New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-18

|. PIP. xiii, 242; VOL III, PIP. VII 700. Gnicago:
Stone e. Kimball. English Classics, Edited by
w. T.. HenleyD
Mr.. Curzons Introduction TO this reprint OF HAIL
Baba" is testimonial to the literal truthfuness OF
Morisr's description Of Persian manners and morals
Even the Incidents OF the tale in many cases are a
transcript from real life. The marvel OF the thing
Is that this comparatively modern picture OF life in
Persia should In essentials be like that drawn In
the ancient native romances. On both sides there Is
the same seryi,ity and cruelty and cowardice But
there Is this difference that while Moriers SATIRE
deals openly and confessedly with Persia and the
Persians the Persian themselves Ike the
Roman comedy writer's. attributed the disagreeabie
things which they had 10 say TO other countries ana
other peoples. Oriental literature and folklore are
full Of this sub,erfuge They make the shoe and let
him that feels 1t fit put II on. Morier mad no heed
to fear the Asylum OF the Universe" that IS the
Shah and so his attack Is as savage as That OF the
Frenchman lie Sage on the foles and vices Of Spain
ell Bias was In fact chosen by Morier as MS model
and the resemblance between the two works is the
greater for the reason that Spanish society with IT'S
Moorish antecedents was almost as Oriental as Asia
itself.
Considering what scoundrel HAIL Bahia really
IS how coolly he violates the most sacred obliga-
tions OF humanity 1t is remarkable how the author
has managed him as TO win for MN the readers
sympathy One feels that this man OF many ad-
ventures, Of ccaseless ups and downs in life, would
have been another sort OF person under different
sons for that inexorab.e tyranny which brings the
danger OF torture and death to every subject
Of absolute, irresponsible ruler Doubtless the
happy luck OF HAIL Baba In escaping from his mis-
fortunes has something to do with the sneaking
affection which he inspires He is never further from
destruction than just when he Is stripped 10 the
skin and has lost every tomaun that he possessed.
When he Is in despair, when his enemies are most
sure of him. is the very moment when the gate OF
safety opers for him into the garden Of JOY Calam-
ties never como amss to him. but woe to those who
are his companons They eat the dirt. to use one
Of his own expressive proverbs, which was intended
for him. When he fees from the accusation OF a
murder which ne did not commit, he Is enabled by a
train Of accidents to carry off unsuspected the m)ney
OF dead foe. ride away on the horse. freely
given OF one who had been his oppressor. and the
whole affair seems 50 mysterious that those who
might have raised a hue and cry at his heels waste
their time in dsputng whether he was not the
ghost OF the man he was supposed to have Killed.
When his pursuers. unknown TO him. are almost
ready to seize him. he is saved by the greed OF
companion who robs him only to suffer in his stead
II Persian had really plucked up the courage to
write such a satire upon his own people, IT Is not TO
he IMAGINED that he could have related the story OF
so many narrow escapes without an appeal at every
turn to the supernatural. The authors western
nrciudices have excluded this characteristic ORR
entail element not only from the main narrative but
also from the subsidiary tales. shaytan and the
to show that they have nothing to do with the nat
ter The strangest incidents have the simplest ex-
panation. They illustrate to perfection the vicssi-
tudes Of life in the East. observed and reported by
all Western writer's familiar with the subject. Many
OF the characters OF the book initiated from real
life and the portraits must have been accurate II
4, he true as reasserted by Mr.. Curzon. that the
hook aroused the resentment of the Persian Court
I'm fact" says Mr.. Curzon mo one who has not So
iourned in Persia. and devoted considerable study
,ka
extent to which Hail Boba' a picture OF actual
nsrsonages and record of veritable facts"
beautiful edition OF Hail Bahia" has been pub
ushed by Messrs Stone e. Kimball, as member OF
their English Classical Series" 1t has portrait
Of Morier and the Introductory essay by T.. c.
Browne while II comedies the accuracy OF Morier's
descriptions OF Persian life and character dscredits
in particular one OF the tricks by which Morer adj
vert.sed the later editions OF his work. Notoriety
was given to a letter OF remonstrance said TO have
been written by the Shah's Minister to England
The genuineness OF this letter Is questioned by Mr.
Browne. The translation OF some of the names OF
prominent characters in the book is amusing
proof of Morers indifference to the feelings Of his
Persian friends; for example Mira Ahmak means
Doctor Fool: Wamard Khan, Lord Coward
Eshek Mira. prince Donkey" and Mulla Nadau
Reverend Ignoramus." Mr.. Brownies opinion. based
on the statements OF a learned Persian OF his
quantance. that the book. II translated into
Persian. would be read with much amusement as
annoyance by the people whom it satirized The
heavy paper and good type of this edition. as well
the neat binding. make 1t particularly attractive