The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-09-02
The ] urklsh l Ierfume Seller.

The Turkish Ierfume Seller.
During my perambulations in Syria l
Was caught by the ingenious face of a
handsome Turk, who sat smoking on his
stall, with his legs coiled under him,
with an air of supreme complacency.
He was a vendor of the perfumes for
which "Araby the blest" is famous.
1t was pleasant TO stand and sniff the
mingled aromas that surrounded the
spot. Jars of various essences and
boxes of spiced shrubs emitted a fra
grance ravishing TO the nose. AS we
examined his sweet.scented wares, l
glanced occasionally at the owner,
whose countenance continued serene
and impassive. He might have passed
for statue, SO perfect was the repose
of his features and attitude.
There was not the least indication Of
solicitude as to our intentions. We
would buy if the prophet so ordained.
We purchased some altar of roses and
other extracts, which were no cheaper
than in Paris, but far more genuine.
After the parcels were made up felt in
clined to have some chat with our mer-
chant. Though sedate and reticent, as
all Turks are, yet there was frankness
in his visage that was encouraging, and
SO l bade my interpreter to ask him if
he could be tempted to leave Smyrna
and go to my country, where his rare
perfume would yield him ten times the
profit he could hope for here. At the
end of few years he might return to
the East a rich man.
A lock o. undisguised astonishment
overspread his face.
Whatw he exclaimed, "leave the
prophet to 60 among infdels! abandon
my home to accumulate money l do not
want! / have enough to eat and drink
and my pipe to smoke. i have a wife,
and, please Allah, 1 hope some day to
have another. What more have to
desireP ! am satisfied"
This sample of Turkish philosophy
was not little staggering.
"But, tell him." / continued, to the In
terpreter, THAT in my country he
would be under the protection of law,
where no oadi could either imprison or
bowstring him. He would be in
structed, have books and papers to
read, and might learn what was passing
in the world; also, in that happy
country, the padisha is chosen by the
people to govern them, and he could
take share in his election"
This enticing description of the advan-
tages of superior civilization were all
thrown away on the incredulous, if not
contemptuous, Turk. "What are these
things to meP" he answered. would
they make me happierP Could l eat or
drink more in your country than in
miner Could / smoke more or love
moreP My fathers have always lived in
this holy land. Why should / leave it
till Allah calls me away, when l shall 60
to Mohammed's paradise, where houris
innumerable await meP Do you think
l would give up this to go to your un-
known worldp"
l Felt that it was idle to hold out in.
tellectual delights or political privileges
as bats to the true son of the prophet,
whose faith in the Koran was implicit.
As was moving off l said with smile
he little knew what he lost by not
listening to my suggestions. Suddenly
a thought struck him, for, takin e tn
amber mouthpiece from his lips, he in
quired if women were cheaper in my
country than in Turkey. l told him
that no one in my land was allowed to
have more than one and then only with
her consent. This settled the business.
A scowi of unutterable scorn darkened
his fine physiognomy, and, replacing
his pipe, he raised his eyes to heaven,
evidently in a spirit of thankfulness to
Allah that it had not been his cruel fate
to be born in such benighted land
Chevalter WykOf.