The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-18
AN ~HONORARY FATHER. =


fETCrn the R61laQelpnlA ROSl-l
An army officer possesses the unique
honor Of having been appointed the
father of a. MahOmetan prince Two
years ago such a thing.if predicted, would
have been regarded as the result OF a
very vivid imagination, but our extern
sion Of military rule to some pecullar
parts Of the world has made the incident
not so startling as II might be, although
it is sufficiently notable. The officer IS
Major Q. J. Sweet, 23d infantry, who is
the governor of the interesting Province
of Sulu- In his mail recently was TINS
letter from a native source. The text
of the letter was, translated, as follows.
This letter comes from your sister,
the Sultana Incha Pamela, to my broth
er, Major Sweet, the governor Of PlanSe
This is to inform you that am going
to Limana to follow up your son AttleS
10 enable him to see his hancee- 1t IS
necessary that I should be there before
he is allowed to see her I am lettir
YOU know this, as it IS possible that 1
may not be able to return sOon- The cfr-
emory Of asking a girl in marriage gen
orally takes a long time, as 1t Is never
certain whether the party viii be &C
cepted or not. I beg you to watch over
your son, the Sultan. and over your
grandchildren and mine
Don't listen to any I'll reports that
YOU may hear. but first inquire OF me
or the Sultan whether they be true or
not. People nowadays delight in making
mischief and in creating enmity between
the higher people as we'll as the lower
classes; Therefore 1t is always best to
make inquiries On both sides as TO the
truth of these reports. beg you to do
this Greetings and best wishes to you
Eleventh day Of Rajab, 1913"
There is a situation back Of this letter
which should not be lost in the war de-
partment archives. The writer Of Iae
letter is the Sultana mother and a great
friend Of Major Sweet, to whom she is of
material assistance in his administration
OF Mahometan affairs, principally
through the good will she has for the
American governor and the influence she
has with her subjects, almost all Of whom
esteem and accept her counsel She calls
Major Sweet father and brother" ac-
cording to the transient inspiration
The son, Atticl, is 20 years of age, and
the second heir to the sultanate. AT
Kick" is a nickname which is not relish
ed by its bearer, whose real name is Dat
TO nIahamad Aurural Umrak. He earlv
evinced a. fOndness for Major Sweet,
whom In turn he impressed by his nat
ural brightness and amiable disposition.
The young prince soon grew to respect
the American governor and to appreciate
the interest which was taken in him. II
expressed a desire to become Major
Sweets son, and promised to be faithful
and 0bedient as toward a father. MaJur
Sweet agreed to the proposition and he
and the prince exchanged documents to
show that the officer accepted the hon
orary responsibility Of father to the
prince. according TO Mahometan custom
of blood friendship Among the first
bits Of fatherly advice given and taken
was that young Attick should give UP
opium smoking habit.
Recently Major Sweet had occasion to
visit neighbOring province on the gov
eminent steamer, and he invited with
him on that occasion his protege In the
course Of the trip the prince took Major
Sweet aside and expressed a wish to
confide a secret to him. He said that he
had a sweetheart in Ifmana, and that
ne would be grateful for permission to
visit her. Major Sweet was curious
enough to inquire as to the plans of the
young prince. as he already possessed
the four wives allowed by his religion.
Attick explained that 1t was his purpose
some day to have the new wife care for
the others in his house This incident
explains the text Of the Sultana's letter
The officers at Jol0, the headquarters of
Major Sweet. describe the Sultana as an
agreeable, refined and charming Oriental
diplomat Her personal appear ance is
said to be attractive, uniting a rare COM
bination OF Oriental elegance and mod
ern grace She would be, it is said. in
bearing and appearance a credit to a
New York drawing room.