Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-04-19

The young man took up his yataghan,
to be carried by a slave, followed his
guide toward the great door of the
palace.
The history of successive Sultans
often presents little beyond the melan
ancholy spectacle of throne at the
mercy of lawless soldiery. Mahmond
was not the first of his race who sought
to free the seraglio from these formid
able guardians. Solyman III. had also
! formed this perilous design, but he was
put to death by the janizaries, led by
Morea for the ostensible purpose of de-
| Tending the emperor, but in reality to
seize upon his throne. The Sultan Mus
tapha, who had commenced his reign in
such tragic manner, experienced all
the anxiety and uneasiness which must
ever attend the acts of an usurper and
tyrant. Sordid, suspicious, and per-
fdious, he broke through every promise
he had made to the janizaries, whose
creature, nevertheless, he was. Instead
of doubling their pay, he diminished it;
doubled them. He lived buried in the
depths of his palace, the care of which
he had confded to the Greek soldiery,
Notwithstanding the murmurs of the le
gitimate guards. The mutes, dwarfs,
and buffoons of the palace could alone
obtain access to his presence.
At the time the iuggler was amusing
| the subjects of his Highness, Mustapha
was seated cross-legged on his divan,
seeking to drive away his ennui by
watching the columns of fragrant smoke
as they slowly rose from the long tube
of his nargileh. A slave stood beside
him, holding feathered fan of various
colors. The buffoons of the palace had
vainly tried to extort smile from their
master The impassibility of the Grand
Signior gave them to understand that
their time was ill-chosen, and that
mirth would be dangerous; they had,
therefore, one after the other, quilted
the apartment, waiting to re-enter at
the good pleasure of the prince. The
palace was silent.
Shortly the hangings opposite the
divan were gently raised, and man
stood in respectful attitude before Mus
tapha.
"What wouldst thou ?" asked the
Sultan.
The Bostangi- Bassa-for it was he
replied briefly, according to the custom
of the seraglio
GA juggler stands without; he might
perchance amuse your Highness.
The Sultan made an impatient sign in
the negative.
"This man," continued the Bassa,
"knows strange things. He can read
the future"
Let him come in."
The Bostangi bowed profoundly and
retired.
Black slaves, armed with cimeters,
surrounded the imperial sofa when the
juggler was introduced. After slight
salutation, the young man leaned grace
fully on his yataghan, awaiting the
orders of the. Sultan.
"Thy name?" demanded Mustapha.
"Mehalle."
"Thy country?'
"Jugglers have no country"
"Thy age?"
81 was five years old when you first
girded on the sword of Ottoman"
"Whence comest thou?"
''From the Morea, signior," replied
the juggler, pronouncing the words
with emphasis.
The Sultan remained silent for mo-
ment, but soon added, gayly.
"Since you can read the future, will
put your knowledge to the proof. When
people know the future they ought to
know the past"
"You say right, signior. He who
sees the evening star rise on the horizon
has but to turn his head to view the last
rays of the setting SUM-
"Well, tell me how / made my ablu-
tions yesterday"
"The first with Canary wine, the Sec
ond with wine of Cyprus, and the third
with that of Chios."
The Chief of the Believers smiled and
| stroked his beard; he was indeed in the
habit of derogating in this respect as in
many others, from the prescription of
| the Koran.
"Knowest thou," replied the sover-
eign, whom the Zingaro's answer had
put into pleasant humor, "knowest
thou that L could have thee beheaded?"
"Doubtless,' said the juggler, un-
dauntedly, Gas you did the Spanish
merchant who watered his wine before
he sold it to you"
Mustapha applauded the knowledge
of the magician. He hesitated, never
theless, before he ventured to put the
dreaded question that tyrants, who are
ever superstitious, never fail to demand
of those who can read the stars.
"How long have to ive?"
The Grand Signior assumed per-