Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-03
REWARDS oF TRUE BELIEVERS
Why the MahdPs FanaticaI Followers
Are so Reckless in Battle.

Are so Reckless In Battle.
The London Dasly Telegraph comments
in part as follows upon the Mahd's recent
proclamation: Nor, perhaps could the
Mahdi better encourage the sinking
spirits of men encamped with but scanty
scanty shelter and still more soanty
commissioned, out upon the burning, eye
scOrchIng deserts of the SOudan, over
swept with dust-storms, driven along by
the fierce kamsin, the sitting harmattan,
dry grain their food, alkaline water their
drink, and dreary marching and wounds
and death their only service. THAT
Prophet ill-susTains his holy cali who
finds not heavens to suit the tastes Of
ALL And Mahomet and "Mohammed
Achmed. his servant" it must be con-
fessed, have found one very suitable, in
deed, to the tastes of Arab folk. Their
songs and their speech are filed with
phrases significant of the yearning Of
these wild sons of a sterile land for the
pleasures of green trees, sweet-smelling
flowers, and bubbling water,
Religion offers them, these men of hard
lives and stern wOrk-as the one supreme
delight of the after w0rld-the luxury OF
idleness. They are not even to take the
trouble to turn upon their beds of roses
TO eat and drink; for exquisite beings,
blessed with perpetual girhoOd, will al
ways be at their side TO offer them all they
want before they can even ask for II. The
fruit will bend down TO their lips, the
fountains OF exquisite sherbets rise TO
them. They are never TO grow older than
the prime of manhood, and, il they
choose, need never, no, never, all through
the cycles of immortality, stir an inch
from the spot where angelic arms, carry
ing each from the battlefield, have lain
him down on the perfumed sward under
the t0oba tree. No more camels 70 drive.
No more iDfidels 10 shoot them. Peace
and plenty, perpetual youth. and sacred
laziness. The birds even, in the boughs,
are only 10 sing in murmurous fashion.
No ear-aplitting clamOrOus song VIII be
heard there. The arboreal choir will all be
beNutified nightingales, singing through
wells. as 1t We're, the sOftest whisperlngs
of melody, that shall never be the same
long enough for the listenee TO recognize
tune twice. The perfumes, in the same
way, will glide impercepubly from one
fragrance 10 another anu each IN turn
Will be new and exquisite. The sherbets
will be nectareous blendings OF all the
hydromels, somas and meads that poets
have devised for happy heroes IN the
"Cities Of Rest" and "Elysian Fields"
and are TO pass by subtle transmutations
from rose 10 pOmegranate, and from citron
10 date. from orange TO grape, and 20 on
through all the pippins and berries ul
paradieaic orchards, favored with such
fruits as saints have worked miracles
with, such as tempted Eve, such as the
champions Of Chrisiendom knew OF, as
the pilgrims found in the Masters gar
den, as heroes aad goddesses have striven
iOr-the apples Of hliss and Immortality.
The hours. too~'the dark-eyed maids
abOyen--evon they are not 90 weary the
eye by monOtOny. Sixty is the smallest
allowance, the "hali-ratione," as II we're,
Of a common, ordinary sort OF true be-
lever. In exceptional cases they are 70
be IN number beyond counting, and ht the
wish uf their pOssesaOr they VIII change
their aye, their features, and their voice.
IL IS not enough that they shall each be
perfect in every way. Then. % think OF
IT,, suporadded 10 all the, the perpetual
GOODNESS Of thick foliage overhead aud
gentle broezes, and, above all, utter and
lnyiolable laziness.
II is no wonder that the Mahdfe sol
diers, released from the drudgcry of
beasts Of burden only 20 march and fght
ia the desperate Snudnn. escaped from tue
tyranny OF petty masters 10 fan under tue
unrelaxing dospOtiem Of a fanatic lender,
should 70 10 their deaths lightly They
believe. with q stern faith, every lola or
the promises OF future pleasures bcid OUT
TO them. aud on that belief plndly stake
the Indebtedness 81 their life aud risk tho
brief ag0nY Of death On the baluoheias'