The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-06-30


domestic failure, Of course" "
You need notask the question a. You
say" replied, Simpson, c1nckinga walnut.
But il you ask am bound to say it IL 20
far like marriage in this countzy-it ia
sometimes domestic failure and some-
times not. Perhaps it requires more iude-
ment in selection; you have not only 70
please yourself, you know, but to please
your other wives.
:Goodness gracious!" said I, chow
coolly you talk about it! I hope no Eu-
ropean who happens to be resident in the
strange community ever gives in to the
''some do and some don't, was the re-
ply OF Simpson. Il lived in Persia with
one wife for fifteen years before gave
in" ;'
'What! you married second W.T., you,
first wife being alive?''
'"Just SO" was the unabashed reioinder.
Simpson swept the walnut shell: into a
corner OF his plate, and here helped him
self to sherry. Il have now four wives"
BLESS my soul and body" said l.. Fou,
wives?"
Eyes. The story Of my little n,enaoe
may seem in your ears rather curious. II
1t will not bore you III tell you about it. !"
mad no words to decline the offer,
even 1t wished it. My breath was fairly
taken away by Simpsons four wives.
The traveller that had liked his food I'M
cooked had given me rather a turn, but
that was nothing to this revelation of my
present companion, man we had ALWAYS
considered Of the highest responsibility.
and who my wife had even thought would
suit our Jane.
Well, 1t was o picnic party on the plains
near Bussora that the thing first came
about. My wife and were both present
at 1t, and my European notions preventing
my believing there could be the least mis-
understanding about it, since was already
married, l made myself very agreeable to 4
certain Persian Indy. She was neither
young nor pretty-just like what my wife
herself, indeed, had grown to be by that
tims-and no more thought of making her
my No. than--dear me!-of embracing
Mohammeaanism. My attentions, howey.
or, were misconstrued, and her brother.
being violent man in the Shah's cavalry.
and knowing had fairish income, insist
ed upon my becoming his brether-i in Jaw.
l believe that Irish marriages are often
brought about in the same way, SO there
was nothing in that. The popularity of
the case lay in my having wife already,
and one who was very resolute about nv
having another. spare you the trouble
that ensued. Between my No. wife on
the one hand and her sharp tongue, and
the officer of Spahis on the other, with his
sharp sword, l was placed in very un-
pleasant position, promise you. But in
the end married Khaleda. am sorry to
say that the two got on extremely i'll to-
gpther.
1t was said by a great English wit that
when ones wife got to be forty, one ought
to be allowed to change her for two TWEEN
ties like forty pound note, and dare say
that would be very nice: but unhappily I
had now two wives, each forty, it they were
a day, and there was no prospect of getting
them changed, or parting from them any
way:
"Pirouze and Khaleda led me a most un-
happy life: They quarrelled from morn
ing till night, and SO far as being able to
play of one against the other as secretly
hoped, was treated with great unkindness
by both of them. They were q matter of
consider able expense, of course, and very
little satisfaction. My position in fact be-
came intolerable; and as I could please
neither of them resolved to please myself
by marrying No. g."
"A twenty 1 suppose" said t, interested
in spite Of myself in this remarkable nara.
ton.
"Well yes-that is, she would have been
at twenty in England, but in Paris young
ladies' marry good deal earlier. She was
a charming creature and cost me-"
What! did you buy herr" cried t in as
constituent and horror.
swell no, not exactly. Her father, how
ever, insisted upon something handsome,
and there were heavyish fees to be paid to
her mother and sisters and to the governor
OF Bussora. The custom of the country is
curious in that respect. After ones second
wife considerable tax is levied by the gov
eminent upon marrying men. However,
Badoun was worth all the money; she sang,
she played divinely--thatis, she would have
done SO if she had not been always crying.
Plrouze and Khaleda made her life utterly
miserable. Hitherto they had been at dag
gers drawn with one another, but now they
united together to prosecute the unhappy
Eadoura. Her very life was scarcely safe
with them. Wretched as my former lot had
been, it was now become uncomfortable, for
one can bear ones own misery better than
that OF those We love-"
Here Simpson took out his handkerchief.
Of beautiful Persian pattern, and pressed
it to his eyes. Eyes, my dear friend they
led my Badoura dogs life did those two
women, felt mysalf powerless to protect
her, for was never physically strong: and
though did not understand one-half the
epithets they showered upon her, could
see by the effect they had upon her that
they were most injurious, what, I have no
doubt, would in this country be considered
actionablc. For her, however there was no
remedy, and think she would have sunk
under their prosecutions had not married
Zobeide."
mo. 4, cried I, aghast. what on earth
did you do that FORT"
I married Zobeide solely and wholly for
Badoura's sake. chose her, not for her
beauty, nor her accomplishments, but for
her thews and sinews. said to her: TO-
beide, you are a strong and powerful young
woman; it l make you my wife will you
protect my lamb? and she said, I will It
was the most satisfactory investment-I
mean the happiest choice-I ever made. Nv
home is now the abode of peace. In one
wing of the house abide Pirouze and Kha-
leda. in tue other Zobeide and Badoum-
two on the east side and two on the west.
Each respects the other; for although Pr
rouze and khaleda are strong females, and
each could wiring the neck of my Badoura.
Zobeide is stronger than both Of them put
together and protects her. Thus the oppos-
ing elements are, as it were, neutralized;
the eombatants respect the other, and I AM
the head OF united house. I got letters
from all my four wives this morning,
each OF them most Characteristic and inter
esting: Badoura forgot to pay the postage
she has soul above pecuniary details
and her letter was the dearest of ALL"
Don't cry, Simpson, said l; "dont CRY,
old fellow. The steamer goes on Tuesday.
and then you will see all your wives again
They will welcome you with eight out
stretched arms, like the octopus.
l confess was affected by my friends
artAess narration at the time, though since
l have reflected upon the matter, nay moral
sense has asserted itself, and is outraged.
state the matter IA fair1v 90 not, rho~o