New-York tribune., 1900-10-14
ABDURRAHMAN KHAN.
SOME INTERESTING BITS FROM THE AU-
TOPOGRAPHY OF A SELF-SAT-
ISFIED AUTOCRAT
IsFIED AUTOCRA'
From The Monthly Review.

20 find pleasure in the pursuit OF his ambitions |
as the dust that arises from the feet of the flock
Is salye 70 the eyes Of the wolf pursuing the
flock" In my pursuit after the welfare of
Afghanistan, the more that see signs Of change
and progress the faster follow them, as a lover
follows the traces of the foOtnarks of his ideal
which make him more eager to keep on the road.
{! pray God TO help me in carrying out this duty
10Y which He has selected me from among
other men
On many occasions get quite discouraged on
account OF the misbehavior Of my people, who
keep on rebelling, quarreIling and Intriguing
against each other, and making false reports OF
eacn olleF 10 me have then to make in
qUiTies TO find out the truth. and this wastes
more than half Of my valuable time: so that as
l Try 10 walk in the steps Of progress they keen
on pulling me back. / get very weary and
sometimes think that their position is unchange-
able and their ntrigues incurab BILE and that II is
Impossible 10 raise them to that standard which
would make them equal to their neighbors in
strength and Character. feel that it would be
well for me to retire from this life Of everlasting
anxiety and struggle and take a quiet peaceful
lie somewhere else. leaving my people to fight
among themselves until they are ruined But
LIS H"uIu De z coW4Tciy action and q refusal
70 fulfil the duties ordained by the real Almighty
Master and Sovereign for which He has created
me / believe Lhat Z true lover must never turn
h1s face from the difficulties thai constantly
come in his way, and ne must look upon all the
naughty and misch ievous play Of his beloved
and the cruelties shown 10 him as very pleas
snt pains and occupations. The pains Of the
lover are the Iuxuries OF his love; and the diff-
culties and anxieries Of . reformer only add TO
Sons.
HIS WORKING HOURS
There is no fixed time and no proper pro-
gramme for me throughout the twenty-four
hours of the day and night in which work: 1
go on Working from morning until evening and
from evening again until morning. like any la
bOrPr eat when am hungry; and some days
do NOT rerrar1 har that = 49, rc+ eafar ~
meals forget all about IT. and ask nv cour-
tiers all at once, raising my head from writing:
Did l eat my dinner today or not?" In the
same way, when set tired and sleepy. I go to
sleep on the same bed which IS nv chair for
work ! do not require any private room or
bedroom neither any room for secrecy or for
grand receptions. There are plenty of such
rooms IN my palaces, but I have time to
spare, even to move from one room 20 another
OF course love to go 10 my nareE and spend
an evening with my family, and they are equally
delighted when pay these visits. but my time
is 50 fuD that there is none TO spare except
occasionally when I make il,
AS have said, there IS fixed time for meals
OF other personal needs: 1 may mention that
my usual custom is 10 so to about , q in
the morning, rising again about in the after
noon. The whole Jime that I am in bed my sleep
Is disturbed in such way that awake nearly
every hour, and keep on thinking about the i'm
provements and anxieties of my country: then
l go 10 sleep again. and SO on. get up between
and . IN the afternoon ana the nrst thlns DO
Is 10 see the doctors and hakims who examine
me TO see if l require any medicine After this
The tailor comes IN, bringing with him several
plain suits made in the European style. l choose
sne for that days use. After have washed and
dressed nv tea bearer enters carrying tea and
light breakfast. During the whole of the time,
from the entrance Of the hakims until I have
finished breakfast the Usher the Secretaries
other officials keep looking at me and say
ing in their minds. oh, be quick, and let
each put our work before you" do not
blame them for this, because the secretaries
have to take answers TO all the letters and dOcu-
ments and dispatches Of the day; the Lord OF
the Seal has TO seal all the orders for the daily
expenses Of the Government, and TO put all the
reports q the Intelligence Department which
have been received since I went to sleep before
me The Usher has TO introduce hundreds OF
people who have their cases or appeals to be
tried by me. who have % be appointed
certain duties and services, and so n. But
sooner do I appear at work after finishing my
breakfast than various officials, my sons, and
household servants step in 10 take instructions
for their various duties Every page boy, of
whom there are hundreds and men of the De-
tective Department, walk in with letters in their
hands from other suffering person who
requires my help and judgment In this way
am crowded and surrounded by many who
AL want to have their business attended tC
well as to show their zeal TO ne by giving me
more work 10 do. None of my fellow country
men have a tenth part much TO do. keep
working till . the next morning. when
resume the same routine. Just keeping a few
minutes for my meals Even then, however
my courtiers and officials keep OF asking me
ouestiOns-aud, fact, there is rest for the
wicked
Since 1891, when I appointed my son Habi-
bullah Khan hold the public durbars instead
of myself. the work which keep for myself
and attend 10 every DAY IS follows: Foreign
Office. Intelligence Department, political work,
Treasury: criminals accused Of high treason
and other crimes and offences; hearing and de
c5diug the appeals from the court Of my son and
all The other inferior courts Of the Governors,