmperors,
accompanied by some officer of distinc-
ton, were often in the habit Of walking
in disguise, sometimes by day and some
times by knight, so that seeing with their
own eyes, and hearing with their own
ears, they might truly know the wants
and dispositions of their subjects, and
take their measures accordingly. Now
it happened that Bajazet the First, in pass
ing the domicil of Eskigi Mcimet Efendi,
had often been amazed with the brilliant
illuminations and the very loud songs of
that patriotic cobbler. Consequently, one
evening the Sultan and his Vzier, having
assumed the costume of dervlshes, stop
ped before the house, in which many lights
seemed to be burning, and knocked at the
door, A voice from within asked, "Who
is there ~ The two ilustrious persona
ges of the empire replied that they were
dervishes, who in the name Of God desired
hospitality. Eskigi Meimet Efendi an
swered by telling them to waita few min
ntes, till he found means of concealing
his wife, it being, as every one knows,
contrary to the customs of the Turks, to
admit man into the presence Of their
wives, unless he be near relation. The
poor cobbler was puzzled how he should
dispose of his better half. But being un-
willing to refuse hospitality to his visiters,
he thought it best to fix up the counter
pane in one corner of the apartment, as
sort of screen, behind which his wife
might retire. Having done this in the
neatest manner he could, he opened the
door to his two guests. After the "selam
alekim," or usual salute of the Turks, he
placed before them piece Of bread and
cheese, the remnants of his scanty sup
per, and a bowl of pure water. Then
succeeded the nargele or hubble bubble, a
pipe of serpantine form and Dimensions.
The GrandSeignor, latter partaking lightly
of the profered civilities of his host, ask
ed among other inquiries, the nature of
his vocation. Eskigi Meimet Efend re-
piled fully to all his questions, adding,
that his only pleasure after the labor Of
the day was over, was at knight to have
his house brilliantly Illuminated, and to
talk, dance, and sing with his wife, and
child, thanking the Almighty for all he
had done, and was doing, and more par
ticularly for having placed at the head of
the nation so wise and great an emperor,
for whose life, continuedthe cobbler, "my
wife and myself constantly pray, and un-
der whose reign we hope to die."
After some further conversation Eskigi
Meimet Efendi retired into his harem, or,
more literally speaking, behind the coun-
terpane, and left the sofa for his two
guests. At sunrise, after the sabah
namas, or prayer of the morning, the
Grand Seignor and his Vizier, quilted the
humble abode, where they had passed the
night, for the palace. On their way, Ba-
iazet converjed on the subject of their vis-
it, and remarked with how little a man
might be happy, alluding to the example
of the cobbler, who with few paras,
barely sufficient TO purchase necessary
food, had his illuminations, his music ard
dances, and believed himself the very
happiest Of men.
III wish," said the Vizier, /" that your
Highness would issue orders forbidding
all cobblers' shops from being open-and
all cobblers TO mend shoes until further
notice, under the penalty oil death. By
this means VIC can make The experiment,
whether the happiness of Eskigi Meimet
Efendi depends upon circumstance, or
whether he would retain his good spirits
under reverse of fortune" The Grand
Seignor was pleased with the suggestion,
and the talas or public criers were imme-
diately sent through all the streets in the
city, to proclaim, that, "By order of
the sublime Porte, all cobblers' shops
must be closed, and no cobbler must work
at his trade, until further notice.
Eskigi Meimet EAendi was in the bazar
of Bruso, collecting old shoes, when he
heard this proclamation. Quitting his
customers, he returned home hastily to
his wife, and told her the order of the day,
asking, in tone of despair, what they |
were to do at night for their Illumination!