The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-08-27
1.-THE WIFE OF MoHAMMED EFFeNDl.'
How Stanley Tanned Proud Egyptian
Shrew in the Heart of Africa.

As Henry M. Stanley has now be-
come a husband some interest at
taches to his knowledge of woman
kind as displayed in his latest African
trip. He was arbiter in many cases of
marital disagreement among his own
| followers; but the most important
case that he adjudieated was that of an
Egyptian couple at the time the two
forces of Stanley and Emin Pasha were
united at Kavelli's camp.
Were Rudyard Kipling writing this
story he would name it ''The Wife of
Mohammed Effendi."
Five years before the wife of Moham-
med Effendi had gone into Captain
| Casati's service as nurse to the female
| child of an Abyssinian servant. 1t was
an intensely black infant and appar-
emily not of mixed blood. Captain
Casati became warmly attached to it,
and when it was three years old he
| obstinately refused to deliver it up.
The husband demanded back his wife
and the child, too, although he dis
claimed the paternity of the latter.
The woman and child went with
Casati into Africa, and Mohammed Ef-
fendi Joined the same party to be near
husband for some time, but at length
grew estranged from him and refused
to visit him.
Mohammed Effendi prayed justice of
Emin Pasha, who did not care to in
terfere, as Casati was his intimate
friend. By common instinct all par
ties left the matter to Stanley.
The husband was first with his story,
which was substantially as related
above.
Then came the woman. Stanley
thus describes her:
''The fair one crouched down and
made mass of white in the darkest
corner of the tent, lit as it was by
single candle. A subtle fragrance of
Shiraz or Stamboul oil filled the tent,
and perfectly pure and delightful
voice uttered such clear-cut Arabic
that l imagined I understood every
word. A fortnight's experience with
such a voice would make me an
Arabic scholar.
Her story was to the effect that she
disliked her husband most heartily,
yea, hated him altogether. He was
simply heather brute. He had robbed
her, torn her clothes, beaten her, and
had split her head one time. No, she
would never go back to him, neveri"
Stanley had the woman sent back to
Casati's tent, and sending for Moham-
med Effendi promised him to bring the
woman to her sense of duty on the fol-
lowing conditions: O She was to at
tend the child during the daytime; (2)
She was to return to her husbands
house at sunset; (3) She was not to be
beaten or bruised; (4 Her personal
property was to remain with Casati;
90 She was to be protected by her
husband on the march; CO. She was to
be fed and clothed by Casati
The woman was called in and the
conditions read her. LAS she heard
them she swept the white muslin from
her face, and in the absence of any su-
perior attraction she appeared to me
to possess considerable beauty, with
splendid large black eyes-a distinct
lively fine Cairene face. The hut was
filed with the perfume from her spot
less white muslin robe. Under this
overdress she wore a scarlet gown.
In the wilds of Africa never met any
thing approaching her.
'tNeverr she cried, and fell to
abusing Mohammed, who looked ridicu-
lously angry and jealous.
''Eake her home, Mohammedr'
The woman remained motionless,
measuring her will with Stanley's.
1--WE will have you carried" threat
ened her Judge.
She went out doggedly. followed by
her husband.
Poor Mohammed returned in a short
time saying that the evil one possessed
his wife. She was tearing up things
generally, including her own face and
hair.
But Stanley was a Petruchio equal
to the tanning of this shrew, though
her husband was not. Tie her hands
behind her back he commanded;
''but use no violence, and speak to her
soothingly."
I'm a few hours" writes the ex-
plorer of Africa and subduer of shrews,
"she sent a pitiful message to me that
would cause her release, but she was
sternly told that her voice had no pow
er nor her beauty any charms for me,
that she must appeal to her husband.
According she turned to Mohammed
and meekly implored her lord to go
and plead for her; that her bonds
panied her, and that she would in
future obey him devotedly.
She was permitted to resume her
1uties in Casati's household At night
she meekly returned to her husband
If her own accord"
And now, ladies, that you have heard
the story Mr.. Stanley tells what kind
of a husband will he himself make?