The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-04
A Little Story with a Little Moral.

From the Daily NetCs.
There is a story extant, written in most eX'
cellent French, concerning the father of the
present Bey OF Tunis, which, while it indicates
a barbaroas condition of society, and q serious
disregard of human lie under the Crescent,
still bears with it a moral that cannot escape
the rejecting mind This morose ruler, it is
said, was once waited upon by the Admiral
commanding the French fleet in the Mediter
ranean Sea, who paid him a visit of cere-
mony, accompanied by the chief officers
of his squadron. In all ante-chamber of the
palace, tunctionary of state met them and
with profound salams informed the Admiral
that his Royal Highness would shortly give
them audience, and begged that the visitors
would pardon his absence for short time, as
he was engaged at that moment in squaring
accounts with one of his ministers.
The Admiral, in response to this, declared his
willingness to await his Sublime Maiestys con-
venience. In so doing, both he and his officers
were struck with the mysterious sounds which
emanated from behind the velvet curtains which
led into the grand audience chamber. What.
ever might be the Bey's method of settling up
with his refractory Minister, it was evident that
that official, or somebody else, was taring badly
during the operation. But for the improbabillty
of the thing, IL would have appeared that that
adjunct to Government was subjected to the
rudest treatment in the way of blows and all
manner OF obiurgations.
After while, however, deathly silence
| superyened to the noise OF struggling behind
| the curtain, the drapery was drawn TO either
| side, and the Admiral and his suite appeared
before the Bey, who, seated on his throne,
| seemed from his flushed countenance and his
angry trown to have undergone no little excite
| ment. When the expressions of compliment
were got through with, and the Bey had grown
| little calmer, slave in attendance was ordered
TO remove the cloak from something lying at
| the foot of the throne.
The order was obeyed, and his Sublime
Mightness, directing the attention OF his visitors
| to It, Temarked:-"That carbon an hour ago,
! was my Minister of War. AT the time or your
| arrival was engaged in settling affairs with
| him. Last week indicated certain change in
| military affairs as the best, in my Judgment, for
| Tunis; and the man whose carcass is before you,
Notwithstanding the fact that he Is supposed to
| assist NV Government, advocated and as far as
he could, carried out exactly different policy.
For that reason, and for the good of this people,
| l have been compelled to satisfy Justice by
/ APPLYING the bastinado and the boWstring to
| hun. have only to add that gave him his
1 choice between a cup of poisoned coffee or
| stranglng and he chose the latter; and you
| will perceive that everything that could be
! done, consistently with honor, was done in his
| case.o
| AS we have before remarked this little Incl
dent in the Bey's history, while it has its dark
/ shades, has also its CLEANS of light. While we
| would naturally deprecate so sudden and alb
| rupt conclusion Of an official or ministerial
! career-even, for example, in the case of Mr..
| Stanton-it is not to be denied that the prompt
ness with which this halfbarbarous Prince dis.
| possessed himself of an incubus upon his ad'
ninistration, and an obstacle to his authority, il
| much to be commended And we cannot close
| the narrative of this brief story without de-
caring that it carries with 1t a most excellent
| moral for Christian rulers and, among them
| shall we say?-Mr. johnson.