The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-16
THE PRESS.
Temple Bari
Arab HunOr.

The prophets strict temperance principles
lost him many a promising convert among his
contemporaries, and, as the reader will pres
entity see, did not materially beneht the morals
OF his followers later on. OF course, even in
pagan times, the evils of excess would occa-
sionally manifest themselves. and instances
are recorded Of the ancient Arabs. taking the
pledge on their own account. One notable ex-
ample was Keys, the son of Aslm, who was
brought round by very decided attack of the
"jumps" One night this warrior announced
his intention OF pulling down the moon, and
after several frantic leaps into the air for the
purpose, fell flat upon his face. Being after
ward told how his features had got bruised, he
wisely resolved to give up wine-bibbing for the
future. The sinners fall is the saints oppor-
tunity; SO, as might be expected, Arab litera-
ture is full of wise and sober men who have re-
proved their dissolute "betters;" here is one OF
the kind certain king went to visit mad
house and found there an intelligent-looking
youth who, after replying sensibly to
number of questions put to him, by the sover-
eign. at length addressed the latter, saying:
"You have asked me many things; I will now
ask YOU one At what period does a sleeper
enjoy his sleep most?" The king reflected
while and said "while he is actually Sleep
ing" That cannot be-" said the mailman,
"for he has no perception while asleep
s'Then, before he goes to Sleep" said the king.
"How can one enjoy anything" asked the
mailman, before it comes?'' "Then, SAID
the king, latter he has been asleep" NAY"
said the mailman, ga man cannot be said to
enjoy a thing that has passed away" So
pleased was the king with the others wit that
he determined to make a companion of him,
had table set out in front OF the window OF
the mad-house, aud babe his attendants hand
a cup of wine to himself and one to his mad
friend. "You drink your cup" said the latter
that you may become like me: but if | drink
mine, whom shall be like?" The king on
hearing this speech, threw away the cup and
remained total abstainer foreyermore. To
take case of less historical vagueness. The
Caliph Abdul Melik, son of Merwan, had a
favorite slave named Nasib whom he one day
invited to drink with him. Commander of
the faithful" replied the slave, 81 am not re-
lated to thee, have no authority over thee, and
have neither rank nor lineage. l am but
black slave whose wit and politeness have
earned me thy favor; now then, shall take
that which will rob me of both?" The Caliph
looked around for another boon companion.
These Oriental despots would stand great
deal from saint. One celebrated parsonage
of this class named Adult Husain en- Nuri saw
a vessel on the Tigris with thirty eaIthenware
Jars on board consigned to the Caliph el Mo'ta-
did, and being told that they contained wine,
went for them with boat pole and broke
them all but one. The monarch, enraged at
the loss of the liquor and the slight to himself,
sent for the offender and asked him sternly,
"Who made thee censor?' "He who made
thee Caliphr' was the reply, and the saint
was permitted TO go about his busnefs. Saints
and madmen are allowed more license in the
East than appears absolutely prudent, and
when las is frequently the case) the two char
aeters are combined in one person, and sharp
spear is given as a badge of Office las it always
is) that holy man is one to be avoided. know
this to my cost, having once been compelled
to dodge round and round in Jerusalem for a
good ten minutes holding on to thel wrong end
of a spear, while a grinning lunatic of intense
holiness kept jabbing at me with the other.