The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-01-10
The FIRST Impulse
An Eastern Story of Two Men
Noted For the Good They
Did.
BY JULES La MAlTRE.

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Turlri was wealthy citizen OF Bag
dad who was far and wide renowned
for his many virtues. In assisting the
poor with his money he was so gen
erous that he had to deprive himself of
the luxuries of life. and the patience
with which he listened TO the laments
of the suffering and cheered them with
kind words earned him the love and
admiration of his fellow citizens.
lie bore with resignation all the pet.
ty annoyance which accompany man
through life In an almost unhrokpn
chain. lie was truly tolerant AMI
never waxed angry when others did
not share his opinions, Il rare ana diff
cult virtue indeed for there Il no
human being who does not wish in His
innermost heart that all other haman
beings might be his interiors aud yet
In his likeness.
lie was faithful husband, and this
In spite of his wife being Of quarrel,
some nature He bore with her i'll
temper and seemed not TO mind nj All
that she WIS no longer Young and
beautiful. Finally his unsellshnc5s
was so great that. though himself the
author Of numerous poems and
dramas, he rejoiced over the success
of his rivals and proved his JOY by Civ
II e them sincere words Of encourage
ment and rendering them all kinds Of
services. In brief. all his life was
made mp OF mercy. gentleness. loyalty.
unselfshness. and he was considered
saint-a chivalrous saint.
In spite Of all this he showed n lack
of that calm serenity which usually
Eliminates the face OF sanity per.
sons. His features had the suffering
expression of one who has fallen
prey Of Wild passions or secret sor-
rows. and frequently, In the very mo-
ment of doing some kind act. he would
cast down his eyes. Was II TO collect
himself or 10 avoid looking into pco-
pies faces? No one could tell.
Now. there lived not far from Bag
dad an ascetic by the name OF Mnitre-
ga. He was Il miracle worker. and the
pious from all parts Of the world flock
ed to him to be helped by his prayers.
Having denounced the world and all its
usages. Maitrcga had dug cave into
the bank of the river and become n
holy man, whose prayers were always
heard at the throne of Ormuzd. With
his bony. hair covered arms uplifted to
heaven he stood before his cave as I'M
wearied as tree stretching its branch
es upward, 80 that the swallows. de-
ceived by his immobility. took Matre-
ga for an old willow and built their
nests on his shoulders. His face was
tanned brown by the sun and was
black with dirt, and his long beard and
tangled hair blew about him like the
wind beaten grass blades on the ram
parts OF an old castle ruin. And so he
had lived for many years, for such had
been his will.
One day he overheard pllgrim say
Ing:
"Turiri appears like an embodiment
of OPmuzd. II he only had the power
to do what he likes. misery would sure
ly disappear from the earth"
Maltrega's form became more rigid.
II was apparent that the ascetlc had
entered into communion with Ormuzd
A few moments passed In silence. then
he said TO the pilgrim:
81 cannot compel Ormuzd to grant to
Turirl the power to do everything he
wishes, for In that event he would be
equal to God Ormuzd has, however
granted that beginning from tomorrow
at all occasions the first wish enter
tained by Turin shall be Immediately
realized"
oh" replied the pilgrim. this al
most amounts TO the same. Turiri's
first wish Mt whatever occasion VIII be
like ali his other wishes, always gen
erous and good You have announced
TO me, reverend sir. the happiness Of
countless human beings. Accept my
best thanks"
Had MaItrega's beard been less inn
penetrable the pilgrim might have no.
ticed an Ironical smile gliding over his
petrlfied lips A moment later, how
ever the ascetic was again absorbed In
deep meditation.
And the pilgrim returned TO the city
and rejoiced In anticipation of the be-
neficent miracles through which Turf
rf's power undoubtedly would become
manifest.
The next morning Turin on awaken
ing happened 20 throw glance upon
his wife. who was stlll slumlering at
his side. All OF sudden his wife, rs
though driven by some mysterious
power, rose, rushed to the window and
precipItated herself into the yard, shat
tering her skull on The pavement,
Turirl left his house and soon saw
himself importuDcd by a crowd Of beg.
CARS He did not utter harsh word
to them aud was about to distribute
aims In his habitual kind way when,
10! all the beggars dropped dead.
Continuing his walk, he met fair
Mandenlka. one OF the most noted
courtesans OF Bagdad. Eager to gain
the wise mans love. she told him the
story Of her life and tried to persuade
him that she was unlike any other wo-