The Opelousas courier., 1900-02-24
AMUSING OUR SULTAN.
Subsidized Potentste Of Sulu Mys
AnA hn. EfNnnArAn!Ar

-. Subsidized Potentate Of Sulu Mysti-
fed by Electricity.
If the present war continues there
will be no lack of material for ore.s
bouffe plots for years 10 ONE When
that magnificent old grandee, the Gov
ernor of Guam, after the firing upon
his little domain by the American
cruisers, sent his compliments and re-
grets through a much uniformed sub
altern that he was unable to return
the very courteous salute owing to the
fact that he was out of powder it was
seized upon by libretto writer's as
''good stuff" While not as subtle in
its humor, the conquest of the Sultan
of SUN is equally available for liter
airy purposes.
The Charleston, it seems, was sent
to take possession Of the Sulu Islands,
but the commander of that ship, pre-
ferring p%eaceable means to warlike
measures, sent a cordial invitation to
the ruler of the group asking him to
come aboard for tifin. The royal per-
sonage readily accepted, and on his
arrival alongside the ship was saluted
with seventeen guns, which so fattercd
his self esteem hat he stepi ed ON deck
swelling with pride and pulled up
with importance. With much en-
~pressement the distinguished guest
was conducted to the captains cabin
and seated where the breeze of an
electric fan fell full upon him. Won
deringly he peered around to see
where the mysterious breeze came
from, and finally his interpreter asked
the cause for the refreshing wind
when the air was quite still outside.
The fan was brought and placed in
front of the Sultan. Delighted be-
yond measure, he watched its revolv-
ing and questioned the officers about
this wonderful machine which could
create breezes hal should come only
from heaven. would it stop some.
time, or would it go on f~oreyer?"
"Blow on it," he was instructed,
''the machine is entirely under youa
control and will do your bidding"
The Sultan blew his royal breath,
when 10! the fan stopped. Aghast at
his power, he asked the officers eag-
erly what should be done to start il
again. 'sBlow once more" he was
told, aud at his breath its whirring
began. Carried away by this new
experience His Royal Highness played
with the toy until the engineer, con-
cealed from view, must have become
weary with turning the current ON
and off at the whlm of the astonished
padishah.
Before he had tired of the fan the
electric lights were shown to him, and
he was permitted to turn them on and
off by blowing against the glass bulbs.
Already, it is said, he began to think
it would be a good idea to swear allie
glance to the government of q country
whence such things emanated, but his
subiugation was completed by the
photograph and the chink and sight
of more Mexican dollars than he had
ever seen before. The box contain
ing the imprisoned human soul was
brought out. 1t spoke to him, it sang
for him, but it was q trick, q joke; il
was in a strange language; he would
see. His interpreter was instructed
to talk to it. Here was a wonder in
deed; the thing talked back. Tt re-
peated the exact words of his secre-
tary, liz the same tone of voice even.
Would they give this wonderful box
and some of the Mexican dollars, of
which they seemed to have so many,
if he would sign the treaty? The con-
quest was complete, il bloodless, and
when the seventee an guns doomed over
the water as he left the ship his chest
could hardly contain his swelling
heart.