Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-09-03

usurer to the bones, yet somehow left
him enough to resume in larger way
of business, much as is the case with
modern bankrupts made to disgorge.
There were writings on the wall, liter
ally, that another Dey might bring forth
something more satisfactory. Combined
with this state of things on land the
outlook to sea was cloudy. The Franks
English, French or American Qor that
almost unknown country at distance
showed its teeth PRESENTED the taxes
laid on their merchantmen and called
the corsairs pirates, and what was worse
for their necks, treated them as such.
Since there has been only one Dey reg
istered as having died in his bed, and
five were appointed and slain between
dawn and evening on an occasion fresh
in Muley's memory, he was more than
uneasy.
"I am the least happy man in my
city," he lamented to himself.
Which reflection, becoming monoto-
nous by frequent repetition, led him to
the opposite branch of the proposition ::
Who might be the happiest? With that
adventurous vein peculiar to potentates,
and most valuably exemplified in
Haround-al- Raschid, of story telling
fame, Muley skulked about the town in
order to learn the worst in store for him.
He was greatly vexed in his misery, but
more at finding the street of Bab-Azoum
choked up by laughing, iigging mob,
agitated by the music of q voice and a
violin in trumpery barber-shop.
1t is the halifax (barber), Giovanno
il Tintore, the happiest man in Algiers," P"
was the answer to his inquiries.
He had the barber brought before him
next morning, was enlivened by his
nswers and established him as the court
haver and hair-dresser.
Dyer took the new Office without a
tremor, and was so gay himself that he
infected the sovereign. For a space the
cloud was dispelled by the renegade's
chatter, his medicines and his songs, in
Mediterranean lingua, to English popu-
lar tunes.
"If can only get my vultures ont of
the way r said the monarch, with sigh
like Prometheus.
Unfortunately, though couple of
tribes were pointed ont as being rebel
lious, the janissaries said their marching
order was given only to get them out of
the city, and they would be "shot if
they would CO." 1t was no avail to ar
que with them that to be shot was what
they were hired for. They refused and
there he still was, surrounded by a
pack of Cerberuses unpacitiable with
sops.
Consequently the ruler, Muley only
in name, resolved to abdicate while his
head was on his shoulders, and sum-
moned his bravos around him. He OBJ
jected that his age was burdensome,
coughed from down in his slippers,
thanked them all with tears for their
love and devotion, and alleged the cares
of government for his desire to glide
away into some holy refuge where he
might prepare himself for the last.
"There is a quantity of brave war
riors among you from which the choice
of another Dey can be made. give up
my place and my palace to him before
hand"
With that he vanished is if by magic
profting by the general surprise to gal
lop off to the mosque on the heights of
Bab-al- Oued, where is enshrined mar
about, whose body, complete, is also
preserved in two other mosques by a
special miracle of Allah, whose prophet
is Mahomet.
When the guards had recovered from
their surprise they began to look around
for the successor and found as many can
didates as electors. Each was ready to
whip out his scimetar for his rights, and
the debate would have ended in an Ara
bian representation of the Kilkenny
cats, when the barber, unconscious of
the abdication, came in with his basin,
scissors, razors and strop. At the view
of this now important assemblage the
outcry was that Heaven had sent him to
cut the Gordian knot with his Sheffield
blade and decide on the 914th Dey.
Dyer knew most of the troopers as
boon companions, and took the proceed
ing for practical joke. So he gravely
squatted down on the Bashaw's ottoman,
and assumed the position of King Solo
mon in print in the London and COat'a-
ty Magazine, which he had framed and
hung up in his Queen street shop, never
forgotten and never regretted.
"But one at time, my valiant whis-
kerandos," he remarked, "for this is
too much like Dover Uourt-all speak
ers and no hearers Let every gentle
man come singly before me and decline
his claims to the Office. Then will de-
eide according to my wits and the light
from above-which, he pursued with
that touch of irreverence delighted in by
the vulgar, and alluded to the perfumed
lamp, (which even now requires finger
and thumb expert in snuffing. Light
me pipe and clear the decks for ac-
tionw
The captains took this all seriously,
and came to him one by one. He in
terrupted their self-eulogies, gayly
challenged their pretensions, pointed
out their defects, and set their rivals
laughing. Not one could be accounted
worthy of the post he held still less of
the Deyship.
"Will you harken to my notion now ?"
asked he, in the same buffoon's strain.
" You say Master Muley has abdicated,
and the divan is begging. Well, give
it to a beggar like me I can read,
write, shave, bleed, curl beard, rhyme
rat to death, sing and fiddle, sail any
thing from yawl to frigate Are
any of you my peer? Why, can cope
with your strongest with cutlass against
crooked sword, hurl djerreed as far,
and shoot off a blunderbuss on horse
back with as much certainty to hit the
side of house. So whoop out, as if ye
meant it, Long life to his Honor the
Dey HALIFAX !"