Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-04-29
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SULTAN MuLATs HUNT FOR FUN

SULTAN MULAY's HUNT FOR FUN
Ian English Visitor Tells Of Moroeeo's
Ruler.
"Come to Marakesh and see the Sui
Itan. He's the best fellow you ever met
but it's a tough contract to keep him
Iamused. For goodness sake, think OF
something fresh in the amusement
line"
That was the message got while In
Morocco in 1900 from an English friend
of mine who was then holding the po-
lsition of official entertainer to Mulay
Abdul Aziz, sultan Of Morocco. AS
knew my former school chum for q
Iconjuror, a mind reader, hypnotist, q
photographer and jolly good fellow in
la half dozen other different ways,
wondered at his plant.
The more thought over 1t the more
lI maryelled, and 80, at last, made up
nv mind to give up my plans and ac-
lcept the invitation. And that Is how
learned of Sultan Mulay's hard hunt
for fun. 4
arrived at Marakesh one sultry af-
lternoon. Hardly had my friend greet
led me, when he rushed me off to see the
lsultan. who had expressed q desire to
see the stranger as soon as he had en-
tered the palace.
We found his majesty In the middle
of an immense courtyard in the palace.
He was learning to ride the bicycle un-
der the instruction of Kaid Harry Mac
lain. q Scottish soldier Of fortune, who
commands his army. He had just re-
ceived a large consignment Of cycles
from the principal makers in London
Iand Paris and he had made up his mind
Ito master the machine even II he
smashed e, cry one in Morocco.
Now, the courtyard was more like Il
dry river bed than anything else.
From end to end there was hardly ten
Yards of smooth ground. Where there
were no boulders there were deep ruts;
and where there were neither bould-
ers nor ruts, there were small heaps OF
bricks.
His majesty had smashed three fine
machines when we arrived, and was
himself considerably battered. After
ciyilities had been exchanged with all
the fine, old-fashioned Moorish cour-
tesy, nothing would content him except
all of us riding.
There are plenty Of machines" he
said, cheerfully. There are over a
hundred, and we will smash them all II
you like"
OF course, In Morocco, the sultan Is
He Who Must Be- -Obeyed, so we
mounted our machines and did our
best. I am a pretty fair cyclist, but l
came cropper over big rock before
had ridden thirtxryards. Soon my
machine was hopelessly smashed and
1 had to take another.
The same mishaps befell the sultan
Kaid MacLean and the court enter
tainer, and am safe in saying that In
the hour the sultan kept us awheel we
succeeded in hopelessly wrecking a
dozen bicycles.
| At the end Of that time the sultan
thought the sport was not sufficiently
exciting, 80 he suggested that we vary
II by riding into one another and see
ling who got hurt most. Even that
palled on him presently, and ne sent
for some of his ministers and couple
of venerable gray-bearded ulemas, and
made them cycle, too, despite their
piteous protests.
AS they had never seen cycles IN
their lives before, they were better
hands at smashing them than any OF
lis. and before that afternoon was over
the courtyard was streWn with wnat
had once been the finest machines IN
the market. Altogether we must have
smashed nearly fifty cycles.
After we had rubbed ourselves with
Imminent and changed our tattered
clothes, the sultan invited US to In
spect his new billiard table. which had
Just arrived from England. We duly
admired it, felt the cushions and rolled
the balls about and then the sultan put
us in a quandary by asking:
"Well, who is going to teach me how
to play?"
AS it happened none Of us was
billiard player. had handled a cue
once or twice, but knew practically
nothing of the game. My friend, the
court magician, knew less. We were
wondering what the sultan would say
about our ignorance when Kaid Mac
Lean gallantly stepped into the breach.
II used to play when 1 was a boy"
he said, but haven't handled a cue
for forty years. However, here's the
table, and we must do something with
It, I'll try to teach your majesty"
After we had cured the sultan Of his
desire to swing the cue around his
head like a club and hit the ball with
the but end, the game proceeded. 1t
LASTED about three hours, and then the
sultan gave it up in disgust. He had
torn the cloth into ribbons, broken his
cue and only scored eleven. Sir Harry
had made less than twenty.
!, That was the end OF billiards so long
as I was at Marakesh. The sultan
voted it too tame.
Next day the sultan, who told me
that I had won him for a friend be-
cause I knew how to ride wheel, took
me to see his private zoo in the palace
grounds. I was rash enough to admire
a fine herd of wild boars.
We'll have them out and chase them
about the ground" he exclaimed de-
Ilightedly, overjoyed to have found a
new amusement to divert the English
Stronpar