Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-09-08
SILK in the Orient.

When the empire of the Saracens
was at Its zenith, silk culture and SILK
manufactures were added to the COM
merce of the farther East, which had
already proved large element of pros
perity. The Arabian tales are full OF
illusions TO silk. 1t was the material
of the tapestry hangings in the great
halls of thai enchanted castle where
the young king of the Black isles mis-
erably langu:shed, while he received
every day a cowhiding at the hands OF
his unfaithful spouse. The trade In
silks carried by caravans from ons city
to another is frequently alluded TO.
A merchant dying at Damascus left,
we are told, 100 loads of brocades and
other silks there, made up in bales,
ready to be sent to Bagdad, and the
narrative shows that the son felt 1t
matter of filial duty as well as good
business venture to carry out his fathers
project by travelling with the goods to
the Mosiem capital. The giddy youth Of
that day, if desirous to see the world,
usually made the grand tour in cara
van. Bales OF silk formed consider
able part of the riches of the robbers
cave, whose door yielded to the words
"Open sesame ~ and made the fortunes
of Ali Baba There is neat story OF a
practical joke practIsed by the Callph
Haroun Alraschid on an obscure citi-
zen of Bagdad. The man was supplied
by a powerful narcotic, and while in
this condition was carried into the pal
ace and put TO bed. The next morning
he was greeted with evory attention
and ceremony as the Commander of the
Faithful, while the real caliph watched
him through 4 lattice and enjoyed his
bewilderment. The fun was fast and
furious, but cane very near beng
spoiled by the uncomfortable mirth
that ensued when pair of silken draw
ers was handed to the sham caliph-he
had not been used TO such luXuries,
and he put on the garment as if II were
a jacket, drawing its legs over his
arms. In another tale, the pomp and
wealth OF the king of India are desert
bed by Sinbad the sailor in a sort OF
official report TO the caliph of Bagdad.
One OF the details is that LOCO men,
clad in cloth of gold and silk, march
before the oriental monarch The pat
Yl,air nrralirV hnra at
that time some definite relation TO the
rank of their user. Thus, il is related
of Zobeide that when in a strange city,
though ignorant of the language and
customs, by carefully studying a cur
tain OF silk stuff hung before gate
way. she discovered that this was the
entrance TO the palace of the reigning
prince Of the country. But ZObeide
was peculiarly qualified for this study
she was doubtless a good judge OF
silk. i small patrimony which she in
herited in Bagdad had been invested by
her in the business of rearing silk
worms. She was so prosperous in pro-
ducing and selling silk that she was
able TO restore the fortunes of each OF
her sisters when they came TO her,
successfully, in 4 state of beggary.
Eventually she became rich enough to
own and occupy "a magnificent house.
whose front was adorned with fine col
umns, and had gate of ivory" Har-
oun Alraschid, in disguise, shared the
hospiialites OF this mansion one eve
ming. He was charmed with its owner,
and made her his wife and the mistress
of his harem.