The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-02-06
The First Impulse
An Eastern Story of Two Men
Noted For the Good They
Did.
BY JULES La MAITRE

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Turiri was wealthy citizen Of Bag
dad who was far and wide renowned
for his many virtues. In assisting the
poor with bis 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.
He bore with resignation all the pet
ty annoyances which accompany man
through life in an almost unbroken
chain. He was truly tolerant and
never waxed angry when others did
not share his opinions, rare and diff
cult virtue indeed, for there is no
human being who does not wish in his
innermost heart that all other human
beings might be his interiors and yet
in his likeness.
He was a faithful husband, and this
in spite of his wife being Of quarrel
some nature. He bore with her Ill
temper and seemed not to mind at all
that she was no longer young and
beautiful. Finally his unselfshness
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
ing them sincere words of encourage
ment and rendering them all kinds of
services. In brief, all his life was
made up of mercy, gentleness, loyalty,
unselfishness, and he was considered
a SANTA chivalrous saint.
In spite of all this he showed a 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 g
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 1t to collect
himself or to avoid looking into peo-
pies faces? No one could tell.
Now, there lived not far from Bag
dad an ascetic by the name of Maitre-
Cd Lit WAS u I'LL dClC WI anu lAAO
pious from all parts of the world flock
ed to him to be helped by his prayers.
Having renowned the world and all its
usages, Maitrega had dug a cave into
the bank of the river and become
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, so that the swallows, de-
ceived by his immobility, took Maitre-
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 pilgrim say
ing:
"Turiri appears like an embodiment
of Ormuzd. If he only had the power
to do what he likes, misery would sure
ly disappear from the earth"
Maitrega's form became more rigid.
1t was apparent that the ascetic 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
Turin 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
tanned by Turiri shall be Immediately
realized"
"Oh," replied the pilgrim, this al
most amounts to the same. Turiri's
first wish at whatever occasion will be
like all 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 i'm
penetrable the pilgrim might have no
ticed an ironical smile gliding over his
petrified. lips. 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
ri's power undoubtedly would become
manifest.
The next morning Turiri on awaken
ing happened to throw a glance upon
his wife, VINO was still slumbering at
his side. All of a sudden his wi4e, as
though driven by some mysterious
power, rose, rushed to the window and
precipitated herself into the yard, shat
tering her skull on the pavement.
Turiri left his house and soon saw
himself importuned by crowd Of beg
CARS. He did not utter harsh word
to them and was about to distribute
aims In his habitual kind way when,
10! all the beggars dropped dead.
Continuing his walk, he met fair
Mandenika, 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-
man of her profession. Turiri was
moved to pity and was about to ex-
press to her his sympathy when the
woman all of sudden fell lifeless at
his feet.
Arriving in the city, he found that
the street which he had to cross was
blocked with numerous carriages. Aft
err waiting a few moments he began to
lose patience, when all at once drivers
and horses, as though hit by some mys-
terious blow, dropped dead to the
ground.
He went to the theater and there fell
quarreIing with the scholar Carvilaka
about some verses which the latter as
cribed to Nisami. while Turin claimed
that they were composed by Saadi.
Suddenly the scholar uttered shrek
and expired. The play which was
performed had a great success and was
much applauded by the audience.
Hardly had Turiri made up his mind
to join In the applause when the au-
thor Of the play breathed his last
Turiri returned home, terrified al
what he had seen, and, thinking him
self the cause Of all these murders, he
killed himself In despair By plungina