The Washington critic., 1886-05-21
WASHINGTON CRITIC
WASHINGTON, NAY 81, 1896.
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

country. He spends great deal of
time in New York, as do most of the
diplomats at Washington. Aside from
his dark complexion and fez, which he
wears almost everywhere, he might
easily pass for an American. He looks
to be under forty speaks English
fluently and has all the Oriental polite.
ness and grace of manner. He talks
freely on most subjects, but when
questioned about the Eastern compli-
cations he will shrug his shoulders and
say: "You see how 1 am situated. i
have no opinions" "Tell me some
thing, then, about the harem," he was
asked recently at the Clarendon Hotel
by reporter for the World. The
urbane Pasha held up his hands In
protest. "Just what l expected" he
said. "All the Americans seem to care
about Turkey is the harem. They
never inquire after anything else.
But will tell you harem story"
he continued. zone of the tradi.
tions of our country Is that any
man who is the first at the Mosque
for morning prayer for thirty days will
ever afterwards have good luck. Well,
n merchant, who had failed in business
thought he would try this expedient TO
regain his fortune. He tried for
week or so to be the first one at the
Mosque, but each time he found Ger.
tain man there ahead Of him. Finally
he asked the man how II was that he
got to the Mosque so early. How
many wives have you got 2 said the
man. Only one,' replied the mer-
chant. 'Ah That accounts for it.
You see, have two wives, and when /
get up in the morning one brings me
my clothes while the other brushes my
hair and arranges my toilet. | am able
to dress more quickly than you, and
that's why / get here so early "A
good idea, thought the merchant, and
he hurried back in quest of another
wife. He was married that afternoon,
and several days later he found him.
self the first one at the Mosque. His
friend met him rs he was coming away.
We'll, he exclaimed, didn't you find
II rs l saidY You are fool : re-
piled the merchant, wrathfully. Il am
here because l find 1t impossible to stay
at home So you see," the Pasha
added, putting out big cloud of to.
bacco smoke, "that life In the harem is
not all that you Americans fancy it,"
~
In a recent speech at New Haven ex-
Congressman w. e. Robinson referred
to some of his New Haven experiences,
and said "a green boy from Ireland,
I submitted myself for examination in
the old chapel across the street. The
first tutor who examined me asked me
to bound the State of Illinois. What
is that?' Iasked. He looked at me and
asked If ! intended to enter Yale. 4
do If l am able l replied. Then he
asked me to give the capital of Penn
sylvania. Virginia. was my an
swer. You'll have hard time
getting in here, my friend At
this point of the examination
another tutor came up and handed me
piece of paper. Then he said bound
Ireland. | did SO pretty well. was
then examined in Greek-a subject /
knew more Of than American geogra-
ply. ! recall the illustrious form of
jeremiah Day, then president of the
college. Many times have wandered
about these streets with Noah Web.
ster leaning on my arm. ! remember
many curious things which happened
to me. Once we had row with the
tiremen, and they actually brought
cannon up and planted them in front
of South College, and were going to
storm it. afterward started the col.
lege paper known as the Banner, and
it has lived to this day.
~
Tho prevailing gossip recalls to the
Cleveland Leader'S correspondent a
story which Henry A. Wise tells in his
book on Tyler, as to how Tyler an.
nounced to him his intention to marry
Miss Gardiner. Cleveland is forty-ninc
and Miss Folsom twenty three. Tyler
was fifty-four at the time of his second
marriage and Julia Gardiner not out
of her teens. Wise says that Tyler
took him out for a ride in March, 1874,
about the hills of Washington, and
that they had not driven far before he
discovered thatsPresident Tyler turned
aside all allusion to politics and showed
signs of secrets more sacred and ten g.
der. After many contortions he got it
out at last that he thought of marry
ing, and he wanted to know Wise s
opinion on the subject. Wise
replied "Well, Mr.. President,
l suppose OF course you
have found some honored dame of
dignity. who can bring grace to the
White House, and add to your domestic
comfortY' "Oh, no dame,' replied
the President, "but sweet damsel!"
Who, pray, of damsel degree" re.
joined Wise, could or should an old
President VIM" AS Tyler replied
that he was going to marry Julia Gardi,
ner, Wise was very much surprised,
and he plainly told President Tyler
that such marriage was very impru.
dent for him and that he was too old.
"Pooh!" said Tyler, "Why, my dear
sir, am just full in my prime. !"
'AhH' returned Wise, "but has John
Y. Mason never told you about friend
of his, rich and full of acres, calling
his African waiter, Tony, into council
upon the tender topic of his marrying
II miss in her teens? Tony shook his
head and said; 'Massa, you think you
can stand thnt?' Yes, Tony, why not?
She is so sweet, so beautiful, that she
could make me rise from bed of ill
ness and weakness to WOO her for a
bride; but am yet strong and | can
now as well as ever / could make her
happy. Yes, but Massa, said Tony
you is now in your prime, that's true
but when she is in her prime, where
then, Massa, will your prime bc?'
Death OF Mrs. Jane Langford.
The announcement OF the death OF Mrs
,Jane Iappforl mother of DIR Rohart Raw