The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1873-01-04


ming sparkle srsHni him The N#s
illmans slowly bowed their heads
10 token oi appreciation, bat uttered
not 4 word.
TIE jaggler continued hlssSploiis
without appearing 10 notice the nj
mirati3a be excited he nest took
4 pigeons egg from a small noes
basket. and placing i apfigh' on toe
table. struck u with the edge oi bis
sword without iniuring the she'll
An incredulous bysiauder took the
egg 10 examine il, but the slight
pressure Of his fingers served TO de.
stroy the frail object that bad re-.
sisted the blow Of the scimctar
Then, taking of bis Phrygian cap,
the prestidigitator disclosed q large
clear forehead shaded by locks of
ietty blackness. Placing upon his
bare head a helmet Of steel, which
he had Grst submitted TO the circle
for inspection, he made the curved
weapon fly around him with such
fearful velocity that ho appeared for
a moment to be envcloped within
the luminous circles it described.
Presently the sword appeared to de.
viate, and grazed the hair Of the
holder. The yataghan, which had
spared tho pigeons egg, had severed
in two the pyramid of steel.
The boldness of the young man
terrified the usually impassive
Turks; and, what yet more surpns.
ing, he made thom smile by the
amusing stories he related.
One of the most enthusiastic ad-
mirsrs of the performance was n
man apparently about forty years
cid, whose carpet was placed in the
first circle, and whose dress denoted
him to be of superior rank. 1t was
the Bostaugi-Bassa, superintendent
of the gardens to the grand signior
The tricks ended, tho young man
gathered up his implements as If to
depart.
"Stopm said the Bostangi. .Bsssa
"Slnce you are such mighty magi-
clan, will you tell mo the sultan's
favorite nower?"
"rhe poppy of Aleppo; il is red,
replied the juggler, without mo
ments hesitation.
"At what timo does the sultan
sleepY' resumed the Bostangi.
"Never!" said the juggler.
The Bassa started and looked
auxiously around, fearing lest other
ears had heard this answer. Then,
beckoning the juggler to approach
and lowering his voice, he asked
"Can you name the sultan's favorite
wife?"
"Assara:h," replied the divincr.
The Bostangl put his fingers on
his lips in token of silence, and NOV
ing away, said, "follow me p
The young man took up his yata-
CHAN, and, leaving the remainder OF
his effects to be carried by n slave,
followed his guide toward tho great
door of the palace.
The history of successive sultans
often presents little beyond the mel
ancholy spectacle of a throne at the
mercy Of lawless soldiery. NAH
moud was not the first of his race
who sought to free the seraglio from
those formidable guardians. soly-
man III. had also formed this peril
ous design, bnt he was put to death
by the janizarics, led by Mustapba,
bis uncle, who came from the Morea,
for the ostensible purpose Of defend.
ing the emperor, but in reality tc
seize upon his throne. The sultan
Mustapha, who had commenced hil
reign in such tragic manner, expe,
rienced all the anxiety and uneasi.
ness which must ever attend tho act'
of an usurperand tyrant. Sordid
suspicious and perfdious, he broke
through every promise he had made
to the janizaries. Instead Of donb
ling their pay, be diminished tin
stead Of les,ening the taxes b,
dubbed them.
At the time the juggler was anus
ing the subjects of his highness
Mustapha was seated cross-leggec
on bis diyan, seeking to drive ava,
his ennui by watching the column
Of fragrant smoke as they slowl,
rose from the tube OF his nargilch
The palace was silent. No nois
broke the stiffness save the fall Q
waters into the marble fountains an
the distant call Of the muezziu sum
moning to the duties Of the mosque
Shortly the hangings opposite th
dlyan we're gently raised, and ma
stood in respectful attitude befor
Mustapba.
"What wouldst thou?" asked tb
, sultan.
The Bostangi-Bassa II wa
|, hc--replied briefly, according to tn
custom Of tho seraglio: a juggle
stands without; be might pcrchanc
f amuse your highnets.
/. The sultan made an impatient sig
, in the negative.
"This man." continued the Bass
,, "knows strange things. lie ca
: read the future"
! "Let him come in"
, The Bostangi bowed Profound.
! and retired.
! Black slaves, armed with draw
, scimetars, surrounded the lmperii
; sofa when the juggler was introdn'
ed. After a slight salutatlon, Il
Young man leaned gracefully on b
/ yataghan, awaiting the orders Of I'll
. sultan.
,,r,t n1v Jnr.cJal Meet,