Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-08-26
IS WOOEO BY A SULTAN
Sulu Potentate Wants to Marry
Miss Roosevelt.
He ALREADY HAS SIX WIVES
Presidents Daughter Declines to
Become Consort of Monarch
With Black Teeth.

w 49, 1AG~NA &N(SA~t
JOLO, Aug. IS, via Manila, Aug. %.
Two incidents have happened to
make the visit Of Secretary Taft, Miss
Roosevelt and the members of the gov
eminent party touring the far east
memorable The most remarkable Of
these concerns The daughter of the
president
The sultan Of Sulu, Hadj Moham-
med Jamalul Hiram of Jolo, who has
six wives already, has offered his hand
in marriage to Miss Roosevelt and has
expressed his desire to make the pres
ident's daughter sultana of the Sulu
archipelago. The manner in which
Miss Roosevelt answered this gallant
act on the part of the Mohammedan 10
not known to the other members of
the junket. The fact that the little
ruler of the Sulu archipelago has ten
dered to Miss Roosevelt the greatest
compliment at his command has be-
come known, and every member of the
party now at Jolo is trying to treat
the episode in as serious a manner as
possible.
Secretary Taft and party arrived
here at noon Friday and Immediately
proceeded to the parade ground to wit
ness the elaborate programme prepar-
ed for their entertainment.
The sultan, clad in his most gorgeous
| attire and surrounded by all the Moro
dignitaries in their barbaric robes of
office, advanced to meet the secretary
of war and party. He extended his
hand to the secretary and then turned
to Miss Roosevelt.
His intelligent dark face took on an
expression of great pleasure, and he
made a speech in his native tongue to
the daughter of the president as he
bowed low before her. As Miss Roose-
welt extended her hand he bent low
over it and, so far as the other men,
bers of the party could see, kissed 1t
with an evidence of polished gallantry
that would have done justice to any
western courtier. Miss Roosevelt took
the attention in the proper spirit, but
it was plain to be seen that she was
greatly amused.
The sultan led the way to a grand
stand, where seats We're reserved in
the front row for Secretary Taft and
| Miss Roosevelt.
Thousands of Moros, residents of
Jolo and the neighboring islands, were
present in all their ancient regalia and
took part in the festivities that fol-
lowed. Everything was wonderfully
picturesque. In the afternoon series
of bullfghts was provided for the men,
bers of the party, and all attended In
spite of an aversion they all had for
such demonstrations.
During the interval Secretary Taft
and Miss Roosevelt were presented
with numerous gifts by the sultan,
some of which are costly. Then it was
that the sultan solemnly offered his
hand in marriage to Miss Roosevelt,
expressing his desire to make her his
sultana and hoping that she would re-
main among his people and make them
better Americans.
On many occasions since her depar-
ture from the United States has Miss
Roosevelt been called upon to exercise
her tact and ready wit in meeting the
celebrities to whom she has been pre-
scented, and that she was ready with
some apt reply to this most embarrass-
ing offer on the part of the Mohamme-
dan adopted son of Uncle Sam is a
foregone conclusion.
The sultan is rather small in person,
with a round. fat, boyish face. He
must be considerably older, but he
does not look much more than twenty
years of age. His-teetA. are deeply filed
away after common Malay fashion,
and the constant chewing of the betel
nut~and lime has made them jet black.
The sultan did not speak with the high
nasal twang common to his race. His
voice had an agreeable tone, and his
manner was genial. His face lighted
up at times with a pleasant smile,
somewhat marred, however, by the ar
ray of black teeth.
His immediate suit consisted of
dozen brawny fellows with muscles
swelling under the skin, They We're
bare to the waist and chewed the betel
nut continuously like their master.
When some one in the party ventured
to express a wish that the sultan would
visit the United States he was silent
for a moment and then replied, as his
black teeth shone like black piano keys
between his red lips, IF Allah spares
my life / will"