Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-10-31
ARAB HUMoR.
Some spe pimena OF Ancient and Som" OF
Modern Times.


Justice done them. says the Rev. A. 5.
lsaacs In the Independent. They nre
usually associated with prowling
Bedouins aud murdcrous Mamelnkes.
aud their civilization Is supposed to bc
ns far hehind the century as In CLina.
That the golden err OF the caliphs &C.
Cured when Europe was buried In the
dark ages; that Arab peers sang oil
love and war and melancholy long be-
fore Shakespeare; that Cordova had
paved streets when London was mud
hole, aud Arab nrt aud science -four
ished centuries before the birth Of the
telephone and steam engine. that
oriental luxury reached point OF
magniticence under the Muhammcdan
rulers which has never been surpassed
in Paris, Vienna. and New York-these
are facts which need only to be known
to secure the Arab some recognition
for qualities other than those OF war
and the chase. In its range and variety
poetry, philosophy. theology. science.
romance, travel-Arabic literature af-
fords an extensive field for the student
aud offers peculiarly fascinating sub
jects for inquiry aud research.
Now, 1t may seem paradox to us
sort that the Arabs were born humor.
lists. and caliph aud shcik were capital
raconteurs. whose jests and stories have
not yet lost their point. Yet such was
the case.
An Arab poetaster sent his work to
famous author of the day, who
praised it warmly. If had only
written it sooner" replied the poet,
my book would. have already been
known" Dost thou want famep' the
author inquired. "Why, hang up thy
book In the market-place and all will
see it, but how will they know the
authorp" Just hang myself close to
the book"
The oriental Joe Miller Is parent TO
many jests that are still current among
US. For instance. q preacher in
mosque began the history Of Noah with
this citation from the koran: Il have
called Noah" Unluckily he forgot the
rest Of the verse and repeated the same
words over again. At last an Arab ex-
claimed: III Noah will not come call
somebody else."
More careful was another preacher
who was sheik rs well. One Friday
when the muezzin rang out the call for
prayer he mounted the pulpit in the
mosque aud asked the people IL they
knew about what he intended to preach
to them. No" they replied. well,
then, shall not tell you," and be
stepped down. The next Friday he
asked tho same question. and now.
taught by experience. they answered,
Yes we know" ''Well.if you know.
YOU do not need me to tell you." and
again he stepped down. The third
Friday, when the same inquiry was
made, the people said: Some Of us
know and some don't know" I'm that
case" the preacher rejoined, 'let those
of you who know tell those who don't
know" And again there was no ser.
mon.
One day In coffee-house singer
sang q melody whose refrain was,
Let lover do what he may, he is to
be excused" His voice was execra-
able. and yet he persisted in repeating
the song. At last q wag. who could
endure It no longer. threw q cup of
sherbet in his face; when the singer
angrily inquired the reason. he re-
joined: why, / am in love. and am
TO be excused"
After due reflection an iniidel be-
came follower of Islam and was told
by the defenders of the faith that he
WINS now like one new born. A few
months passed and his neglect OF re-
ligious rites aroused the ire Of his
neighbors and they threatened to nc
cuse him before the cadi. ut is very
odd," he exclaimed: Il am only few
months old and you expect one of my
age to pray"
At the time of great drought
school master accompanied by his
pupils went out to pray for rain. He
was met By an inquisitive fellow who
asked where they were going. 1--WE
arc going to pray for rain" the teacher
replied: God will hear the prayers
Of innocent children" If that were
so" answered the man, there would
be no teachers alive"
1t happened once that faithful
MosiCm married. but when he saw
his wife she proved to be very uupre-
possessing. Some days after the
marriage his wife said to him: My
dove, as you have many relatives, l
wish you would let me know before
whom I may unveil." My gazelle."
he replied. IF thou wilt only hide thy
face from me care not to whom thou
showest it,"
In battle soldier was wounded in
the head by q javelin. The surgeon ex-
amined the wound and told the man
that as the weapon had not touched his
brain there was every prospect OF his
recovery. Had l possessed any
brain" said the soldier. Il shonld not
have been In the battle"
Once q number Of captives were
brought before their conqueror, who