The Coconino sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1891, 1891-10-22
THE SON OF THE SHEIK.

and stckening odor that eShaled int
the unspeakable heat OF the desert nj,
from the punches Of dead and scorcbet
water-reeds is with me yet; also thu
sight OF the long stretch OF dry mud
bank, rising by shallow and barrel,
perceptible degrees to tho edge of the
desert sands, and thus disclosed by the
sh ,inkage of the JelitFe during the hot
Inbnths
And in the midst OF IL alive,
Now I'VE " broadly and generally
speaking, were the small right wing
W General Pawtrots division of the
African service; speaking less broadly
and less generally, we were the ad-
vaEco-guard Of said division; and,
speaking in the narrowest and mos,
particular sense 1--WE" were the party
OF war-correspondeuts, specials. extras,
artists, etc, who were accompanying
said advance-guard OF said wing of
said army of said service for reasons
herein to DO set forth.
As the long, fat black scow OF tho
commissariat went crawling up the
torpid river with the advance. euurd
struggling along upon the right we"
lay on the deck under the shadow of
the scow's awning and talked and
drank kouscoussow.
forget now what had led up to IL
but Ponscarine had said that the A rabs
were patriotic when Bah Azzoun cut
In and said something which I shall
repeat as soon as have told you about
Rab Azzoun himself
Briefly, then, Bah Azzouu had been
born Twenty-Five years before this
tlme at ilemcen, OF Kabyle parents
his papa was q sheik--had been
transplanted to France at the ace of
ten, and had flourished there in truly
remarkable manner. He had gradual
ed fifth from Polytechnique; be had
written books that had been 'oourron-
nees par PAcademie;" he had become
hatnralized; he had been prominent in
polltics-no one can cut wide swath
In Paris in anything without hitting
against "a pohltque; he had occupied
important positions in two embassies.
ne was diplomat OF no mean mali.
ties; he had lots Of influence: he dressed
In faultless French fashion; he had
owned Crusader; he had lost money on
him; he had applied to the govern r,,nt
Tor the Office of ''Souschef des bur9aux-
Arabes dams pOran," in order to re-
coup; he had obtained it; he had come
on with 'us. and was now on this his
first visit to his fatherland since his
tenth year. on his way to his post.
And when Ponscarine had snoken
thus about the patriotism of the Arabs,
BAD Azzoun made him answer: The
Arabs are not sufficiently educated to
be true patriots
'Bah!" said Santander. ga man does
not require to DO educated In order IN
be patriot. And indeed. the r,dest
nations have ever been the most de.
Totedly pa.triotic.
Yes, " said Bah Azzoun, .,but n "a
narrow and a very selfish patriot
sm." P'''io@
vi can't see that put in Pousoarina.
"a patriot is like an egg-he is either
good or bad. There is no such thing |
IS good enough egg; there i. NO |
'uch thing as good enough patriot
III a man is one at all. he is a per.
ect one.n
81 agree answered Bah A.zor,.
get patriotism can be more or less
harrow. Listen and will expiain"-
le raised himself from the deck nm
lis elbow and gestured with the am
'er mouth-piece OF his chibouk-.jn
ooking backward upon the gradual
development Of patriotism in the minds
II men since the days when thew first
'egan to band together, you can see
! pass through five very distinct
tages. Patriotism, first was but
owe OF iamily-of parents and kin
red; but then as the family grows and
Expands INTO the tribe it too-as
nerely a large family-become the
olect OF affection, OF patriotic devo-
ION. This is the second stage In
he third stage the tribe has sought
rejection behind the inclosuro of
rails 1t is the age OF cities; patriot.
'm Is the devotion to the CITY. In
he next period, patriotism means af-
sction for the state, for the country.
Dr. the province; while we OF TODAY
)rm the latest but not the last link
the lengthening chain by honoring
wing, and deserving the country
Dove all considerations, be they OF
'ioe, or town, or tenure. Yet I do
OF believe this TO be the last the
ighest, the noblest form OF patriotism.
No, p" said Bah Azzoun. this deyel.
pment shall go on, ever expanding,
yer mounting, until. carried upon
$ topmost crest, we attain 20 that
eight from which wo can look down
pom the world as our country, bu- ,
anity as our countrymea, and he
lall be the best patriot who is the
asst patriotic"
"ah-h, .fchtre" exclaimed Santan-
'r listlessly, throwing cushion at
ab Azzoun's head; 'va te couchey. r
s too hot to theorize; you're either a
eat philosopher Bah. or large n
zed"--he looked him over the rim OF s
s glass before concluding idiot" {
But Bah Azzoun had gone on talx- y
g in the meanwhile. and now fin q
he'd with and 50 you must not blame i
g, II, looking upon them" Che meant "
Q Arabs) "and theirs. in this light 4
ind this African campaign a sorry q
siness for France TO be engaged in il
a vast and terrible government ter q
rizing into submission a horde OF
.lf-starved fanatics, ne yawned. ''all
which is very bad--very bad-bah!