The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-28
THE MAN WHO READ.

THE MAN WHO READ.
When the wealthy merchant who wa.
the father Of Adder Rahman Al-Iskan
derani died, the son, feeling great grief a
his loss, retired from the world. He neithel
! had any dealings with other merchants nol
held social intercourse with his friends
He bemoaned himself when he arose anC
when he went to rest, and found his only
solace in study.
After a while be forgot even his great
grief in the accumulation of knowledge
and finally became convinced that he was
more thoroughly read, wiser, better in.
formed and more highly accomplished than
any other man alive, and that it was at
least sin of omission to keep all this wis
dom shut up within his own brain. Hav-
ing communed with himself for space, be
resolved to write series Of instructive
narratives and read them aloud to persons
whose opportunities had been less than his.
And having carefully prepared con-
densed history of Arabia, couched in sim
pie language, he called together all his
slaves, servants and attendants poor Great
|
struction whatever, and having advised
them that he was about to improve their
minds, began to read aloud.
So deeply interested in his own perform
ance was he that only the fading light of
the lamps, in which the oil had burned
low, aroused him. He looked about him.
The slaves whom he had permitted to seat
themselves were most of them lying fat,
a+h laI
in corners. Every eye was tightly shut,
and those who had the habit were snoring
His first reading had but one auditor
himself.
AS Abd-er-Rahman arose in his wrath, a
sound of tumult fell upon his ears. The
! slaves had left the gates unfastened when
they came to partake of this their first
! intellectual feast, which had had all the
| effect of opium upon their senses. Rob-
| bers had entered and plundered the house,
the police had just discovered the fact and
according to the law Of Cairo, the house
holder who had placed such temptation
before the weak and sinful was arrested
and heavily fined.
Adder Rahnan had lost great deal of
money by this his first venture as an in
structar of mankind, and had suffered not
However, these were poor. ignorant slaves,
weary with toll Perhaps he had been
foolish to choose such an audience. The
next reading should be very different one
In pursuance of this resolution he made
preparations for great entertainment in
the most fashionable manner, invited his
most elegant and wealthy friends and
wrote what he believed to be a most
n ar ctn in he /,
means of the most thrilling incidents, the
truth that the most powerful men on earth
must of necessity repose all their trust in
Almighty God; and which he proposed to
read to his guests after they had done JUS
tice to his feast, as the speeches and other
intellectual good things come in after
modern dinner.
Meanwhile four distinguished looking
strangers foreigners-had called upon
him, requesting invitations to his enter
tainment; not for the sake of its meat and
drink and good company, but because of
their great desire to hear that wonderful
reading which was to follow. The delight
ed Abd-er-Rahman extended them every
courtesy and introduced them, under the
fine names and titles that they gave, to all
his friends. Moreover, he placed them on
conversation to them.
Finally the feast was over. The manu-
script, wrapped in an embroidered napkin,
was brought to the host, and he began to
read what he had written. To his horror.
as at intervals he cast his eyes over the
company to note what effect he had pro-
duced, be saw one after the other pass
gently into the Land of Nod They did
q, -
done, but such dignifiei repose as the pas
tor of many church has the opportunity |
of observing every Sunday fell upon them. |
All were listening intently with folded |
arms and bent heads and closed lids, save |
the four strangers, who sat bolt upright, |
all their eight eyes fixed upon the coun- |
tenance of the reader. This fact was balm |
to the afflicted soul of Adder Rahman. |
And having concluded his tale and re-
Ceived the usual tokens of oriental ap-
plause he complimented these gentlemen
on the superiority of their intellect
at was the thrilling interest of the tale
which held u.s." said the eldest ''May we
be permitted to linger in your company for
awhile in order to enjoy your converse
tion?"
Adder Rahman expressed himself as
his servants, to arouse his sleeping guests
and dismiss them; in fact, he civilly turned
them out of his house and returned to seek
the four wise men. Alas they were miss
ing, and with them had vanished a service
Of gold set with gems, which had adorned
the table, and all the silver used, save one
fiat salver, on which the robber chief, Al
harran, had written thanks for his good
dinner and the trouble the learned gentle
man had taken to entertain him. In fact,
A bd-erRahalan had had for his guest the
arch chief of the orient and three Of his
gang.
In haste he rushed the chief of the jani-
saries to make a complaint, but only got
himself into trouble for having harbored
such a criminal under his roof, was fined
and bastinadoed and much reviled. More
over, he had offended every friend he had
~ his abrupt dismissal of his guests. No
,ne would speak to him, and he was very
However, he so greatly desired
o give his readings that it occurred TO him
hat he would no longer remain bachelor; !
lie would marry wife
Naturally children would arrive. In time
lie would have al audience all his own, de-
lighted that he, the head of the house, so
ondescended to them. AS ne wished his ;
wife 10 be woman OF mind and expert ,
nee he chose the widow of a very learned
ND distinguished man. All might have !
,een well but that Adder Rahman con-
eived the idea of reading a narrative on
he occasion Of his wedding feast, and un-
luckily carried it out
Alas the brides Il mole SILENT before he had I II,