The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-10-22
IN 4 PERSIAN LIBRARY
APT aud witty Anecdotes old as the
world Buried Ia Its
Volumes.

The student Of the Persian language,
such as am, IN the course OF his pleas
ant rambles among the literature Of
the children of the land Of "rhe Lion
and the Sum-" has many pleasant suT-
prises. lie viii find storiea some OF
them old as the world, apt, clever, and
instinct with character, which he viii
be able 10 compare with English YER
sions among the fairy tales. Buried in
book in the Persian language, Il he
cnn get beyond the characters, he will
find the following anecdotes, which
nave greatly amused me, says writer
In ST. James Gazette.
A certain king asked an astrologeri
slow many years remain 20 me2"
The wise man repliedi "ren." The king
became very despondent and betook
himself, as one stricken with a sick
ness to his bed His yizier, who pos
sessed great wisdom, sent for the seer,
and In the kings presence asked him'
GLOW many years have you 10 liye2"
He repled "Tweniy." The uzler or
dered that he should that very hour
be executed in the kings presence.
The king was satisfied and commended
the sagacity OF his minister, and no
longer attached any Importance 70 the
astrologer'3 saying
One day q certain iyrnnnical king
came alone without the city walls and
saw a man sitting unde tree. The
king asked: "The ruler of this king
dom; is he a tyrant or a just man9"
The stranger replied: "A very great
tyrant." The king said to the stranger:
ado you know me2" He said; NO"
81 am the sultan Of this kingdom" the
monarch replied. The man was over
come with fear, and asked; "Do you
know me?" The king said; "No." He
replied: 81 am the son Of a merchant,
and every month suffer three days
madness. This unfortunately happens
90 be the day before the three days"
The king laughed "and had nothing at
III further 20 say"
One day certain man said 10 him
self that Everything in the earth and
IN the heavens exists for me. For me
many great things has God created"
In the mksdle Of his soliloquy gnat
settled on his nose and said: $50 much
lrride in thee is not fitting IN that thou
shauldst imagine that all things In the
earth and skies are created for thee.
Rather art thou created for me. Dost
thou not recognize that thou art only
the instrument Of my uplifting?"
The sultan, Alexander the Great 1.-THE
Two-Ilornedl. upon certain occasion
passed by madman and said; "Oh,
madman. for some mark Of my favor
express thou a wish" lie replied:
"rhe flies trouble me; speak that they
do 80 no more" The monarch said;
~Oh, madmRn, make thy petition some
thing which Il Is in my power 10 com
mand." The mailman said: III thou
sanst not control hy, what petition
ihall make2"
There Is a story Of certain poet who
came before great man and praised
him very ornately. The rich man was
very pleased. aud said: "Ready money
have not; nevertheless there is in
my grnnaries very much corn. II YOU
come tomorrow will give you some. !"
The poet went 70 his own house and on
the morrow presented himself TO his
patron. The rich man asked him; "Why
have you Gomez lie snid: "Yester.
day You promised 10 give me corn For
this reason am come" The rich man
said: "a most wonderful fool thou
art What you said to me gave me plea
sure. What ! have said to you equally
pleased you. Why then should give
you corn?" The poet was covered with
shame and departed.
Yet another and short one. which
brings this brief selection from a store
house TO a close; king and his son
went hunting, and owing 10 the heat
Of the day Invested themselves OF their
heavy cloaks. and threw them on the
shoulders Of Jester IN attendance
The king smiling said; "0h, jester.
thou hast now the burden Of an ass" {"
lie replied; sNot so. O king. but Of
two asses"
With the Persians the writing Of po-
etry and beautiful and witty sayings
4 described a. threading of pearls"
These are but as seed pearls by the
shore. We have been privileged 10 en-.
| Joy some Of the more lusirous jewels
taken from the great ocean Of oriental
literature, but how much remains un-
explored, and what untole treasures
ue buried In its depths.
pnI1rIcs IN pnRTn RIcn-