The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-07-18
HIS MANY WIVES.

N6VerUneleSS barak WAS nOD bultdn.
He was hageb-that is, upper chamberlain
at the court of the Sultan Mohammed.
He had come to the country as ambassador
Of the great Mongolian kingdom, and the
widow Of the late sultan, yet young and
pretty, had given him the management of
her household, her son Mohammed being
still child.
Barak's administration was good. The
army owed to him, among other reforms,
the raising of the pay of the soldiers from
three to four aspers. The number three,
the hageb claimed, was holy, because there
were three prophets.
One day the grand vizier, Darfur Ali,
visited the upright hageb, and while the
two drank coffee the guest began:
"Truly, Barak Hageb, 1t is q folly un-
worthy of you to keep so many wives. II
1t was with us as the Franks, the custom
to give wives, you might then be as rich
as King Sapor, but here you must not only
buy your wife, but must pay cash for her.
Now you have squandered great deal Of
gold for this purpose, and when your
money is spent, what have your For the
cost of ono wife you could keep 100 sol
diers."
Barak stroked his beard. "No doubt,
but hundred soldiers would not give me
as much pleasure as one pretty wife"
To this Ali inwardly agreed. "But the
number"
Zone should pick as many flowers as he
can from the worlds garden" returned
Barak.
"True enough, you have blond and
brunette, white and black, blue eyed and
gray eyed women, yellow Chinese and
brown Malay-yes, and even those women
that color their hair red and their teeth
black. Now, I think that one of each sort
should be enough. BY Allah You have so
many that you cannot remember either
their names or their special good qualities. 4"
"Don't you believe 1t, said the hageb.
"I will show you. First, then, there Is
Jedibah, who can prophesy-we need her
to tell the fate of the nation; then Half
tenn, the medium, who calls up the spirits
of the dead; Nourmahal, who understands
the language Of the birds better than do
yours; Alpaide tells stories that would put
sultan to sleep; Mahadevi and Assainte
are famous for pas de deux; the great
thing about Mangora is that she makes a
sultan's bread that is exquisite; Sandabad
concocts wonderful sherbet, after which
you wash your beard with regret; of Bia-
Hia, my Chinese better half, l. will only
say that she translates the expressions Of
cockscombs, which makes cock fighting
much more amusing; the Indian, Kacka
subdues wild animals and even bitches
lions to her carriage; Roxana Is a star
reader and can foretell to you the day of
your death; Ayesha understands the oul-
ture of flowers; Kaika Is ugly, but she
rubs the rheumatism out Of my joints; my
Tartar, Yarko is an admirable equestrienne
and teaches my other wives to ride, while
the learned Abuzaide writes my letters
from dictation; Josa reads to me from the
Koran; Rachel sings psalms and Is accom-
panied by Kadagival and Samuza, for one
must have trio; Yakima is rope dancer,
while Zibella throws knife so skillfully
that she can split hair at 10 paces Bo-
rassa knows all about the healing art; ALI
ben embroiders in gold; Aliciel arranges
my turban most becomingly; Bagdad
Chatum interprets dreams; Mavola plays
the harp, Zebia the tam tam and Kia the
tambourine, and altogether they make
heavenly music; Zur'-
"Good, good" interrupted the grand
vizier. He had kept count, first on his
fingers, and when these gave out on his
toes. When the number exceeded 80, he
grew alarmed. He feared his friend would
keep on all night.
"I have heard enough; you need every
one of them-each has evidently her IA
nous side. Take care lest some day you
discover an infamous one."
Whether the grand vizier was right OF
not the following story will show.
The sultan Of Kermau, Sidi Achmed,
hearing Mohammed's people were discon-
tented decided to liberate them from their
oppression. To alleviate the sufferings OF
their neighbors has always been labor OF
love to oriental rulers.
! Sidi Achmed commanded an immense
army. Some Persian historians say he had
10, 900 soldiers; others insist that he had
100, 900. The truth probably lay some
where between the two. Certain 1t is that
he had 800 cavalrymen.
Before declaring war he raised the pay
Of the troops from 4 to aspers. This nat
urally caused universal enthusiasm.
Sidi Achmed was at the head of the
army, himself and his horse loaded with
precious stones. The sight Of them caused
y glow of righteous pride In every bare
looted warrior who turned out. The sui
tan took with him the most costly deli
cacies, and the thought that the sultay
Jared sunsptuously went far to cheer the
hungry soldiers.
Mohammed also had an enormous stand
Ing army. rs to its exact number history
is silent, but 1t is always given as twice a:
many as the enemy's force. The Grand
Vizier Darfur Ali was appointed com
mander.
The night before the first battle one ol
aarak's wives, the Jedibah Of whom WI
have already heard, prophesied that thu
neighboring kingdom would be destroyed
and Roxana, who also dabbled In fortune
telling, predicted that on the next day Sid
Achmed would die.
These predictions were made public II
the principal city, and there was in conse
quenoe universal enthusiasm.
Barak himself was firmly convinced tina
both would be- fulfilled, and he and hi
entire following Of women occupied th'
next day hill In the neighborhood Of tn,
battlefield In order to enjoy from tina
coign Of vantage the amusing spectacle o
the downfall Of the enemy.
The battle began early In the morning