The Iola register., 1891-10-30
ARAB hUMOa.
some Specimens OF Ancient and Some Of
Hodern Times:

The old Arabs have scarcely had
justice done them. says the Rev. A. s.
Isaacs In the Independent. They are
usually associated with prowling
Bedouins and murderous Mamelukes,
and their civilization is supposed to be
as far behind the century as in China.
That the golden era of the caliphs oc-
Cured when Europe was buried in the
dark ages; that Arab peers sang Of
love and war and melancholy long be-
fore Shakespeare; that Cordova had
paved streets when London was a mud
hole, and Arab art and science -four
ished centuries before the birth of the
telephone and steam engine. that
oriental luxury reached point of
magnifcence under the Mohammedau
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
and offers peculiarly fascinating sub
jects for inquiry and research.
Now, it may seem a paradox to as
sert that the Arabs were born humor-
lists. and caliph and sheik 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
q famous author of the day, who
praised it warmly. If l had only
written it sooner" replied the poet,
''my book would have already been
known" Dost thou want fame?" 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 thyself close to
the book
The oriental Joe Miller is parent to
many jests that are still current among
US. For instance, preacher in a
mosque began the history of Noah with
this citation from the koran: II have
called Noah" Unluckily he forgot the
rest of the verse and repeated the same
words over again. At last an Arab ex-
claimed: IF Noah will not come call
somebody else.n
More careful was another preacher
who was sheik as well. One Friday
when the muezzin rang out the call for
prayer he mounted the pulpit in the
mosque and asked the people if they
knew about what he intended to preach
to them. No" they replied. "Well,
then. shall not tell you," and he
stepped down. The next Friday he
asked the 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 70 SER
mon.
One day in coffee-house a singer
sang a melody whose refrain was,
Let lover do what he may, he is TO
he excused" His voice was execra-
able. and yet he persisted in repeating
the song. At last a wag. who could
IL tulC" VI
serbet in his face; when the singer
angrily inquired the reason, he re-
joined: ''Wny, am in love. and am
TO be excused"
After due reflection an intidel be-
came follower of Islam aud was told
by the defenders of the faith that he
was 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 ac-
cuse him before the cadi. 1T is very
odd" he exclaimed: Il am only q few
months old and you expect one of my
age to pray"
At the time of great drought a
school master accompanied BY his
pupils went out to pray for rain. He
was met by an inquisitive fellow who
asked where they we're going. I'VE
are 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 a faithful
Moslem married. but when he saw
his wife she proved to be very unpre-
possessing. Some days after the
marriage his wife said to him: MY
dove. as you have many relatives. /
wish You would let me know before
whom / may unveil." My gazelle,"
he replied. IF thou wilt only hide thy
face from me care not to whom thou
showest it,"
In n battle a soldier was wounded in
the head by a javelin. The surgeon ex-
amincd 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 number of captives were
brought before their conqueror, who
ordered them all to be put to death.
Let us not die thirsty" exclaimed
one of them. The snltan had water
distributed among them, and they
drank. when the same voice was heard:
% sultan. We are now thy guests, and
we know that thou respectest the
rights Of hospitality" And they were
released. the slight draft Of water CIV
ing them claim on the sultan's mer-
cy.
What is that" said ruler at his
banquet. (which did not come last
year. has not come this year. and will
not come next year?" An officer. un-
abashed, replied: 1T must surely be
our back pay" Instead of being pun
ished for this humor the man received
what was due him and was promoted
TO a higher position.
When an astrologer was condemned
to the gibbet his friends asked him