The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-12-08
WHICH WAS
THE GREATEST?
A Story From Turkey.
pY REV. GEORGE E. WHITE
4 Story From Turkey
pY REV. GEORGE E. WHITE
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Three men were walking along the
road when they met the Cadi, the
judge, who gave them a salaam and
passed on. Then the men began to
quarrel as to the one for whom the
salutGtion was intended.
1T was for me-" said one. mo-"
said another, at was for me-" mo"
said the third, che saluted me-"
When they could not agree about
the matter they determined to seek
the Cadi and ask him for which of
them he intended his salaam.
They found the Cadi and asked to
which one he gave the salutation. He
replied, ITO the greatest fool"
But that did not help matters, for
each of the men still claimed the sa-
lutation. One said, Il am the great
est fool" NO" said the second, 81
am the greatest fool" NO." urged
the third, Il am the greatest fool OF
ALL"
So they appealed to the wise Cadi
again, asking him please to tell them
which one he considered the greatest
fool. He answered, Tell me some of
your past experiences and conduct
so that may justly decide"
So the first began:
"Your Honor, am sure no one is
a greater fool than am. For have
a wife who is a very good sort of per-
son, but she has one fault-she will
not always do as bid her. Some
time when tell her to do something
abe refuses, and sometimes she tells
1ae to do it myself. So in order to
svoid difficulties proposed to her
tina, whoever spoke first in the morn
ing should do whatever work was
needed to be done about the house
that day. She agreed, though she is
naturally. laxative, being a woman,
and that night we retired to rest as
usual.
Next morning when we woke sig
nailed her to start the fire, but she
made no response, though l expected
her to commence talking. according
to her custom. By and by showed
that was hungry and motioned her
to get me some food. She motioned
me to get it myself.
"A long time passed and l could
not make her stir. The animals in
the stable under our room began call
ing for their breakfast, and finally
the calf pushed open our door and
looked in, believing for food. made
signs to my House lad to go and tie
the calf, but she remained motionless
and never uttered a word. At last /
lost patience and, selling stick, pro
ceeded to beat her so profoundly that
the stick broke in my hand and she
fed out of the house.
CAS- lay there meditating on my
uncomfortable condition and her I'M
comfortable disposition, my wife's
brother knocked. kept silent. and
he opened the door, looked around
for his sister. l answered nothing,
and he. seeing the room in confu-
sion. with his sister gone. evidences
of struggle lying about and the
broken stick still near me, charged
me with having murdered his wife. As
I made no reply, he soon reused the
community, called the police, and had
me taken on to prison.
"At the trial said not word, my
wife was not forthcoming and the
evidence against me was such that l
was sentenced to be hung. They led
me to the scaffold, and the prepare
tons for my execution were all COM
plete, when a womans shrek was
heard on the outskirts of the crowd,
and my wife came rushing up. beg
ging them not to execute her kind
husband. and relieving me from all
charge OF crime.