The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-09-08
Buying a Carpet in Egypt.

Arthur Sullivan bought q carpet in
Alexandria. and the purchase took him
three months. One morning. so runs
DIR. Sullivan's narrative. lie was passing
by one Of the .bazaars where tapestries
and such things are sold, when u par
ticularly handsome and rich fabric
caught his eye. He went in and, after
pretending to look over II lot of things
which In reality he did MT want, he
said to the man who solemnly presided
over the place, "And what is the price
of that carpetP"
That" responded the dealer, lis not
for sale. purchased that particular
carpet at q great cost, To feast my own
eyes upon. 1t is magniiiccnt-superb.
l could not part with that. No. by
Allahr or words to that effect. "Will
the English gentleman have cup of
cotfeep" The Engiishman would. He
would also have u cigarette. After that
he went away. m Is day or tw,s he went
around again, and once moxe r ade the
pretense Of looking through kl.e,lam.ah's
stock. He had obviously fai!ee 10 fool
the sly Egyptiasbefore as y s',e article
he really wanted, SO he took nmre time
to it on this occasion. As he expected,
the sedate owner of the bazaar ap-
preached him:
81 have concluded, after several
sleepless nights" said the merchant,
ito part with that carpet. 1t grieves
me very much to do so, for have be-
come very fond of it. l had hoped that
it would be the light of my eyes in my
old age. But the prophet has COUNSEL
ed unselfishness among'his people, and
l will sell to the English gentleman"
"How much?'
Zone hundred pounds"
Nonsense. I'll give you f5."
The Egyptians dignity was obvious
ly wounded. An expression of abso-
lutte pain crossed his face. But he for
gave DIR. Sullivan, and they had anoth-
er cup of coffee and cigarette togeth-
err. Then DIR. Sullivan went away, as
before. In week or so he dropped
around again. After going through the
regular business of looking over the
stock, he was again approached by
Macdallah.
IL have copcluded, after much
thought" said that worthy, '.that ask
ed you too much for the carpet the 9TH
er day. When Macdallah feels he is in
the wrong. he is quick to acknowledge
it. The English gentleman can have
the beautiful carpet for ESQ"
."Now you acknowledge your error"
replied Mr.. Sullivan, II will confess
that was wrong in offering you only
Is for your carpet the other day. l did
that in joke, of course. didn't mean
it. Bless you, no. And since You are
prepared to make concessions, will do
the same. Instead of 50, I'll give you
e."
More coffee and another cigarette.
The next time DR.. Sullivan went
around, the merchant took off Is more,
and tho purchaser added Il. So it
went on, with haggling and coffee, sn-
til DIR. Sullivan had finally agreed to
give f12. ut which price he took away
the carpet. 1t would have cost about
$3.50 in London. lie says that the kind
OF business mentioned is considered the
strictly proper thing in Egypt and Tur-
key. But Americans, he a3is. are
While he was i'm Alexandria gentle
man named Morgan. from New York,
came along and visited the bazaar of
Macdallah. Three carpets struck his
fancy and he priced them. Three
hundred pounds" said Macdallah.
"Well," replied Mr.. Morgan, that
seems fair price, and I'll take them.
Here's your money! The next time
DR.. Sullivan saw the merchant he was
almost tearing his hair with rarc apainst
the 'dog of Christian" He explain
ed the matter in an injured tone to the
sympathizing Englishman, adding that
Mr.. Morgan's method was not ''busi-
ness. "-BOstOn Herald.