Smyrna times., 1902-01-08
THE SON Of
ABULFEDA
How He Provided His Palace With
Statues.
.A.s.A.u.s.a...a..s-.l n.s.A...A."u..A..<

tury there reigneI in Bagdad the Caliph
Abulfeda. Into the Golfers of his pred
ecessors the wealth of the east had
been poured with a most unsparing
hand The magnificent City of the
Enchantress" was not only the "Abode
of Peace" but a splendid jewel in the
empire of the faithful.
OF all the caliphs of this wonderful
city since AlmanSor. its founder no
two had blessed or cursed the world
with the same idea of what it was
necessary that man should do to enjoy
life in this world and ut death to DE
worthy of place among the dark eyed
damsels and beautiful youths of the
gardens of paradise.
The magnificent AlmamOun scattered
his inestimable wealth in tie greatest
contrast with the abstemiOusness and
frugality Of the mighty Omar, and the
Haroun-al-it itaschid of Bagdad is vastly
different from the Akbah. whose IA
matte advance only the heaVing waves
of the Atlantic were able to hinder.
Tie Caliph Abulfeda had succeeded
|
gold of the then known world into
Bagdad without eXpending It for any
purpose had put the youthful prince
to many disadvantages and fostered
in him the desire to do otherwise when
he would succeed to the mantle of the
prophet. Therefore when his own sons
We're choosing .tLeir ends or pleasures
the Caliph AbulfCda was always ready
to forward or indulge them.
Among the youngest of his many
children was Ali. For years he had
broOded over and planned on the idea
of Il wonderful edifice that he hoped in
time to construct. OF all the magniti-
cent structures it had been his privi-
lege as son of the commander of the
faithful to see none was in all things
the perfection of which the young
prince dreamed; therefore on the death
of his father the prince began the
building of the long deferred. happi-
ness.
In time there arose on the banks of
the river the most wonderful archi-
tectural dream that even that magic
age and that wonderful city had pro-
duced. Yet to the prince it was un-
finished; something was yet lacking to
make it the abode of perfect pleasure.
One evening the prince was saunter-
ing along one of the most magnificent
of the curiOusly carved arcadeS of the
palace when voice called his name:
'Prince Ali. son of Abulfeda. Prince
! Ali. son Cf Abulfeda!'
= The young prince glanced quickly
: around on all sides. but beheld no one
except the silent sentinels on guard
' around the palace and the picturesque
hOrsemen that at a little distance rode
r slowly back and forth as safeguards
q against approaching danger.
u Again came the voice;
= prince Ali son of Abulfeda Prince
=. Ali. son Of Abufeda!'
- Quick as Il flash the prince drew the
splendidly Ornamented and equal!
splendidly tempered blade at his sid'
and stood ready to face any opponent.
But it was unnecessary Before hin
stood an old man. bowed and whitenet
by the sorrows and trials of man.
years. His dress and manner also dis
tinguished him as belonging to SOM
" other period.
~ "Prince Ali, son of Abulfeda" he be
~ gan.
Il am" assented Prince Ali. scarcel,
u knowing whether to tower up to hi
~ full height and answer with the prid
IL he felt in his noble name or acGnOw
as edge his inferiority before highe
power.
ly II know you. know you" answere
Il the aged man. Il knew your hOnOre
~ father and your fathers father. and
supernatural expression sprcadin
= over his visagc-"and | stood side b
A. side with the prophet himself in man
os a dearly wOL fight with the enemiC
ia of the only true belief. But wronge
on him | did him an injustice. anG Their
he fore is my slumber in the tomb di
i'll turbed. When the commander Of tt
10. faithful or one of his children has a
ho earnest longing or desire. | or son
- other who has wronged the prophet
In called from his tomb in answer
"S their prayers.
ng prince Ali, son of Abulfeda. WIN
IN is thy dpsirP?'
on The prince thereupOn began at Il
ts- birth of his hope for the possession
he an architectural wonder and relate
ho all until its completion.
- Il understand! | understand crit
~ ~ the old man. slowly beckOning Il
- prince to silence. You have exhaustt
IN your worldly knowledge in attemptil
RS. to succeed to happiness. in gratifyil
,ial your desire, and have failed. Is
as not as sayF'
ing ut is" answered the prince. and
ies now yparn for something beyond t
~ power of man TO accomplish or undo
stand"
Ser BE il then as you desire" answer
the aged father Behold this sta
Ask not from whence it came nor d
cover the mystery TO any living mi
or+ until return for its possession"
The prince took the staff and look
nto 1t curiously over. but nothing extra'
,nn dinary occurred. Seeing his eXpt
!, fancy the aged man continues:
yrv "The followers of the good M
Jesus. whom the Christians belle
and the worshipers of the stars a